Pine Cay

A(i)Site contains one or more globally threatened species, B(ii)Site contains an exceptional number of species of high conservation importance, B(iii)Site contains an exceptional number of socially, economically or culturally valuable species, C(iii)Site contains nationally threatened or restricted habitat or vegetation types, AND/OR habitats that have severely declined in extent nationally

The entire island of Pine Cay qualifies as a TIPA, meeting the thresholds under all three criteria. Under criterion A(i), this species qualifies due to being one of the five best sites for the globally threatened species Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis and Chamaecrista caribaea. The site qualifies under criterion B(ii) due to having 10 species (equal to or greater than 20%) from the list of species of high conservation importance and also under B(iii) due to having 22 species (equal to or greater than 15%) from the list of species of social, cultural or economic importance. This site additionally meets criterion C(iii) as it is one of the five best sites in TCI for two globally threatened habitats: palustrine swamp and pineyard.

This TIPA includes the entire area of the island of Pine Cay, which is situated between Providenciales and North Caicos as part of the Leeward Islands. Pine Cay constitutes a semi-lithophied sand bar. At its southern end, the island is connected by a narrow sand bar to the neighboring Water Cay.

This site is significant due to being one of the five best sites for Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis and correspondingly the pineyard habitat, which historically occupied almost 1/3rd of the entire island (Sanchez et al. 2019). Most pine trees now grow north of the airport only. Though still recovering, the population of Pinus caribaea on Pine Cay is considered to be in the best condition compared with the pineyards on North and Middle Caicos and is thought to be of critical genetic importance. It is also one of the five best sites for the threatened shrub Chamaecrista caribaea. This site is also one of few places in the Turks and Caicos islands where the Lucayan endemic Ernodea millspaughii has been recorded. It is also one of only a few sites where a distinct yellow-flowered version of Encyclia caicensis can be found growing.

This site primarily consists of coastal scrub, limestone thicket, pineyard and both palustrine marsh and swamp habitats. The largest portion of pineyard habitat, which is in a recovering state, is found north of the airport, with scattered fragments found elsewhere across the island. The palustrine swamps are freshwater or brackish habitats which during dry periods are only found in small pockets, but expand to cover larger areas during heavy rainfall. On Pine Cay, these swamps are associated with the pineyards, providing a source of freshwater to the pine trees which rely on seasonal flooding and recharging of the freshwater lens which lies below.

Scale insect infestation in the pine yards is currently mild, but this is only due to the relatively low population density of the pine trees. This island is a resort, but there is general good support amongst residents and current management for plant conservation and a central part of the area is designated as a conservation zone. There is an ongoing risk of fire due to illegal campfires on neighbouring but connected cays (Little Way Cay and Water Cay), exacerbated by high fuel loads from invasive Casuarina equisetifolia trees.

Assessed by:

Bryan Naqqi Manco, Department for Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks and Caicos Government

Junel Blaise, Department for Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks and Caicos Government

Dodly Propser, Department for Environment and Coastal Resources, Turks and Caicos Government

Amy Barker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Sara Bárrios, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Elloise Budd, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Stuart Cable, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Colin Clubbe, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Marcella Corcoran, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Thomas Heller, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Juan Viruel, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Tim Wilkinson, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Date of first assessment: 14th Feb 2025