Centre Hills, Montserrat

The Centre Hills lie the midst of Montserrat, in the Parishes of Saint George's and Saint Anthony. After the annihilation of much of the south of the island in the eruption of the Soufrière Hills, this is the largest remaining forest area on Montserrat, forming a single, almost continuous block of hill forest in the centre of the island.

A series of small, steep streams, known locally as ghauts, radiate from central ridges.

Across the hills are a transition from tropical deciduous forest in the drier lowlands through to semi-deciduous and evergreen tropical forest at higher altitudes, then thinning forest on the summit of Katy Hill. Much of the forest is secondary forest, having been cleared for agriculture during the plantation era, and swept by Caribbean hurricanes. The hills have been listed as an 'Important Bird Area' by BirdLife International, where the Montserrat oriole and other species may be found.

Location

• Location map: 16°45’36"N, 62°12’0"W

References

• Centre Hills IBA: BirdLife International