EXPLORE the Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique with this slideshow, check the location map and get all the facts and information below.
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Location and Values: Martinque is a small volcanic island in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, about 1,148 km2 in area with a population of 350,000 people. The Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique World Heritage Site covers about 12% of the island and is protected within the Parc Naturel Régional de la Martinique.
From a geological perspective the site’s global significance is based on its representation of volcanic processes. Mount Pelee was the site of the deadliest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, which, in 1902 destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, killing some 30,000 people. This event helped describe one of the major types of volcanic eruptions: the Pelean type, which involves the collapse of a viscous lava dome, producing massive, fast-moving, hot avalanches of gas, ash, and rock in what are known as pyroclastic flows. The site remains, to this day, a key location for the study of Earth sciences. More generally, the Pitons and Mount Pelée are representative of the volcanic morphologies and mechanisms characteristic of the Lesser Antilles island arc. The Pitons consist of twelve highly elevated lava domes with the highest point, the Piton Lacroix, rising to 1,197 metres.
In terms of biodiversity, the site is located in the ‘Caribbean Islands’ biodiversity hotspot. It has the most diverse and well-preserved forest continuum in the Lesser Antilles from the coast to the summit of Mount Pelee at 1,396m. This includes plant and animal associations characteristic of climax communities as well as the various stages of ecological succession following phases of volcanic activity. Martinique harbours 71% of the 263 plant species that are endemic to the Lesser Antilles island chain, with 37 of these found only on Martinique. There are a significant number of rare and threatened plant and animal species including plants such as the Calumet Montagne, Fleur-Boule-Montagne, and Aralie, as well as the Martinique volcano frog, the Martinique bat, the Martinique lancehead (snake), and the Martinique oriole (bird).
Conservation Status and Prospects. According to IUCN’s Conservation Outlook Assessment (2025) the conservation status of the Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique is of ‘significant concern’. The IUCN report notes that the biodiversity value of the property is affected by numerous threats including invasive species, hunting, deforestation and increasing tourism activities. The geological values of the site are affected by urban development, infrastructure and quarrying, especially in the designated buffer zone. A consistent and effective protection regime for each of the key geological sites and an increased on-site management capacity for the protection and management of geological values is necessary.
LINKS:
Google Earth
UNESCO Official Website
IUCN Conservation Outlook
Birdlife IBA/KBA
Slideshow description
Slideshow Description: The slideshow ‘tells the story’ of the Volcanoes and Forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of Northern Martinique with a portfolio of photos that illustrate the landscape and biodiversity features of this volcanic island site. The slideshow starts with some views of the distant peaks and an illustrative three-dimensional model of Mount Pelee. It continues with some photos of the forest interior, including a couple of small scenic waterfalls, before concluding with examples of the site’s unique biodiversity as demonstrated by the Martinque Volcano Frog (Allobates chalcopis), land snail (Drymaeus multifasciatus) and spider (Caribena versicolor).
The following Flickr photographers and contributors to the World Heritage Nomination File are acknowledged with thanks for their contributions to this slideshow: J.Rope, Auriane Busson, Nicolas Batt, Matt Ames, DEAL Martinique (J.B. Barret), Mael Dewynter, R. Delannoye and D. Chiquet. Photo credits are provided in the watermarks of each image.
Factfile
Website Categories:
Islands;
Tropical and sub-tropical forests;
Volcanoes, waterfalls & other earth features;
Area: 140 km2
Inscribed: 2023
Criteria:
- Geological features (viii);
- Natural habitat for biodiversity (x);
- Significant number of rare, endemic and/or endangered species (x)
