Curious about one of the most diverse places on the planet? Want to see the plants and animals that live in this tropical rainforest?
Get a quick glimpse of the Comoros!
The Comoros forest is an endangered afrotropical ecoregion that is located within the four Comoros Islands (Grande Comore, Moheli, Anjuoan, and Mayotte). These islands rest in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and East Africa. The climate in the Comoros forest tends to be a maritime tropical climate. Due to this the forest experiences a large rainfall season from October to April. The temperature in the Comoros forest ranges from 18°C during July to 29°C during March. The variation of climate in the Comoros forest cause unique microhabitats that give rise to a diversity of distinct flora and fauna. Of the species located in the Comoros forest, a large percentage of them are considered endemic.
Unfortunately, the endangered status of the Comoros forest and large percentage of endemic species is caused by ecological and human activity. Ecological activities such as cyclones and volcanic eruptions damage the Comoros forest. The cyclones create massive strong winds that cause trees to collapse and landslides to occur destroy a large amount of the biodiversity. Volcanic eruptions cause destruction to the forest because the lava covers up the habitat of species. Human activity has played a large role in the endangerment of the Comoros forest as well with its high human population in the islands. Recently humans have been cutting down the forest and this is not only lowering the biodiversity of the forest but it is also allowing the cyclones to inflict more destruction to the forest because of the greater exposure of wind. All together this puts the Comoros forest in an endangered status with a poor conservation.
Stats
Area: 2,235 km2 | Coastline: 340 km | Climate: tropical marine | Elevations: Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0m; Highest point: Karthala 2,360 m | Land use: Arable land: 47.29%; Permanent crops: 29.55%; Other: 23.16% (2012 est.) | Irrigated land: 1.3 km2 (2003) | Total renewable water resources: 1.2 km3 (2011) | Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): Total: 0.01 km3/yr (48%/5%/47%); Per capital: 16.86 m3/yr (1999) | Natural hazards: cyclones possible during rainy season ; volcanic activity | Environmental issues: soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation.
The Comoros Islands 