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In 2023, the Caribbean island of Martinique, a French overseas department, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. “The volcanoes and forests of Mount Pelée and the Pitons of northern Martinique” have been included in this unique and privileged list.
The UNESCO-listed area is located in the northern part of the island and includes two separate mountainous areas. Those of Pelée Mountain and Mont Conil; and the Pitons du Carbet and Morne Jacob massifs.
The two mountainous areas form a mountain forest heritage of volcanic origin which extends over approximately fifteen thousand hectares. The oldest mountains are the Pitons du Carbet and the Morne Jacob, while the more recent formations are the Pelée Mountain and the Mont Conil.
To the north of the island, Mount Pelée rises majestically, reaching 1,397 meters above sea level. This mountain is known for a catastrophic event that occurred in 1902. An eruptive episode that caused the death of almost 30,000 people and the destruction of the city of Saint-Pierre. This town, located at the foot of the volcano, which is today nicknamed the little Pompeii of the Caribbean, was devastated by the eruption of Mount Pelée which occurred on 8 May 1902.
The endemic and irreplaceable landscapes, geology, flora and fauna of this area of the island have also been recognized as special by UNESCO.
Endemic species at risk of extinction live in the area declared a World Heritage Site, such as the Martinique volcanic frog (Allobates chalcopis), the Lacépède ground snake (Erythrolamprus cursor) and the endemic Martinique oriole (Icterus bonana).
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