ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

This site is one of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands few strict nature reserves, protected to allow nature to have a refuge from human activitiy. Sparrowhawk Hill is a 255-ha tract of pristine native dry forest 20 m above sea level that is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA). The site is said to have been named for HMS Sparrowhawk, the vessel that performed the 1882 hydrographic survey of the island. The benefits of this protected area reach the people of Little Cayman via spillover of healthy wildlife populations as well as the ecosystem services provided by the natural area.