Country

São Tomé and Príncipe: one ecoregion. Each with its climate now and toward 2050, and its conservation tier.

A single ecoregion defines São Tomé and Príncipe: the São Tomé, Príncipe, and Annobón forests, a tropical moist broadleaf forest system of roughly 400 square miles spread across these Gulf of Guinea islands. The classification tells the story of a wet, warm, volcanic island group where forest is the natural condition from shore to peak, with moisture increasing sharply with elevation. Gardening here is tropical gardening at its most generous: fertile volcanic soils, year-round warmth, and abundant rain support fast growth, shade crops, and the plantation heritage the islands are known for. The steep terrain makes erosion control and canopy layers practical necessities as much as design choices. With the ecoregion rated Nature Could Recover, native island forest trees are worth weaving back through farms and gardens.