How does Jamaica's natural vegetation affects its rainfall?

Answer 1

1. Areas in Jamaica which receive more than 2, 500 mm of rainfall annually have a dense vegetation or forest vegetation. The trees in these areas are called broadleaf evergreen and are so densely packed that one would find it difficult to walk through these types of forests.

2. The hilly areas of the island especially in the north and east receive more rainfall than the lowland areas or the plains to the south. The hilly areas have the most forest vegetation because they get more rainfall. For example, the Blue Mountains and the Cockpit country.

3. In the coastal areas, the rainfall is less than 1500 mm per year. The vegetation in these areas tends to be short, scrub-like and scattered.

The plants are mainly shrubs and they shed their leaves in the dry season.

In places such as Hellshire in St. Catherine the cactus is a common plant. These plants are also referred to as succulents as they store water within them to protect them during the dry seasons.