Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

Agriculture and agrarian structures

Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on St Kitts, reflects the island's deep agricultural legacy, particularly its dominance by sugar production. Though sugar now accounts for only 2% of foreign exchange earnings and employs 8% of the workforce, it still occupies 30% of agricultural land, illustrating its enduring impact on the landscape. The fortress offers a panoramic view of this heritage, with lush cane fields on coastal plains giving way to mixed cropping and pasture on steeper hillside landscapes, while remnants of forest cloak the volcanic Mt Liamuiga. This study highlights how historical economic shifts—from sugar to tourism—have reshaped St Kitts' economy but left a lasting imprint on its agrarian structures and natural environment.