Greater Caribbean

[10] By the 17th and 18th centuries, the region's post-Columbian inhabitants felt that they had improved the landscape through their building of infrastructure and taming of the wilderness.

[11] By the turn of the 19th century, several different empires and powers made their influence felt in the region, forcing inhabitants to navigate (and flout) a wide variety of regulations and geopolitical spaces.

[13] During the long 19th century, the Greater Caribbean gained several new kinds of flora and fauna from the Asia-Pacific, due to increasing global maritime connectivity.

[14] It also became largely independent from colonial rule during this time, with only the British West Indies remaining colonized until the late 20th century.

[19] The smaller islands with strong luxury tourism sectors have seen higher population growth rates through labor immigration.