[3] Millions of years of volcanic deposition and erosion have created coastal cliffs and dramatic landscape features.

The native composite trees and shrubs include species of Pladaroxylon, Lachanodes, Commidendrum, Melanodendron, and Petrobium.

[3] Native plants are now limited to a few sheltered and inaccessible locations, including a small gumwood stand at Peak Dale.

Regenerating shrubland and woodland includes many exotic species, with prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), common lantana (Lantana camara), Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolia), Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Bermuda cedar (Juniperus bermudiana), green-aloe (Furcraea gigantea), maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), cape cheesewood (Pittosporum viridiflorum), iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis), yellow trumpetbush (Tecoma stans), and wattle (Acacia longifolia) prominent.

[1] The Saint Helena plover or wirebird (Charadrius sanctaehelenae) is the island's sole surviving endemic bird species.

The island was discovered by Portuguese navigator João da Nova in May 1502, close to the feast day for St. Helena.

In 1588 the English seacaptain Thomas Cavendish visited the island, and discovered large herds of goats.

In 1659 the East India Company claimed control of the island and established a fort and settlement near the site of present-day Jamestown.

The island's first inhabitants were English traders and settlers, along with slaves from South and Southeast Asia and Madagascar.

Portions of the island were cleared for agriculture, including orchards and fields, and native woodlands harvested for timber and firewood.

[1] In 1709 Governor Roberts reported to the East India Company's Court of Directors that the island's native timber, notably the endemic Saint Helena ebony (Trochetiopsis ebenus) was rapidly disappearing, and recommended limiting the grazing of goats on the island.

[4] Between 1723 and 1727 a stone wall was constructed around a remnant of the Great Wood to protect it from grazing cattle, goats, and timber harvesting.

Plantations of New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) were established after 1900 to produce fiber for string and rope.

[1] A portion of the Prosperous Bay Plain's native shrublands were displaced by construction of Saint Helena Airport between 2012 and 2016.