The Hellshire Hills —down to the coastline —is rich in biodiversity and represents the largest expanse of intact dry limestone forest on the island. It is home to a diverse and unique group of plants, a wide range of birds species, and many other key indigenous species such as the Jamaican Yellow Boa (Epicrates [Chilabothrus] subflavus), American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus), Jamaican hutia (Geocapromys brownii), Blue-tailed Galliwasp (Celestus duquesneyi), nesting sea turtles and the last remaining natural population of the Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei). It is important to note that the Jamaica iguana is found nowhere else in the world except here in the Hellshire Hills. Rigorous conservation efforts have gone into securing the species and their habitats as for over four decades, the species was thought to be extinct. Then, a small population was found in the Hellshire Hills. This area falls within lands earmarked by the UDC for sustainable development and contains a declared Forest Reserve.

The Jamaican Iguana Recovery Group (JIRG) is the primary oversight body for managing the Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei),focusing on the continued implementation of the Species Recovery Plan. The research and conservation efforts have focused on the main population discovered in 1990, which is currently still restricted to the most isolated and least disturbed section of the Hellshire Hills dry limestone forest, St. Catherine. Over 500 iguanas have been released from the headstart programme since the first release in 1996.