The Setting

What is a tropical montane cloud forest?

Tropical montane cloud forests are formed when offshore winds are carried up mountainsides. As the wind cools with increasing elevation, the water vapor in the air condenses to form clouds.
They are defined by their frequent immersion in clouds; however, there is no single definition of the frequency, intensity, or persistence of clouds necessary for a forest to qualify as a "cloud forest."
They are dependent on clouds as a vital source of water for local flora and fauna, even in the absence of rain.
They are among the rarest ecosystems on the planet. While they are located in tropical forests all over the world, they constitute only a fraction of our remaining tropical forests!
They are considered biodiversity hotspots; tropical montane cloud forests are home to an incredible array of plants and animals. Many tropical montane cloud forests have high rates of endemism (organisms that don’t occur anywhere else).
They are threatened by pressures such as deforestation and global warming. In particular, the timing, intensity and frequency of cloud cover is changing due to rising sea and land surface temperatures. These cloud event changes have been correlated with widespread local extinctions and population shifts in rare bird, frog, and salamander populations.
They are providing enormous value in the form of fresh water, ecotourism, and biodiversity conservation.

Why Monteverde, Costa Rica?

The tropical montane cloud forests of Monteverde are among the most well-conserved and well-protected forests in the world.
The region has a long history of ecological research and an established infrastructure for carrying out advanced scientific research.
Additionally, we can use the region as a case study in understanding the successes and setbacks associated with conserving this unique ecosystem.

References:

Bruijnzeel, L.A. 2005. Tropical montane cloud forest: a unique hydrological case. In: (M. Bonell & L.A. Bruijnzeel, eds.), Forests, water and people in the humid tropics. University Press, Cambridge, UK. Pp. 462-484.

Bubb, P., I. May, L. Miles, & J. Sayer 2004. Cloud forest Agenda. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK. 36p.

Hamilton, L.S., J.O. Juvik, & F.N. Scatena. 1995. The Puerto Rico tropical cloud forest symposium: introduction and workshop synthesis. In: (L.S. Hamilton, J.O. Juvik, & F.N. Scatena, eds.), Tropical montane cloud forests, ecological studies 110. Springer-Verlag, New York, USA. Pp. 1-24.

Lawton, R.O., U.S. Nair, R.A. Pielke Sr., & R.M. Welch. 2001. Climatic impact of tropical lowland deforestation on nearby montane cloud forests. Nature 294: 584-587.

Nadkarni, N.M. & N.T. Wheelwright. 2000. Scope of past work. Monteverde: ecology and conservation of a tropical forest. Oxford University Press, New York, USA. 608 p.

Pounds, J.A., M.P.L. Fogden, J.H. Campbell. 1999. Biological response to climate change on a tropical mountain. Nature 398: 611-615.

Pounds, J.A., M.R. Bustamente, L.A. Coloma, J.A. Consuegra, M.P.L. Fogden, P.N. Foster, E. La Marca, K.L. Masters, A. Merino-Viteri, R. Puschendorf, S.R. Ron, G.A. Sánchez-Azofeifa, C.J. Still, & B.E. Young. 2006. Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming. Nature 439: 161-167.

Weathers, K.C. 1999. The importance of cloud and fog in the maintenance of ecosystems. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 14: 214-215.