Cloud forests are a unique biodiversity of rare flora and fauna. With elements of tropical and subtropical rain forests, cloud forests exist in higher regions where mountains and altitude play a role in balancing this delicate ecosystem. Cloud forests have some form of consistent cloud cover that provides moisture in varying amounts throughout the year and seasonal changes. They rely on constant precipitation to provide for the rich flora and fauna that inhabits them as well as providing integral and vital support to local ecosystems that are indeed affected by global climate change.
Characteristics include perennial greens and mossy vegetation with foggy steam-like sprawls of cloud that evaporates and moves through the trees at low levels. Cloud forests are home to rare and diverse species of plants, birds, animals and trees. A large part of the biomass are epiphytes which include ferns, lichens bryophytes, orchids and bromeliads.
Only 1% of global woodlands are cloud forests
With cloud forests being so rare they are precious, valuable and need protecting. Furthermore, they are heavily dependent on local weather systems and therefore affected by global climate change too. Whilst there are large areas of protected cloud forest, there is currently research taking place to understand more deeply the impact that climate change is having on these rich biodiverse ecosystems.
Cloud forests in Peru
Manu National Park in Peru is home to a large are of cloud forest which in places reaches to over 4000m above sea level. Manu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and with the presence of indigenous tribes and delicate ecosystems it is a (mostly) restricted zone to gain access to and visit. Areas that are possible to visit are offering ecotourism experiences and specialist bird watching lodges such as Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station offers lodging for those wishing to experience a taste of cloud forest within protected grounds of the area.
Raising awareness of the impact of climate change on cloud forests
In June 2018 I was fortunate enough to visit Manu National Park and stay at Wayqecha lodge, which hosts a beautifully vast area of cloud forest that spans to the lowlands of Manu River with dense tropical rain forest. The University of Umeå in Sweden have established research on the impact of climate change on the cloud forest area high in the Peruvian mountains. In support of the research I took photographs for the project as well as the surrounding environment including the stunning and rare flora and fauna.
Climate change impact research set to continue and grow
A recent announcement of good news is that the The University of Umeå are set to continue research on the impact of climate change on biodiverse rainforests after being awarded a significant grant from the government. This will enable researchers to continue measuring the impact of climate change in cloud forests and expand into new areas of collaborative research with local and international groups.
Full details of the news article can be found here.