The cloud forest

The Cloud Forest

Some of the protected tropical cloud forests are found in Peru on the Eastern slopes of the Andes, at altitudes between about 1000 and 2500 metres above sea level, It’s the land where the clouds meet the mountains. They are home to the world's greatest diversity of epiphytes, mosses, ferns, lichens and orchids and, in turn, a large number of animals that feed on these organisms or use the forests as a habitat. Cloud forests have shrunk to just 1% of the global woodlands, however it is estimated that they harbour the greatest concentration of species anywhere on land.

Because of this and the low tree canopies cloud forest are a paradise for birders. Some of the most important species are Quetzal, cock of the rock, tanagers, cotinga’s, toucans, barbets, warblers, jays, parrots and an amazing variety of hummingbirds. Mammals include almost 70 species of bats, Howler- and white-faced Capuchin Monkeys, Pacas, Andean bears, Pumas, Jaguars, and many others. Thousands of species of insects and arthropods also have their home in the cloud forest.