Characteristics and places in Costa Rica that you can visit to get to know them.
Costa Rica is a country with an immense natural wealth. It shelters about 6% of the world's biodiversity and is home to more than 500,000 species of flora and fauna.
More than 50% of the country is covered by forests. Most of them can be classified into rainforests, cloud forests and dry forests.
What you will discover...
Here you will be able to learn about its characteristics, importance, tips to visit these forests and a recommendation of places you can visit to know the wonderful cloud forest of Costa Rica.
Characteristics of the cloud forest
Cloud forests are found above 1,500 meters above sea level. It corresponds to high altitude lands. They are among the richest in diversity in the world. In addition, a large number of species have originated in this type of forest to later migrate to other areas of Mesoamerica, the Caribbean and part of South America.
The large number of lichens, epiphytes, bromeliads and mosses are very characteristic. They can be found under the name of hygrophilous or mossy forests. Most of the time they are covered by a dense fog which increases the atmospheric humidity inside the forest, this is called horizontal precipitation. This phenomenon filters large masses of air and extracts water and nutrients from it, becoming a very important element for the subsistence of the forest. It is not usually waterlogged with excess humidity like rainforests, since the humidity in them comes mainly from these "aerial rivers" in the form of clouds. However, due to the large amount of water they collect, they are very important sources of recharge for springs and rivers that flow into the sea.
As we know, global warming has greatly affected the temperature of fragile systems, breaking their equilibrium, so vulnerable species such as some plants and amphibians have begun to disappear. Water sources that feed different communities have begun to diminish their flow.
In the cloud forests there is a variety of plant species such as orchids, ferns, peperomias, herbs, shrubs and bamboos endemic to the area. More than 5,000 plant species have been recorded in the Talamanca area and more than 3,000 on the Monteverde side. More than 350 species of ferns have been identified, ranging from miniature to arborescent ferns that can be as large as a shrub. Nearly 50 species of fruit trees that are an important food source for birds and mammals. More than 425 species of birds have been counted, many of them migratory, that is, they do not live there all year round but only at specific times of the year.
Regarding the diversity of fauna these forests have recorded at least 560 species of birds in Chirripó National Park and La Amistad International Park, and 120 species of mammals in the Coordillera de Tilarán according to the 2018 State of Biodiversity in Costa Rica. Among the best known birds are the quetzal, bellbird, owls, toucans, tanagers and hummingbirds. Among the mammals we find foxes, shrews, bats, monkeys congo, colorado and cariblanco, sloths of 2 and 3 fingers, antbirds, seraphs, rabbits, taltuzas, squirrels, mice, tepezcuintles, guatuzas, porcupines, raccoons, tigrillo, caucel, jaguars, manigordos, zahínos, deer, tapirs and many more.
The main threats to this type of forest are deforestation, conversion of forest land for agriculture and cattle ranching, illegal hunting and fires. In the Mesoamerican area, studies indicate that about 74% of these forests have been lost, mainly due to land use substitution for corn, beans and cattle production.
What places to visit in Costa Rica to get to know cloud forests?
Monteverde: Children's Eternal Rainforest, San Gerardo de Dota, Cerro de la Muerte, Cordillera de Talamanca, Chirripó National Park, Poás Volcano, Barva, Highlands of Tilarán and Guanacaste, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Miravalles National Park.
Clothing:
Fresh and light quick-drying clothes, coat, cape, repellent, rubber boots or closed shoes, fresh and warm change of clothes due to the sudden changes in temperature during the day and night.
Tips:
Bring water, seeds, dry fruits, umbrellas or parasols, binoculars.
Importance of caring for cloud forests
The fragility of rainforests lies in the hand of humans. It is important to see ourselves as part of the ecosystem that forms them and understand that if they disappear, many species, including humans, will disappear or suffer drastic and negative changes. It is necessary that as conscious people we look for ways to promote reforestation, support agro-ecological, ecotourism and environmental impact projects that contribute to the recovery and strengthening of the forests of Costa Rica and the world.Remember never to leave garbage where you have been for a walk. Avoid making bonfires or consuming products that we know are produced disrespecting the environment by using agrochemicals and insecticides harmful to water, plants and animals of the forest. With you begins the new era where we stop being predators and become guardians of the natural world.
Links of interest:
If you want to find the perfect place for your vacation, enter the following link and complete the form with your preferences and the system will give you options of national parks, reserves and wildlife refuges in Costa Rica.
You can also see the map of CR with the national parks and reserves by clicking here.
To know all the products we have with the "Forests of Costa Rica" click here.
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