Cloud Forests of Costa Rica

Tropical cloud forests are a unique ecosystem in the world. They occur under very specific conditions, requiring a particular combination of weather patterns, topography, and altitude. This means also that they have high levels of species endemism, with animals and plants adapted to the specific conditions of a unique location. This also means cloud forests are one of the ecosystems easiest to affect negatively. Cloud forests happen in upper elevations between 3,300 and 8,200 feet and are almost always covered in mist, fog, or rain. This humidity is crucial, generating the lush greenery that characterizes this ecosystem.