Wilkend heights: Rescue of the Monteverde fog forest

Wilkend heights: Rescue of the Monteverde fog forest

We visit the Monteverde fog forest in Costa Rica and learn that despite its visible liveliness, more is behind it than you can see at first glance

The hanging garden houses a rich fauna: over 100 mammalian, 400 birds and thousands of insect species live here and it is one of the few remaining habitats that support all six wild cats Costa Ricas- Jaguars, Ozelots, Pumas, Oncillas, Margays and Jaguarundis- as well as the vulnerable triple bell bird and the magnificent Quetzal.

to see this first hand, convinces visitors that the fog forest of Monteverde is one of the healthiest and most lively centers of biological diversity. In reality, the forest is clearly threatened by climate change, which is undermined by its outer shine.

Alt = "Monteverde-Nebelwald in Costa Rica"> Atlas & Boots Moose, ferns and epiphytes thrive in the fog forest of Santa Elena

In fact, scientists have described the fog forest, which only covers 1 % of the global forest area, together with ice caps and coral reefs as one of the most sensitive ecosystems in the earth - so why is no longer known about it?

fog forests can be described as highland forests with almost 100 % humidity all year round. You benefit from an even cloud cover, which leads to slower evaporation and in turn provides plants with a wealth of lifelong moisture. These wet conditions make a variety of living things thrive.

alt = “Monteverde-Nebelwald: Quetzal”> Francesco Veronesi; CC BY-SA 2.0 The magnificent Quetzal can be found in the fog forest of Monteverde

Monteverde Cloud Forest is probably the most famous of its kind. His origin can be traced back until the 1950s when US quäker settled in the area. As pacifists, they wanted to avoid the convening of the Korean War and came to Costa Rica, who dissolved his army in 1948.

When the quäker roded the forest for pastures, they also protected parts of it to get the water sheath. The Quäiker recognized the unique ecosystem of the region and formed a coalition with foreign scientists and local Costaricans, which finally led to the establishment of the Monteverde fogwal reserve in 1972. Today the reserve protects 105 km2 forest.

alt = “Mogwald cover only 1% of the global forest area”> Atlas & Boots fog forest only covered 1% of the global forest area

Unfortunately, the fog forest of Monteverde suffers from warmer, dry weather patterns that exterminate the cloud. Dryage days in the forest have quadrupled in the past four decades and have been an average of over 100 days a year since 2011.

amphibians that once experienced here have perished until extermination. Low land of bats and birds have started to penetrate the fog forest, and the breeding patterns of splendid quetals are disturbed. The colorful birds that have long lured tourists to the area are squeezed because there is no place for them to go uphill.

alt = “The extinct gold toad was once available in the fog forest of Monteverde”> GuSh Span> The extinct gold toad was once available in the fog forest of Monteverde

An organization that is at the forefront in the fight against climate change is the Monteverde Institute, a non-profit organization that carries out a number of initiatives to protect the forest, including the restoration of habitats, water protection, education for local high school students and the presentation of GIS data for decision-makers.

We recently visited the Monteverde Institute on our National Geographic Expedition to Costa Rica to inform us about the work done there.

alt = “A short tutorial before our tree planting session in the fog forest of Monteverde”> Atlas & Boots A short tutorial in front of our tree planting session at the Monteverde Institute

The institute served numerous discoverers and researchers financed by National Geographic as a basis, including the American scientist Nalini Nadkarni, which specializes in epiphytes, a kind of non -parasitic plants that grow on other plants and take up moisture and nutrients from the air around them.

Nadkarni has spent almost 40 years of studying the forest, and often climbed 30 to 40 meters across the floor to walk between the treetops. She experienced the changes in the Monteverde fog forest first -hand.

"The effects of climate change are real, but subtle," she tells us. "There are many natural weather fluctuations from year to year, so it is difficult to monitor trends. In the past 40 years, however, there have been measurable changes at the time and in the way of rain and fog that arrive in Monteverde.

She adds: "Some biologists have pointed out that climate change has negatively influenced certain types of frog and toads, which in turn has a negative impact on snakes and other organisms dependent on them."

Of course, the Monteverde Institute is very interested in the fact that visitors compensate for the environmental impact of a visit to Costa Rica. Our group was invited to help with the preparation of 100 trees for plants and to compensate for the CO2 costs of our flights. It's not a perfect solution for frequent flyers, but it is certainly a start.

The managing director of the institute, Debra Hamilton, tells us that National Geographic has helped National Geographic to have almost 13,000 trees for planting and funds to support the institute for support.

• Alt = "">
• Alt = "">
• Alt = "">
• Alt = "">
• Alt = "">
• Alt = "">
• Alt = "">
• Alt = "">

In view of the increasing pressure on the fog forest, I ask Nadkarni whether traditionally apolitical scientists feel forced to speak against the effects of climate change.

"Yes," she replies. “Many scientists recognize that they can have a critical voice in the nature conservation and the solution of environmental problems with which we are all confronted. Communicate. "

Alt = "Tree planting at the Monteverde Institute in the Nebelwald of Monteverde"> Atlas & Boots Motor tools at the Monteverde Institute

nadkarni itself is very active in the outstanding work. Your above Ted lecture describes innovative ways with which you and your colleagues have won support from younger generations-including the distribution of "Treetop Barbies", barbie dolls, who bought from Goodwill, as a scientist in the handbook made by cutters and sent with the Handbuch!

The importance of public relations cannot be emphasized enough. Climate change rarely leads the news agenda and if it is not maintained, it will probably be one of its very first victims.

As Nadkarni said: "It is one of the canaries in the coal memory that reacts more sensitive to climate change than others. Everyone wises a world that experiences climate change, and that happens now."

With scientists like Nadkarni, who are louder and louder and armed with facts, it can still be possible to turn the sheet.

fog forest of Monteverde: The essentials

What: Visiting the Monteverde fog forest as part of a 9-day tour to the Costa Rica Natural Highlights with National Geographic Expeditions.

Where: We stayed in a number of mid -range hotels, from the lavish facilities and comfortable rooms in the Arenal Manoa in La Fortuna to simpler subconsctions in the mountain hut style in the Hotel Heliconia in Monteverde and even ship containers, which were converted into EL Faro at Manuel Antonio.

When: The best travel time for Costa Rica is the dry season from December to April. A lot of sunshine makes it an ideal time to explore both the tree tops and the coast. However, this is high season, so you can expect more tourists and higher prices. The low season from May to July and November is also a good time for a visit. It is raining more, but it is quieter and the forests of Costa Ricas are brimming with leaves.

like: We took part in a 9-day tour to the Costa Rica natural highlights with National Geographic Expeditions, which includes a lecture and a tree planting session in the Monteverde Institute. Book the optional activity "Sky Walk Monteverde" to hike between the tree tops.

The tour itself costs from £ 1,199 and includes a chief experience officer (CEO), all accommodations, the transport between the goals, all breakfasts, some meals and numerous activities, including a guided natural hike in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, a guided hike Manuel Antonio National Park, how to learn tortillas from Doña Mara in her family house Manufactures, and a tour through the coffee cooperative Mi Cafecito. The optional activities include volcanic hiking, riding, canyoning, zip-lining, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing and parasailing.

The tour is classified as a "National Geographic Journey", which is carried out in partnership with G Adventures. Luxurious options are available among the banners Luxury Eco Lodges, private tours, private jet expeditions, expedition cruises, river cruises and tours with an expert.

For more information or bookings, call 0800 440 2551 or book online.

We flew to Costa Rica with British Airways. Book flights at the best prices via Skyscanner.

alt = “>

disclosure: We traveled to Costa Rica with the support of National Geographic Expeditions. All publications say that, but we really don't guarantee positive reporting. We say what we think - good and bad - so that you can make sound decisions with honest advice.

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

 .