Clouds are abandoning this Costa Rican cloud forest, transforming the life inside it

Key Points:

• Monteverde's tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica, known for its rich biodiversity and unique epiphytes, is experiencing a decline in the constant mist and fog that sustain it due to climate change, leading to drying out and ecological disruption.
• The "lifting cloud base hypothesis" explains how rising temperatures cause cloud bases to ascend, reducing the moisture that cloud forests receive, with data showing an increase in dry days from 25 annually in the 1970s to 119 recently.
• This shift threatens endemic species, such as the now-extinct golden toad, and allows lowland species like toucans and snakes to invade, potentially displacing native wildlife and altering the ecosystem balance.
• Epiphytes, critical for nutrient cycling and moisture absorption in the forest, are particularly vulnerable to reduced mist, serving as early indicators of climate impact, with ongoing research examining the broader ecological consequences of their decline.
• Conservation efforts in Monteverde include protected areas, reforestation, and habitat corridors supported by eco-tourism and local community engagement, though challenges remain in adapting to rapid climate changes and potential interventions like assisted migration.