Cloud Forests: Global Biodiversity Hotspots in Mountain Mist

Cloud forests, also called mist or cloud forests, are high‑altitude ecosystems where persistent fog and low‑level clouds supply most of the moisture. The constant condensation on leaves and branches creates a humid environment that supports a rich diversity of plants, especially mosses, lichens and epiphytic bromeliads, and many endemic animal species.

These forests occur on mountain slopes across the tropics and subtropics. In Mexico they are known as "bosque mesófilo de montaña," in Peru and Ecuador as "yungas," in the Atlantic islands as "laurisilva," and in Central America they appear in places such as Guatemala’s Sierra de las Minas and Costa Rica’s Monteverde. The unique water‑capture process, sometimes called horizontal rain, allows vegetation to thrive even in regions with limited rainfall.

Cloud forests play a crucial role in regional water cycles, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation, making them key targets for environmental protection worldwide.