Monteverde Rain Forest Research Paper

Where in the world is the Monteverde rain forest?
Nestled atop Costa Rica’s continental divide, the Monteverde rainforest Proudly calls the town of Monteverde Its home. High above the coastal towns dotted Along the famous Costa Rican seaside, Monteverde sits at an altitude of 4,662 Ft. above sea level.

Major Abiotic Factors v Because of the high altitude, this particular rain forest is known as a Cloud Forest. v A Cloud Forest is categorized as a highland forest that receives nearly 100% humidity year round. v The Monteverde Cloud Forest receives a staggering four meters of rain every year. v Due to the low amount of sunlight that can filter in through the clouds, there is an abundance of moisture that trickles down from the highest tree tops to the life below. v The bounty of moisture from either fog
or rainfall helps to host a great deal of biodiversity.

Major Biotic Factors v The Monteverde Cloud Forest is home to 100 species of mammals, such as Capuchan and Howler monkeys.
v 400 species of birds including the endangered three-wattled bellbird and nearly 30 species of hummingbirds reside in the forest. v There are 2,500 species of plant life, 420 of them orchids. v The forest harbors thousands of insects and 5,000 species of moths. v 1,200 species of reptiles and amphibians live in the forest, including poisonous and non-poisonous toads, snakes and frogs.

Tourism can protect the forest!
With its vast amount of wildlife and stunning shrubbery, it’s no wonder Monteverde is a tourism hotspot. Still, the people of Monteverde respect this delicate ecosystem all the same. Through establishing ecotourism in a protected reserve, the people of Monteverde have saved a large part of the forest that may have been torn down to make way for coffee farms and cattle. The donations and entry fee required to enter the preserve support multiple non-profit schools, like The Children’s Eternal Rainforest, that teaches children about the environment and how to respect the fragile ecosystem.

Climate and extinction: The
future
Though the forest sees nearly 250,000 tourists every year, they are not to blame for threatening this delicate ecosystem. In fact, the tourists have a shockingly low impact on the delicate environment. It is the outside world that is endangering these fragile realms by contributing to global warming by ignoring the importance of recycling. With the astounding amount of Carbon Dioxide being released into the atmosphere, life in the Cloud Forest could be in quite a lot of trouble. For example, the now extinct Golden Toad (Bufo Periglenes) was said to be extinguished by the increasing number of dry days that perilously reduced the amount of moisture being provided to the ecosystem. If the world continues to support global warming by not recycling , the future of this ecosystem will be grim.

Ways to stop global warming and save the forest ü Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! By recycling, a household can save up to 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year! ü Use your air conditioner and heat less! By simply setting your thermostat two degrees higher or lower, you can save around 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year! ü Buy energy efficient products! By avoiding products with plastics and excessive packaging, a household can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide a year!