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Bellavista Ecology |
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| What is a cloud forest? |
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| Cloud
forests, correctly termed pre-montane/subtropical rain forests,
cloak the steep slopes of the Andes from about 900 meters to about
2500 meters. They are forests of high biodiversity, with a profusion
of little-studied wildlife and plants. Bellavista is at the southern
edge of the Choco/Andean hotspots of biodiversity - that stretches
from south western Colombia to northwestern Ecuador. And equally
important, Bellavista is part of the Mindo Area of International
Importance for Birds, the first area so designated in South America,
by Birdlife International in 1997. The New York Botanical Gardens
wrote that the diversity of epiphytes ("air plants" that
grow on other plants) is higher in the cloud forests of Ecuador,
Colombia and Peru than anywhere else on the planet. |
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Within
this enchanting green kingdom a profusion of life awaits your discovery,
including botanical treasures such as bromeliads and orchids, as well
as the fascinating families of Gesneriaceae and Melastomataceae. Since
Bellavista is located on the equator, flowers are in bloom year round.
The Reserve's goal is to educate the public about the significance
of biodiversity in tropical cloud forests and the ever increasing
importance of protecting these unique ecosystems. Bellavista and the Tandayapa Valley boasts
over 330 recorded species of birds...and the list continues to grow!
The Tanager-finch, Giant Antpitta, Swallow-tailed Nightjar, Plush-capped
Finch, Beautiful Jay, and White-faced Nunbird are all found here.
Birders and nature lovers alike thrill to the sight of brightly colored tanagers and the Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, and everybody loves to simply sit in our four-story dome and admire the multitude of hummingbirds hovering around our feeders.
Bellavista's
resident mammals include the endangered Spectacled Bear, (rarely
seen but protected by the reserve), as well as the puma, Andean
coati and tayra, to name a few.
Bellavista Reserve, a founding member of the Network of Private
Protected Forests of Ecuador, collaborates with local conservation organizations, working to preserve the cloud forest of Northwestern Ecuador for the unique and fascinating species that live there, and for educational, recreational and scientific purposes. The wonderful news is that many Ecuadorians are becoming more aware of the importance of their unique natural heritage and are increasingly concerned about its conservation. |
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