Reserva Biológica Monteverde

Monteverde Biological Reserve

VISITING THE BOOK

A normal pace, unhurried, you can see a variety of birds along the way and see the change in habitats while ascending into the mountains.

EXTENSION

Consists of 11,931 ha. rainy land distributed in the Caribbean and Pacific slopes of the Cordillera de Tilarán.

The elevation varies from 600 meters in the lower Peñas Blancas River to 1842 meters on the summit of Cerro Tres Amigos.

IMPORTANCE

The Monteverde area in Costa Rica is world famous for its cloud forest. This wildlife area was created to protect the flora, fauna and water resources, and to conduct scientific studies as both environmental education programs.

CLIMATE

The annual average temperature varies between 16 º C and 18 º C, and the average annual rainfall is 3000 mm.

HISTORY

The forests of Monteverde, enveloped in clouds, and numerous wild creatures share a common future with humans who have settled near the Reserve. In 1972, under the threat of colonization of the surrounding cloud forest, the scientist George Powell and his wife joined the Quaker Wilford Guindon resident to establish a nature reserve. The Tropical Science Center was receptive to these efforts and accepted institutional responsibility of foundation, possession and administration of future reserves.

Initial purchases of 328 hectares formed the basis for the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. In 1975 under administrative agreement annexed communal reserve basin Bosque Eterno SA of 554 hectares, founded in the mid-'60s by members of the Quaker community.

After the creation of the reserve, the Tropical Science Center continued searching for the necessary financial and human resources to protect, expand, consolidate and manage properly the Reserve. Currently it has an area of over 10,500 hectares.

Eternal S.A. of 554 hectares, founded in the mid-'60s by members of the Quaker community.

After the creation of the reserve, the Tropical Science Center continued searching for the necessary financial and human resources to protect, expand, consolidate and manage properly the Reserve. Currently it has an area of over 10,500 hectares.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Six Life Zones occur in the Reserve and its biodiversity includes over 400 species of birds, including the quetzal, the clandria and pavoncillo-, 120 species of amphibians and reptiles, 490 of butterflies, 100 of mammals, some as tapirs, jaguars and ocelots are endangered-, 2,500 plants, among which 420 are orchids that bloom mainly in March-, 200 ferns. This biodiversity is

distributed in an average altitude range of 1,200 m., From 660 m. on the slopes of the Caribbean to the 1,860 m. on the hilltops.

Natural dwarf forests, sculpted by the wind in the exposed ridges, remain stunted, while the gallery forests have majestic trees, adorned with orchids,

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