Monteverde Cloud Forest - Essay Example

Monteverde Cloud forest, located in Costa Rica, South America, is one of the most marvelous gifts of the nature. The forest is a natural paradise with vast variety of flora and fauna. The forest is spread over an area of more than 10,500 hectares more than 90% of which is still virgin forest. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve was established in 1972 and is owned and administered by Tropical Science Center (TSC). The Center is a non profit, non government organization whose primary objective is to help maintain ecological balance of the preserve through research and scientific education programs.

The Center also makes concerted efforts to create awareness that earth has a finite size and therefore, the organisms residing on it must ensure that the eco system of the earth is not disturbed drastically.The wild life sanctuary is known as Cloud Forest rather than rain forest because of its altitude where clouds can be seen passing through the trees. Situated at a height of 1440 meters, it is also known as green forest and comprises of eight ecological zones and shelters more than 400 species of birds and 100 species of mammals (monteverde.com). It has 120 species of reptilians and amphibians and thousands of insects.

The forest with its tall trees help protects the species from natural catastrophes like storms and hurricanes. Many endangered species like Quetzals, Emerald Toucanet, Bellbird, golden toad and rare variety of hummingbirds can be found here. The reserve is a favorite destination for nature lovers across the globe. ‘In 1988, the organization began the International Children’s Rainforest project, which has raised money for the reserve ever since. With the help of children from around the world, the Monteverde Cloud Forest has increased in size to over 26,000 acres.

Together with several other forests in the area, it forms almost 70,000 acres of privately owned cloud forest’ (CostaRica). The preserve is an ongoing project for the awareness creation that contributes towards sustainable development. This nature paradise draws more than 70,000 tourists per annum. With its impressive landscape and biodiversity, ‘Monteverde is considered one of the Costa Ricas Seven Wonders, along with Cocos Island, Tortuguero, Arenal Volcano, Chirripo Mountain, Celeste River and Poas Volcano (Monteverde Forest).

The sanctuary has more than 2500 species of plants and more than 420 different types of orchids. The stupendous range of biodiversity in the forest makes it one of the most outstanding nature reserves of the world. The ‘canopy tours’ of the sanctuary gives the lush green view of the cloud forest from the height and is a big favorite with the eco-tourists (CanopyTour). The Monteverde forest Reserve is a fine example of safe tourism that encourages better understanding with nature and offers huge opportunities to the people to learn the wider implications of the fast depletion of natural resources that has disturbed the eco system, resulting in change in global environmental conditions like global warming, increasing number of climate related natural disasters etc.

The conservation and preservation of natural resources are important part of population dynamics as its sustenance depends on the available resources. The population growth has brought into focus the issue of sustainable development. Sustainable development is defined as maintenance of ecosystem that facilitates a continuous supply of natural resources like water, clean air, energy and food with proper waste disposal system. It is important that awareness regarding sustainable development is created amongst the public so that despite advancement in technology, environment is preserved for our future generation.

Monteverde Cloud Forest is an inspiration for other private bodies to promote environmental conservation.ReferenceTropical Science Centre (TSC). Available from: [Accessed 9 March 2009].Canopy Tour. Available from: [Accessed 9 March 2009].Costa Rica. Available from: < http://www.costarica.com/Places-To-See/Parks,-Reserves-and-Protected-Areas/Monteverde-Cloud-Forest-Reserve/> [Accessed 9 March 2009].Monteverde Info Center. Available from: [Accessed 9 March 2009].Monteverde Forest. Available from: [Accessed 9 March 2009].