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360:, which make up 29% of the flora with 878 species, are the richest life form among species of flora in Monteverde. The Monteverde region is also known as the site with the largest number of orchids in the world. The total number of known species surpasses 500, and of these, 34 species discovered in the Reserve were new to science at the time of their discovery.
319:, at the time a less-than-popular idea. In fact, Adelaida Chaverri became one of the sponsors, along with Joseph Tosi and other TSC members, of what is today the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. They provided continuity to the interest expressed by George Powell when he obtained the donation of the first piece of land for the Reserve.
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The mammals of
Monteverde include representatives from both North and South America as endemic species. The mammalian fauna of the region includes six species of marsupials, three muskrats, at least 58 bats, three primates, seven edentates, two rabbits, one ground hog, three species of squirrels, one
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At the time, there were few national parks in Costa Rica, and the TSC had a program to create private preserves for research and biological education, where each preserve would represent a different ecological area of the country. Immediately, the TSC became interested in Powell's offer and started
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At the end of their visit, Holdridge and Tosi recommended to the Quaker community that the native forests be preserved as much as possible in order to protect their water sources and, given the strong winds that swept though the area, to use the forests as windbreakers to protect their fields and
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In 1975, 431 visitors came to the budding preserve, most of them scientists and bird watchers. Two years later, there still was no lodging available for visitors to the community, but Wood, a local Quaker, started a small bed-and-breakfast in her own home, where occasional visitors would stay
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The number of foreign visitors increased from 2,700 in 1980 to more than 40,000 in 1991. The preserve increased in size during these years, but its best-known endemic species, the golden toad, as well as 40% of
Monteverde's amphibian population became extinct, due to a deadly fungal pandemic
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that they would donate 328 hectares (810 acres) of land, if he could form or find a civic association that would sponsor him in taking over the property. George used his personal funds to buy out several of the squatters, hoping to establish a small biological preserve in the region.
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species of spiny mouse, at least 15 species of long-tailed rats and mice (family
Muridae); one species of porcupine, one species of agouti, one paca, two canids, five mustelids, four procyonids, six felines, two species of wild pigs, two species of deer, and one tapir.
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In 1972, a young graduate student, George Powell, visited the
Tropical Science Center (TSC) in San José. He lived in Monteverde while doing doctoral research on the birds of the area, and he found that the fauna and habitats were ideal for research purposes.
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Biologists began to take note of
Monteverde in the 1960s. Despite the lack of infrastructure and shelter with which to conduct scientific research, these original biologists not only have been continuously documenting, but continue to live in, Monteverde.
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area, consisting of over 2,500 plant species (including the most orchid species in a single place), 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects, has drawn both scientists and tourists alike.
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and insectivores in
Monteverde. On a global scale, the cloud forests of Monteverde are home to ten species of birds that are considered to be endangered by the organization Birdlife International, due to their very restricted habitat worldwide.
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information center, serpentarium, frog pond, bat jungle, and butterfly gardens. There are well maintained trails that run through the reserve, as well as suspension bridges and zip-lines. Horseback tours are sometimes arranged.
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Currently, the
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The majority of the bird species in
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of the area is worth noting, with 161 species of amphibians and reptiles. Monteverde is known worldwide as the habitat of the golden toad (
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Along with Powell, Costa Rican biologist
Adelaida Chaverri and wildlife specialist Christopher Vaughn promoted the establishment of this
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Currently the
Reserve is visited by more than 70,000 people each year, who are eager to get to know the biodiversity found within.
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the process that led to the acquisition of the 328 hectares (810 acres) in April 1973. The cost of the farm was a symbolic 1
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and pass through Monteverde during their migration or spend the winter in the area. Three of these species, the
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495:"Costa Rica Home Pages: TROPICAL SCIENCE CENTER AND MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST PRESERVE"
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and founded in 1972, the Reserve consists of over 10,500 hectares (26,000 acres) of
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just three years earlier. It was the Quakers who named the place
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seeking to live as farmers moved to and purchased land in
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91 (21%) of Monteverde's bird species are long distance
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Amazed by the extraordinary biological richness of the
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256:("Green Mountain"), for round-the-year green plants.
520:"Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Costa Rica - Info"
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561:Monteverde Friends School (Escuela de los Amigos)
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248:ideology. They chose Costa Rica because it had
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631:Tourist attractions in Puntarenas Province
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177:Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde
24:Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde
268:In 1968, Joseph Tosi, who worked for the
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621:Geography of Puntarenas Province
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260:1960s: Attention from biologists
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599:Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
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35:Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
19:Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
626:Geography of Alajuela Province
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163:in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
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616:Nature reserves in Costa Rica
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141:10,500 ha (26,000 acres)
534:"Centro Científico Tropical"
327:1980s: First days of tourism
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475:Monteverde Nature Center
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229:(from 11 families) from
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312:(less than USD $ 1).
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185:Cordillera de Tilarán
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122:10.30250°N 84.79556°W
431:Pharomachrus mocinno
400:Elanoides forficatus
427:resplendent quetzal
408:Legatus leucophaius
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381:Incilius periglenes
127:10.30250; -84.79556
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435:Continental Divide
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297:golden toad
187:within the
181:Costa Rican
146:Established
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101:Coordinates
610:Categories
544:2012-04-13
505:2014-11-02
482:References
461:Facilities
450:frugivores
254:Monteverde
239:Korean War
235:Costa Rica
197:Monteverde
189:Puntarenas
113:84°47′44″W
110:10°18′09″N
95:Monteverde
85:Costa Rica
77:Puntarenas
63:Costa Rica
597:Official
358:Epiphytes
564:Archived
246:pacifist
193:Alajuela
81:Alajuela
73:Location
601:website
402:), the
348:Biology
294:endemic
276:homes.
231:Alabama
227:Quakers
216:History
179:) is a
173:Spanish
61:Map of
364:Fauna
353:Flora
310:colón
242:draft
425:The
191:and
167:The
149:1973
138:Area
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