In the early 1960s, biologists first became aware of
Monteverde. Welcomed by the small farming commu-
nity and working largely independently or in small
groups, they overcame the lack of scientific facilities
and infrastructure to document the diverse tropical
biota. A surprising number of these biologists have
taken up residence in Monteverde, weaving their
work into the rich tapestry of the human community
of Monteverde. Although much of the research from
Monteverde has been published as primary scientific
literature, it has never before been synthesized. Only
one symposium (sponsored by the Association for
Tropical Biology, held in 1984) has brought together
Monteverde biologists as a group.
A major reason for producing this book is that re-
search from Monteverde has not previously been in-
tegrated into forms that can be readily channeled into
education and conservation. For two decades, Monte-
verde has been a mecca for student groups to observe
and study tropical montane landscapes (Fig. 1.3).
Foremost among these have been the graduate courses
offered by the Organization for Tropical Studies
(OTS). Many preliminary studies led to dissertation
theses and long-term research. Numerous under-
graduate groups from North American colleges and
universities have also conducted research in Monte-
verde. Little background material has been avail-
able for their research projects, and the scattered
nature of the available information has hampered
useful input to the scientific record from these stu-
dent groups (see Nadkarni, "Scope of Past Work,"
pp. 11-13).
The mixture of biologists, educators, and eco-
tourists in Monteverde has produced an opportunity
for conservation. Monteverde has been viewed as a
model for conservation at the grassroots level. Funds
have come from government agencies, foundations,
nongovernmental organizations, and individuals to
support land acquisition, native tree nurseries, and
environmental education. Strong links between con-
servation and biology are needed to maintain high-
quality conservation practices. Compiling and synthe-
sizing existing information is an important first step
in forging these connections.1.2. The BoundariesThe term "monteverde" needs explicit definition be-
cause people use it to refer to different areas. Monte
Verde, a legal political entity, is District 10 of the
County (Canton) of Puntarenas in the Province of
Puntarenas. In this book, unless otherwise stated, we
use Monteverde to refer to the human community
from the creek, Quebrada Maquina, to the Monteverde
Cloud Forest Preserve (MCFP). The Monteverde zone,Figure 1.3. Avian ecologist Carlos Martinez del Rio displays a mist-netted Long-tailed Manakin for
students on an Organization for Tropical Studies course. Photograph by Nathaniel Wheelwright.5 Introduction