Figures 1.4-1.8 (preceding pages). Maps of the Monteverde area at various spatial scales. Maps are
based on figures created by Linda Mather and modified by David King (Monteverde Institute and
Monteverde Conservation League). Life zone terminology follows Holdridge (1967).
Holdridge Life Zones Key
Wetness
bp
bh
bmh
bs
h
mh
P
s
PPIndicators
bosque pluvial
bosque humedo
bosque muy humedo
bosque seco
humedo
muy humedo
pluvial
seco
paramo pluvial(rain forest)
(moist forest)
(wet forest)
(dry forest)(rain paramo)Temperature-altitude Indicators
M
MB
P
SA
Tmontano
montano bajo
premontano
sub-alpino
tropical(montane)
(lower montane)
(premontane)
(subalpine)
(basal)Monteverde region, and Monteverde area (which in-
cludes portions of the canton) refer to the larger
region including the community, MCFP, the Chil-
dren's Rainforest, and areas on both sides of the Con-
tinental Divide down to about 700 m elevation (Figs.
1.4-1.8).
Much of Monteverde lies within the vegetation
type that is loosely termed a tropical montane cloud
forest (TMCF), a forest type that has received increas-
ing attention from the biological, forestry, and con-
servation communities (LaBastille and Pool 1978,
UNESCO 1981, Stadtmiiller 1987, Lugo and Lowe
1995). As defined by Hamilton et al. (1993), TMCF is
a relatively narrow altitudinal zone with frequent
cloud cover during much of the year. Solar radiation
and evapotranspiration are reduced, and precipitation
is enhanced by canopy interception of cloud water.
Compared to trees in lower altitude tropical moist8 Introduction