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2 - Modeling the tropics-wide extent and distribution of cloud forest and cloud forest loss, with implications for conservation priority

from Part I - General perspectives

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 May 2011

By
M. Mulligan
Edited by
L. A. Bruijnzeel ,
F. N. Scatena  and
L. S. Hamilton
M. Mulligan
Affiliation:
King's College London, UK
L. A. Bruijnzeel
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
F. N. Scatena
Affiliation:
University of Pennsylvania
L. S. Hamilton
Affiliation:
Cornell University, New York
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Summary

ABSTRACT

This chapter uses a combination of remote sensing, computer modeling, and data assimilation to provide: (i) estimates of the global extent and distribution of “hydro-climatically” defined tropical montane cloud forests (TMCFs), and (ii) an initial assessment of the past and future impacts of climate change and land-use change upon them. The overall goal is to improve the understanding of cloud forests as an ecosystem and to assist in the geographic targeting of research, inventory, and conservation priorities. These hydro-climatically defined TMCFs might be better termed “significantly cloud-affected forests,” since most – but not all – occur in areas of high elevation and high rainfall and show the structural characteristics typically associated with wetter TMCFs. The distribution of these forests was modeled on the basis of satellite-observed atmospheric cloud presence and/or modeled ground-level condensing conditions. Areas which experience these conditions >70% of the time gave the best fit with the UNEP–WCMC database of known cloud forest sites. Significantly cloud-affected forests have been estimated by this analysis as representing some 14.2% of all tropical forests and covering an area of 2.21 Mkm2 between 23.5° N and 35° S. This figure is much greater than previous estimates for the area covered by TMCF based primarily on altitudinal criteria but is likely to be reduced if the exercise were to be repeated with higher spatial resolution data than are currently available. […]

Type
Chapter
Information
Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
Science for Conservation and Management
 , pp. 14 - 38
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2011

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