Historical State of the Eco-Region

The Costa Rican Cloud Forest Forests is found in three areas:  2 in northwestern Costa Rica and another in southwestern Nicaragua. They are predominantly found between the Pacific Coast dry forests and the Tilarán Cordillera mountain range. Rain shadows cover the northwestern forests in Costa Rica, which affects the amount of water in the forest and, by extension, the animals who live there.

Costa Rica is extremely biologically diverse, with over 12,000 species of plants, 1,239 species of butterflies, 838 species of birds, 440 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 232 species of mammals. The endemic concentration is higher here than in any other location, except for islands such as the Galapagos, which are isolated by the ocean.
 FUN FACT: The Monteverde Cloud Forest is one of the only places that all six species of the cat family still exist (jaguars, ocelots, pumas, oncillas, margays, and jaguarundis.) 

                             Scarlet Macaw

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/rainforest-tropical-wildlife/

 In the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests of this region, there are numerous tall trees whose branches hold many epiphytes and lianas. Many migratory birds use these forests as a stopover point on their long journeys from North to South America.

The Cloud Forest gets its name from the tradewind-derived clouds that capture huge amounts of water while covering the tropical mountain’s cloud forests. 

The eco-zone takes in rain during the rainy season to prevent erosion, then releases the water vapor into the atmosphere during the dry season, thus acting like a natural regulator that benefits the areas inhabitants.


 http://costa-rica-guide.com/travel/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=364&Itemid=603 
 http://www.globalspecies.org/ecoregions/display/NT0119
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/20costarica.htm