Protection of the cloud forests and their biodiversity in the coastal Cordillera of Venezuela

The Coastal Cordillera of Venezuela stretches from east to west in a narrow band alongside the Caribbean Sea. The Cordillera principally consists of two mountain chains separated by high valleys, of which the best known is the Caracas valley. Generally the mountains are between 1,000 and 2,500 m.a.s.l. high. Moisture laden winds allow the growth of evergreen cloud forest islands within a mainly dryer vegetation. Additionally, more than half of the total precipitation may be caused by the cloud interception of the vegetation. Depending on the local conditions, cloud forests can be encountered between 600 and 2,200 m.a.s.l. The coastal mountains are among the most populated areas of the country.

The cloud forests of the Coastal Cordillera harbour an interesting mixture of plant species with different phytogeographical affinities (Andean, Caribbean, Amazonian and Guayanan elements). The mountain peaks with cloud forest are the major centres of endemism in northern Venezuela.