Cloudbridge Nature Reserve offers visitors access to the unique Cloud Forest of the Talamanca mountains, be it as a day visitor, receiving a guided tour, or even participating in our research or volunteer program. The astounding biodiversity found on the reserve includes frogs such as these mating Chiriquí Robber Frogs (Pristimantis cruentus). This excellent photo, taken by our staff member Anthony Garita, shows the pair in an axillary amplexus. He also captured the image below of a juvenile pug-nosed tree frog (Smilisca sila).
In addition to lots of time spent out in the field, this month our participants were able to support Hotel Rio Chirripo´s reforestation efforts at their own protected area, Talari Nature Reserve. Located in the next valley over, Los Angeles, the Talari Nature Reserve does not directly connect with Cloudbridge, but is still a part of the same biological corridor.
Speaking of Biological Corridors, this month some of our program participants were able to participate with a stand for the reserve at the COBAS Festival in Quizarrá. COBAS is the acronym of the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor, where the renowned ornithologist lived for the second half of his life, happily observing and describing the wonders of the natural world. In this festival, many local artists and entrepeneurs shared their talents, and the children demonstrated a great appreciation for the local wildlife with their costumes inspired by local birds : )
This coming month, Cloudbridge Nature Reserve will be holding the third edition of its own «Cloud Forest Festival» with free educational activities for people of all ages. The last two editions have been amazing, and we expect this year to also deliver a healthy dose of community participation! Other educational activities Cloudbridge has been participating in include environmental education modules in two local schools. This month, the children learned about climate change, mitigation and adaptation.
Pics from around the Reserve
Suggested Reading
- As we have stated time and time again, the climate crisis is intimately linked to the crisis of biodiversity and habitat disruption that is also a result of human action. As is beautifully argued in this article, the population decline of many species is extremely worrisome, even if the species does not go entirely extinct.
- As can be surmised by the title of her upcoming book, «What if we get it right?», Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a scientist and communicator who is talking about the climate crisis in a hopeful and solutions-oriented manner. We invite you to enjoy this interview with her in the New York Times.
- As usual, we like to end on a positive note, in this case highlighting how the Andean town of Catacocha is recovering its traditional water sources through judicious management of certain key areas, as had been done in prehispanic times. Read more about it here!