A Multi-Scale Ecological Approach for the Conservation and Restoration of Venezuelan Andean Cloud Forests

The Andean eco-region in South America stands out as a major biodiversity hotspot due to its varied environments driven by latitudinal and altitudinal gradients, resulting in a complex of interconnected ecosystems with diverse precipitation patterns. Andean mountain forests, especially tropical mountain cloud forests (TMCFs), are crucial for essential ecosystem services like water provision, erosion prevention, and carbon storage, supporting high levels of biodiversity and endemism. In Venezuela, the Andean region covers roughly 10% of the country, with the Cordillera de Mérida containing diverse ecological zones where cloud forests constitute a significant portion of the vegetation. Research in sites like La Mucuy and La Carbonera has explored their structure, function, and ecological processes, highlighting their importance. While the impacts of fragmentation need further study, ecological restoration using native species’ traits shows promise. Understanding these forests is vital for developing effective conservation, restoration, and adaptation strategies in the face of global change.