An unprecedented threat to Peru's cloud forests

[Judi Lynn]

An unprecedented threat to Peru's cloud forests
by Staff Writers
Winston-Salem NC (SPX) Sep 16, 2013

Peru's cloud forests are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. A profusion of tree and plant species as well as one third of Peru's mammal, bird and frog species make their home in these perennially wet regions, located along the eastern slopes of the Andes Mountains.

The high elevation (6,500-11,000 feet), and remote location of these areas makes them some of the hardest to reach and therefore hardest to study ecosystems in the world. To date, scientists only believe a fraction of cloud forest tree and plant species have been discovered.

This massive array of underexplored biodiversity will face an unprecedented threat before the end of the century.

Now, researchers at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. have pieced together startling new evidence that shows rapid 21st century warming may spell doom for tree species in Peruvian cloud forests, with species losing 53-96 percent of their populations.

More:
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/An_unprecedented_threat_to_Perus_cloud_forests_999.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. For some reason, it does not sadden me to think of humans going extinct

but does terribly upset me to know the flora and fauna are dying out.
I can no longer watch watch "nature" shows, it tears me up.
Hell, I get sad knowing my now grown sons do not know the fairly pristine areas I grew up in.

But hey, as long as we get enough of the planet's blood fracked up to sell to other countires to make the last dollar,
why not?