Cloud forest

A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and vegetation, in which case they are also referred to as mossy forests. Mossy forests usually develop on the saddles of mountains, where moisture introduced by settling clouds is more effectively retained.

Distribution and climate

Dependent on local climate, which is affected by the distance to the sea, the exposition and the latitude (from 23°N to 25°S), the altitude varies from 500 m to 4000 m above sea level. Typically, there is a relatively small band of altitude in which the atmospheric environment is suitable for cloud forest development. This is characterized by persistent fog at the vegetation level, resulting in the reduction of direct sunlight and thus of evapotranspiration. Within cloud forests, much of the moisture available to plants arrives in the form of fog drip, where fog condenses on tree leaves and then drips onto the ground below.

The Song of the Cloud Forest

The Song of the Cloud Forest is a Muppet story that was first shown as part of episode 7 of the short-lived television series The Jim Henson Hour and later included on the DVD Jim Henson's The Song of the Cloud Forest and Other Earth Stories. It was written by David Young, and featured music by David Lebolt, Mark Radice, Phil Ramone, and Zak Smith. It told the story of a golden toad (where its species hasn't gone extinct yet) looking for a mate.

Cast

Muppet performers

Additional Muppets were performed by Lainie Cook, Paul Hartis, Rick Lyon, Brian Muehl, and David Rudman.

Trivia