The elevational gradient of flora in these forests is small, limiting species to a very narrow climatic range. “When we look at individual tree species, we can see them starting to shift themselves upslope,” said Dr. Miles Silman. In the past, cloud forests have been able to keep up with warming temperatures.
But the climate change we have now is an order of magnitude – about 30 times faster than things have changed in the past. It’s unclear whether things can keep up.” – Dr. Miles Silman, CINCIA co-founder and Wake Forest’s Andrew Sabin Presidential Chair of Conservation Biology.
Studies show that cloud forest temperatures will increase by around 9 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century. In turn, plants will need to migrate around 3,000 feet upslope to remain in equilibrium with temperatures by 2100.
You may read more of the PRI’s The World article here.