Editing Cloud forest (section)

== Current situation ==
[[File:Nimbosilva de Fray Jorge.jpg|thumb|left|Seaborne moisture is vital to the cloud forest of [[Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park|Fray Jorge]] that is surrounded by the arid southern reaches of the [[Atacama Desert]].]]
In 1970, the original extent of cloud forests on the Earth was around 50 million [[hectare]]s. [[Population growth]], [[poverty]] and uncontrolled land use have contributed to the loss of cloud forests. The 1990 Global Forest Survey found that 1.1% of tropical mountain and highland forests were lost each year, which was higher than in any other tropical forests.{{sfn|Bruijnzeel|Hamilton|2000|p={{pn|date=December 2017}}}} In Colombia, one of the countries with the largest area of cloud forests, only 10–20% of the initial cloud forest cover remains.{{sfn|Häger|2006|p={{pn|date=December 2017}}}} Significant areas have been converted to [[plantation]]s, or for use in [[agriculture]] and [[pasture]]. Significant crops in montane forest zones include [[tea]] and [[coffee]], and the [[logging]] of unique species causes changes to the forest structure.{{sfn|Hamilton|Juvik|Scatena|1995}}

In 2004, an estimated one-third of all cloud forests on the planet were protected at that time.<ref>{{harvnb|Kappelle|2004}} quote by {{harvnb|Häger|2006|p={{pn|date=December 2017}}}}</ref>