Monteverde (Costa Rica) – The “cloud forest” of Monteverde, in the center of Costa Rica, will soon no longer be worthy of the name: climate change threatens this unique ecosystem, and its fauna and flora face an unclear future under a brilliant blue sky. In the forest, what a visitor should hear is the constant drip of moisture falling from the trees. Instead, it is the sound of dead branches snapping underfoot that breaks the silence on the dry trails. The high-altitude forest is still clinging to life under an uncomfortably bright sun: the fog which reigned supreme here only a short time ago dissipates as the temperature rises, explained forest guide Andrey Castrillo. “The forest should be cool,” he said. “We had about 30 days of sunshine a year. Now we have more than 130,” he said.