Cloud immersion and the future of tropical montane forests

Tropical montane forests are unique biodiversity rich ecosystems which provide water to tens of millions of people, alongside other services such as carbon

sequestration. Unfortunately, future increases in temperature, and the associated reduction in cloud immersion, could lead to the disappearance of these

ecosystems and the services they provide. However, little is known on how cloud immersion affects these forests at stand-level and macroecological scales, particularly in Africa.

To address this, I will combine detailed field measurements in three African mountains with continent-wide analysis of the newly created AfriMont plot

database, and use state-of-the-art analysis methods to model cloud immersion from satellite images and climate re-analyses. I will (1) determine the importance

of cloud immersion for maintaining annual water inputs and tree growth, (2) quantify the consequences of future changes in cloud immersion for carbon stocks and fluxes, and (3) assess how different dominant tree species respond to changes in cloud immersion.

CLOUDFOR is a highly interdisciplinary project (climate science, ecology, hydrology) which will generate key information of wide relevance for the sustainable management of these forests - thanks to a targeted end-user engagement plan.

The high scientific quality and clear impact of the project will benefit the EU not only by generating new knowledge and high-profile publications, but also by

contributing to EU commitments within international treaties such as the Aichi Biodiversity targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.