The Andes mountains are the only place in the world to grow polylepis, known as cloud trees, which are the highest altitude trees in the world. Growing up to 5,000 meters above sea level, the trees absorb water from the clouds and glaciers, dispersing it through moss that feeds mountain streams and the Amazon River. Cloud tree forests previously covered the area, but now less than half a million trees remain. Peruvian biologists have teamed up to restore cloud forests in the Andes in an effort to protect the ecology and communities that depend on it. The group of forest preservers, called Accion Andina, have planted 10 million cloud trees so far and gained recognition from the UN and the Earthshot Prize. Their ultimate goal is to restore and conserve 1 million hectares of cloud tree forests in the Andes by 2045.
Image via Nature and Culture
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