What makes Selva Negra Eco Lodge and Coffee Estate

Selva Negra Eco Lodge and Coffee Estate is a multiphaceted estate with a the eco lodge and the primary tourism destination, the coffee estate exporting organic and sustainable coffee, and a world class sustainable farm.

Cloud forests, unlike rainforests, have two major sources of water: rain and condensation of water from low clouds, sometimes called horizontal rain. Horizontal rain occurs when warm moist air is forced upward by the topography of the region and cools. Clouds form in the canopy and water condenses on the leaves. In a cloud forest, the trees and their epiphytes act as sponges, trapping moisture from the air and transferring it to the biosphere. On average, a cloud forest receives about 5% to 15% of its annual moisture as horizontal rain but it can be as high as 60%. Once the moisture has been collected, the canopy traps it with its thick layer of vegetation preventing evaporative loss. It also shades the forest floor reducing evaporation. Cloud forests are a vital water sources for areas downstream. During the dry season, moisture collected by cloud forests may be the only source of water down stream. When a cloud forest is cut it is very difficult to recover because the moisture cycle has been broken. It loses much of its annual moisture input and water retention ability without a mature canopy to collect water and shade the ground.