Abstract
The uniqueness and importance of tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) ecosystems have been recognized for several decades (Beard 1944; Daugherty 1973; LaBastille and Pool 1978; Stadtmüller 1987). While their importance has been acknowledged, explicit guidelines for managing these forests are lacking. This paper will review management of elfin cloud forest in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico to provide insight into the management of similar areas elsewhere (Figure 1). These forests have been managed by the USDA Forest Service since 1917. Forest Service personnel with the Caribbean National Forest (CNF) are responsible for overall management and protection of the forest. Forest Service research scientists with the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) are responsible for conducting and managing research activities within the forest.
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Scatena, F.N. (1995). The Management of Luquillo Elfin Cloud Forest Ecosystems: Irreversible Decisions in a Nonsubstitutable Ecosystem. In: Hamilton, L.S., Juvik, J.O., Scatena, F.N. (eds) Tropical Montane Cloud Forests. Ecological Studies, vol 110. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2500-3_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-2500-3_21
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