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On the way in the high forest of Ecuador A film by Arnaud Bitschy In the North of Ecuador, Philippe is on a mission to save a very special place called ‘Los Yaltes’. Located on a mountain and topped by a seasonal cloud cover at the canopy level, this “cloud forest” is home to hundreds of animal species and thousands of plants. Most of them are still to be discovered. Cloud forests have exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and endemism. As such, they are havens for birds, mammals, rodents, frogs, orchids, and other endemic species. But human activities such as deforestation and agriculture, along with climate change, have taken a toll on the Los Yaltes forest. If nothing is done, this whole ecosystem could disappear overtime. French filmmaker Philippe fell in love with Los Yaltes 25 years ago. Through the foundation he created, he carries out research on endemic species with scientists from all around the world, raises awareness of the need to protect the forest, and to develop new sources of income for local communities instead of deforestation. A small-scale project that has fostered tremendous impact and could inspire many. This film offers a unique glance at one of the most biodiversity-rich ecosystems in the world. The viewer is immersed in the beauty of Los Yaltes, its numerous shades of green, the abundance of its vegetation and wildlife, but also its fragility. The film “The Secret of the Cloud Forest” was directed by Arnaud Bitschy, in collaboration with Chantal Bernheim and Marina Wutholen, and produced by dev.tv, Radio Télévision Suisse and Séquence with the participation of 3SAT and TV5MONDE. It will be broadcast by 3SAT
On the way in the high forest of Ecuador A film by Arnaud Bitschy In the North of Ecuador, Philippe is on a mission to save a very special place called ‘Los Yaltes’. Located on a mountain and topped by a seasonal cloud cover at the canopy level, this “cloud forest” is home to hundreds of animal species and thousands of plants. Most of them are still to be discovered. Cloud forests have exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and endemism. As such, they are havens for birds, mammals, rodents, frogs, orchids, and other endemic species. But human activities such as deforestation and agriculture, along with climate change, have taken a toll on the Los Yaltes forest. If nothing is done, this whole ecosystem could disappear overtime. French filmmaker Philippe fell in love with Los Yaltes 25 years ago. Through the foundation he created, he carries out research on endemic species with scientists from all around the world, raises awareness of the need to protect the forest, and to develop new sources of income for local communities instead of deforestation. A small-scale project that has fostered tremendous impact and could inspire many. This film offers a unique glance at one of the most biodiversity-rich ecosystems in the world. The viewer is immersed in the beauty of Los Yaltes, its numerous shades of green, the abundance of its vegetation and wildlife, but also its fragility. The film “The Secret of the Cloud Forest” was directed by Arnaud Bitschy, in collaboration with Chantal Bernheim and Marina Wutholen, and produced by dev.tv, Radio Télévision Suisse and Séquence with the participation of 3SAT and TV5MONDE. It will be broadcast by 3SAT
