The Mashpi cloud forest in Ecuador grows where water vapor from the Amazon meets the Andes mountains. A lush forest home to over 400 bird species, it faces threats from deforestation and mining. Biologist Paola Moscoso and others are pushing for the Mashpi cloud forest to be protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Center on the basis of “acoustic value,” because of the rich diversity of natural sounds heard in the ecosystem.More info and transcript at BirdNote.org. Want more BirdNote? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Sign up for BirdNote+ to get ad-free listening and other perks. BirdNote is a nonprofit. Your tax-deductible gift makes these shows possible.