Effects of rural agriculture and plantation forestry on high Andean biodiversity

One of South America's most endangered forest ecosystems is the Polylepis forests (los bosques de kehuiña) in the Andean highlands. The highland forests serves as important water catchment areas by "combing" humidity out of clouds and fog, and by accumulating precipitation. The water generated by the highland forests is of vital importance for Andean biodiversity and human settlements. The following document treats about the way human's activities threaten andean forests biodiversity.