What if a forest could collect water directly from the clouds?

High in mountains and mist-covered landscapes, some forests do exactly that.

These remarkable ecosystems are known as cloud forests. Instead of relying only on rainfall, their trees, mosses, ferns, and other vegetation can capture tiny droplets of water suspended in fog and clouds.

The Forests That Drink Clouds explores how these unusual forests help turn airborne moisture into water that can eventually reach streams, rivers, and communities below.

When moist air rises along a mountain slope, it cools and can form clouds that surround the forest.

Leaves, branches, moss, and other surfaces intercept tiny droplets.

The droplets collect and merge until they become large enough to fall or run down the vegetation and into the soil.

This process is  ...