Recognized worldwide for their great biodiversity, cloud forests or tropical montane cloud forests are a severely threatened ecosystem in Mexico. CONABIO has therefore begun to direct its efforts to contribute to the maintenance of these very important ecosystems.

The need to identify those areas of tropical montane cloud forest within the country where actions towards their sustainable management and conservation are most urgent has motivated CONABIO to organize and develop workshops the products of which are presented in this work.

This work represents a further step in the series of efforts CONABIO has undertaken to document and assess the state of natural resources in Mexico

This paper provides an overview of the current status of tropical montane cloud forest: its conservation status, the threats it faces and the many opportunities and potential for its management and conservation. With this publication, CONABIO provides a base to bring together existing knowledge regarding the state of tropical montane cloud forest in the country. This diagnosis is the result of the work of experts from academic and research institutions, non-governmental organizations and government agencies.

CONABIO makes the results of the analysis of priority available to the authorities, academics, resource owners and society in general, in order to make informed and more appropriate decisions to achieve the maintenance of the tropical montane cloud forest and the services it provides. We hope this work will stimulate fresh initiatives and collaborations to strive for the improved management and protection of cloud forests in the country.