This is Bird Note. The Mashbee Cloud Forest in Ecuador grows where water vapor from the Amazon meets the Andy's Mountains.

Water condenses on the leaves and gnarled branches of trees, dripping onto the lush forest floor.

This place is home to over 400 bird species, including this black-breasted puffleg, a blue-green hummingbird with white-legged feathers.

Because Mashbee is enveloped in your constant fog, it can't be appreciated by sight alone.

Baola Moskoso is a biologist who specializes in eco-acoustics.

If you go to a forest which is undisturbed, you're going to find acoustic richness and also like high complexity.

That's why Baola and a team of conservationists are pushing for the sounds of the Mashbee Cloud Forest to be protected by the UNESCO World Heritage Center,

on the basis of acoustic value. UNESCO often prioritizes visual beauty and doesn't currently cover sound.

The team hopes to add a layer of protection to the region, where deforestation and mining, threatened birds and other species.

We are really trying to bring people to see the importance of the sounds, and not only for the help of the wildlife,

also the importance of the sounds, the natural sounds for people as well.

Musician Miguel Sevilla created this audio composition of sounds for Mashbee.

It reflects the incredible sonic diversity to be found in this remarkable place.

For Bird Note, I'm Michal Arana.