I have been a nature lover for my entire life so I am really happy that I got to experience this beautiful forest for myself. Because of all the moss and ferns on the forest floor and the dense canopy from the tall branches, the forest was very quiet. It was like I was the only one around for miles - which was far from the truth - but as a result of the moss and ferns absorbing the sounds of other visitors, it was so peaceful. I wish I could have bottled the unique smell of the forests. The mixture of the moisture, tree bark, and moss made for the most unique and lovely natural scent.
The Taiwan Red Cypress is only found in cloud forests because it needs incredibly high humidity. It would not be able to survive anywhere less humid. It also needs the cooler temperatures that come with being at a higher altitude than the rest of the island (which can get pretty hot). It also relies on the intense rainfall that the island gets. Because of the dense forest, the trees grow super tall so they are higher than everything else and can access the sunlight. Trees, like most plants, need sunlight to be able to grow! It is how they make their energy. That is why there are no branches near the ground where there is very little direct sunlight. It is best for their survival if they only have branches high in the sky.
The biggest threat to these trees, unfortunately, is people. Since these trees are only found in Taiwan, it is important that they are protected. One of the main threats is logging, which is when people cut down trees to use for things like building materials or paper.
