Cauca Valley montane forests

Cauca Valley montane forests (NT0109)
View from Manizales of the Nevado del Ruiz in Los Nevados National Natural Park
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Realm	Neotropical
Biome	Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Bird species	>500
Mammal species	120
Geography
Area	32,412 km2 (12,514 sq mi)
Countries	Colombia
Coordinates	4°50′20″N 75°37′52″W / 4.839°N 75.631°W / 4.839; -75.631
Climate type	Af: equatorial, fully humid

The Cauca Valley montane forests (NT0109) is an ecoregion in western Colombia. It covers the sides of the Cauca Valley, which runs from south to north between the Central and Western Ranges (cordilleras) of the Colombian Andes. The ecoregion is home to very diverse fauna and flora, due in part to its varied elevations and climates, in part to its position near the isthmus of Panama, the route along which North American species invaded South America and then diversified as they moved to the upper parts of the Andes. Little of the original habitat remains at lower levels, but higher up there are sizeable blocks of forest, some of which are protected.