Canopy
Access Cranes
Studying the forest
from the top down
Inspired by the construction cranes a forest ecologist viewed from a Miami airport during a long layover, the Canopy Access Crane System revolutionized forest ecology. With one crane on either side of the Isthmus of Panama, the system puts scientists into the tropical treetops 40-50 meters above the forest floor. The crane in Panama City’s Natural Metropolitan Park reaches 80 tree and liana species in a seasonally dry forest, and provides a spectacular view of the Panama City skyline. The crane in the San Lorenzo National Park accesses more than 120 woody species in the much wetter evergreen forest on a ridge overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The Panama cranes were the first of 11 that are in forests on five continents.
Research
The forest canopy is where some of the forest’s most important ecosystem interactions happen. Before scientists could hop into construction crane gondolas and directly access the canopies, little was known about this critical interface between forests and the atmosphere. Researchers study the canopy’s role in ecosystem processes like photosynthesis and energy flows, the dynamics of regional and global climates, and climate change and biodiversity loss. Forest canopies, especially in the tropics, are homes to countless species of animals and plants, the understanding of which has greatly increased with front-row access to their unique microclimates.
People
Services and Resources
Beyond the crane structure, the canopy research sites have a limited research resources.
Physical Monitoring Program
The Physical Monitoring Program maintains meteorological stations at both the Parque Natural Metropolitano and San Lorenzo cranes. The stations at both cranes were established shortly after each crane was built. Both cranes measure monitoring rainfall, solar radiation, Temperature, Relative Humidity. Wind speed and direction is measured only at the San Lorenzo crane.
Accommodations
There are no accommodations at the Parque Natural Metropolitano but the site is just a short drive from STRI’s Tupper Center headquarters. San Lorenzo has a small, rustic field station with two bunk beds and a limited electrical supply consisting of two solar panels. There is first aid equipment, a radio for communications and limited cell phone service.
Maps and Directions
Parque Natural Metropolitano is 4 km from STRI’s Tupper headquarters on Av. Juan Pablo II. The road to the crane entrance is 700 meters from the park’s administrative buildings.
The entrance road to the San Lorenzo Protected Landscape and Protected Forest is an 84 km drive from STRI’s Tupper headquarters in Panama City. After crossing the Gatún Locks of the Panama Canal, drive 5.5 km south toward the town of Escobal where you will find the gated entrance to the crane site on the right.
Access to the facilities must be scheduled with the crane program coordinator.
Contact us
Visiting Scientists
For booking crane for research please contact:
Emergencies
Report all emergencies to STRI security
