An ecosystem in the air
The Nouragues Nature Reserve in French Guiana protects 100,000 hectares of primary tropical rainforest. Deep within this protected area, far from direct human influence, the forest canopy forms a distinct world 50 meters above the ground. This upper layer of the forest is a physically demanding environment with more intense sunlight and wind than the forest floor below. It is also where the majority of the forest's life is found. The Nouragues research station, managed by France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), was established here to study this complex ecosystem.
The biodiversity is immense. French Guiana as a whole contains over 5,500 species of plants and more than 1,000 species of amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The Nouragues reserve itself is a site within this region, containing more than 1,300 inventoried plant species alone. The forest is dominated by old-growth trees, creating a structure of branches, vines, and epiphytes—plants that grow on other plants. These epiphytes create their own soil mats high in the trees, which can become so developed that trees grow roots from their own branches to absorb the trapped nutrients. This elevated environment supports a diversity of insects, amphibians, and mammals that may never touch the ground.
Reaching the canopy
Scientists have developed ingenious methods to study this elevated world. one of the tools is the "Radeau des Cimes," or Canopy Raft. This hexagonal structure of inflatable tubes and netting, measuring over 600 square meters, is placed on top of the forest canopy by a hot-air dirigible. From this platform, researchers can collect samples and observe life without disturbing the forest below. Another method uses a helium-filled balloon called the "Bulle des cimes" (Canopy Bubble) to move along cables strung between the treetops.
At the Nouragues station, a permanent canopy access system known as COPAS allows researchers to move a gondola or harness through a three-dimensional space to study different parts of the canopy. These systems, along with towers and suspended walkways, provide access for scientific discovery. This work is constantly revealing new information. Ongoing inventories at the reserve have documented over 4,300 insect species in sampled areas, including many new to science. Soundscape ecology projects use permanent recording stations in the canopy to monitor the acoustic diversity of insects, amphibians, and birds, tracking changes over time. Each expedition reinforces the canopy's status as one of the last biological frontiers.