Hidden Forest

There are few pristine places like Mt. Lico left on Earth. Human activities like building cities, constructing roads, and farming have altered an estimated 75 percent of the world’s land. Forests have been particularly hard hit. People have cut them down to harvest lumber and to clear space for agricultural activities.

But Bayliss has a knack for finding remote forests that remain intact. In 2005, he used satellite images to find the largest rainforest in southern Africa on a mountain called Mount Mabu, also in Mozambique. When he visited, Bayliss discovered new species of bats, snakes, chameleons, butterflies, and plants.

Few untouched places like Mt. Lico are left on Earth. Humans farm and build cities and roads. Activities like these have changed about 75 percent of the world’s land. Forests have taken a big hit. People have cut them down to get lumber and to clear space for farming.

But Bayliss is good at finding hard-to-reach forests that haven’t been cut. In 2005, he used satellite images to find the largest rainforest in southern Africa. It’s on another mountain in Mozambique, called Mount Mabu. Bayliss visited it and found new species of bats, snakes, chameleons, butterflies, and plants.

Since then, Bayliss has used satellite images to find similar spots, including Mt. Lico. Its geology made it particularly intriguing. The granite rock that makes up the mountain formed 130 million to 500 million years ago, says Bayliss. Initially, that rock was part of a flat landscape. Over thousands of years, wind and rain eroded, or ate away at, the surrounding rock. That left behind Mt. Lico, a towering formation (see How Mount Lico Formed).

As the new landform slowly emerged, the animals on it were cut off from those in surrounding areas. Members of an isolated population can mate only with each other. So some genes—units of hereditary information—passed on to their offspring become more prominent while others disappear completely. Over time, these differences can cause remote groups to become their own separate species. Bayliss believed this process had likely been happening on Mt. Lico.

Since then, Bayliss has used satellite images to find other hidden forests. Mt. Lico is one of them. Its geology made him very curious. Granite rock makes up the mountain. It formed 130 million to 500 million years ago, says Bayliss. At first, that rock was part of a flat landscape. Wind and rain eroded, or ate away at, the rock around it. That took thousands of years. Mt. Lico, a towering landform, was left behind (see How Mount Lico Formed).

Animals lived on the new landform. As it slowly took shape, they were cut off from animals in other areas. Members of a separated group can mate only with each other. They pass on units of hereditary information called genes to their offspring. Some genes become more common, and others disappear completely. Over time, this can cause cut-off groups to become their own separate species. Bayliss believed this had probably been happening on Mt. Lico.

As soon as Bayliss and his expedition crew arrived at Mt. Lico, climbers installed a rope and pulley system off the shortest cliff side. Bayliss was among the first to make the 40-story climb. “I hadn’t gone rock climbing since I was a teenager,” he says. But once he got started, “there was nothing on Earth that was going to stop me from getting up there.”

About 45 minutes later, Bayliss arrived at the top and got his first look at the forest. There were big trees and vines, spiders and ants crawling everywhere, and loads of bright yellow and metallic blue butterflies. It was so quiet, says Bayliss. “It was a little bit eerie.”

Bayliss and his expedition crew reached Mt. Lico. Right away, climbers set up a rope and pulley system off the shortest cliff side. Bayliss was one of the first to make the 40-story climb. “I hadn’t gone rock climbing since I was a teenager,” he says. But when he got started, “there was nothing on Earth that was going to stop me from getting up there.”

About 45 minutes later, Bayliss reached the top. He got his first look at the forest. It held big trees and vines. Bright yellow and shiny blue butterflies filled the air. Spiders and ants were crawling everywhere. It was so quiet, says Bayliss. “It was a little bit eerie.”

Over the next few weeks, Bayliss and the other scientists collected samples, including leaves and flowers from about 200 plants. They spotted frogs, as well as fish and crabs in a river winding through the trees. Biologist Ana Gledis da Conceição Miranda set traps to capture small mammals like mice, shrews, and pouched rats. “You can’t imagine how happy I was,” she says. Any one of the animals might turn out to be a new species. The scientists bagged samples of poop that contained the animals’ DNA, or genetic material.

Bayliss also set up four motion-sensing cameras. He dropped a sandwich in front of one. Two days later, the camera snapped a photo of an antelope munching on the snack. “It was a real surprise,” Bayliss says. “The forest is small, so I wasn’t expecting big animals there.”

Bayliss and the other scientists collected samples over the next few weeks. They took leaves and flowers from about 200 plants. A river curved through the trees. They spotted frogs, fish, and crabs there. Biologist Ana Gledis da Conceição Miranda set traps. She wanted to catch small mammals like mice, shrews, and pouched rats. “You can’t imagine how happy I was,” she says. Any one of the animals might be a new species. The scientists bagged samples of poop. It held the animals’ DNA, or genetic material.

Bayliss also set up four motion-sensing cameras. He dropped a sandwich in front of one. Two days later, the camera snapped a photo. It showed an antelope eating the snack. “It was a real surprise,” Bayliss says. “The forest is small, so I wasn’t expecting big animals there.”

There was something else the researchers didn’t expect. They found three ancient handmade pots sitting upside down by the river. The pots indicate that humans have been up Mt. Lico at least once a long time ago. But who these people were and how and when they got up the mountain remains a mystery.

The researchers found another surprise. Three ancient handmade pots were sitting upside down by the river. The pots show that humans have been up Mt. Lico at least once a long time ago. But no one knows who these people were. How and when they got up the mountain is still a mystery.

Mt. Lico provides a glimpse of what nature would be like without people’s interference. So it’s important that the forest remains untouched, says Bayliss. He hopes that identifying new species can help make the case that Mt. Lico needs protection. “The more you can highlight the uniqueness of these sites,” he says, “the higher chance you have of protecting them.”

What would nature be like without people changing things? Mt. Lico provides a peek. So it’s important that the forest stays untouched, says Bayliss. Scientists are working to identify new species. He hopes this can help show that Mt. Lico needs protection. “The more you can highlight the uniqueness of these sites,” he says, “the higher chance you have of protecting them.”

So far, one butterfly found on Mt. Lico has been confirmed as a previously unidentified species. But there could be more. Scientists are now analyzing the data and samples collected there. Other organisms could be new species if their appearance or DNA differs from those of known animals and plants.

Bayliss and the other scientists are anxiously awaiting the findings. “Once we get those results, only then can we really say the true meaning of what we have discovered at Mt. Lico,” Bayliss says.

So far, scientists have identified one formerly unknown species from Mt. Lico. It’s a butterfly. But there could be more. Scientists are studying the data and samples collected there. Do these living things look different from known animals and plants? Is their DNA different? Then they could be new species.

Bayliss and the other scientists can’t wait to see the findings. “Once we get those results, only then can we really say the true meaning of what we have discovered at Mt. Lico,” Bayliss says.