Summary

Forest canopies are considered the last biotic frontier, and studies of canopy biota and related processes are just beginning to emerge in some parts of the world. Monitoring changes in biodiversity and related processes have gained much significance in the few last decades, particularly due to climate change. In addition, changes in biodiversity have been addressed by incorporating monitoring at various spatial and temporal scales that range from landscape-level changes, ecosystem dynamics, to population and species-level processes over extended time scales. Most efforts on forest monitoring remain “canopy less” and hence can give an eclipsed view. The main impediment is access for repeated sampling. It is now critical for canopy ecologists to set up a flagship monitoring effort in canopies to incorporate passive monitoring protocols through collaboration with system engineers and instrumentation experts and integrate into ground-level efforts.