It is home to a variety of rainforest types including lowland Andean, pre-montane, bamboo and high terrace forests.

There is a large body of work that had been completed at the MLC incorporating aspects of biology, geography, zoology, anthropology, tropical agriculture, politics, and art.

Specific projects have focused on reforestation, mammal behaviour patterns, human impact studies, environmental management, monitoring of the blue headed macaw (CITES Red listed), soil & agricultural sustainability, forest dynamics, carbon offsetting, and the legitimacy of local power structures to name a handful.

In 2017 a new species of frog, Ameerega shihuemoy was described from the research station, where it was found occurring in SLR (selectively logged rainforest) habitat at the back of the reserve.

CREES (Conservation, Research & Education towards Environmental Sustainability) was established in 2003 prior to the construction of the MLC and the creation of Fundo Mascoitania.