REDD funds were also used to investigate best practices in solving land disputes in Cambodia, which lacks proper forest zoning and boundary enforcement. Damage to nature could halve living standards for the poor and reduce global GDP by about 7% by 2050 (BBC News). The Top Rainforest Layer Is the Emergent Layer. Others have a strong smell, such as orchids. Thriving in warm, humid regions, rainforests used to cover the majority of the world; 2. The green mamba, one of the deadliest snakes in the world, blends in with foliage as it slithers up branches in the Congo rainforest. Tasmanias temperate rainforests have pine trees that. Rainforests are crucial for keeping our planet healthy. The flower is well known for its putrid smell (which attracts flies as its pollinators). Rainforests are Earths oldest living ecosystems, with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years. Monkeys can understand written numbers and can even count. Switching to reusable utensils and straws, or buying eco-friendly rubber toys for your pet will make at least a small difference. Amazon Rainforest: A Guide in Rhyme by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock. 6. Orchids, bamboo, and bromeliads are other rainforest plants. While they are one of the most important ecosystems in the world, they only cover 6% of the Earth's surface; 3. Pink river dolphins are often assumed to be blind because their eyes are small and the visibility in the murky waters of the Amazon is so poor, but in fact they have pretty good eyesight and are known to be very inquisitive, even looking into your eyes. There is even a tropical rainforest in Alaska! Fascinating Facts about the Food Chain in the Tropical Rainforest, The Stunning Flowers of the Amazon Rainforest, Fascinating Facts about the Canopy Layer of the Amazon Rainforest, The Value of the Tropical Rainforest Avocado Tree to People, The Importance of Rubber Trees to the Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem, The tropical rainforest biome covers less than 10% of the Earths surface but more than half of all terrestrial species live here, Rainfall in tropical rainforests varies between 2000-5000 mm per year but tropical rainforests only have distinct wet and dry seasons, In tropical forests, there are between 1-2 million different insect species which support a very rich food chain, Tropical rainforests experience nearly 12,000 tropical storms per year, with tropical trees such as teak able to withstand hurricane-force winds, There are over 1 million different species of tropical flowering plants. For starters,, Circus animals like big cats, elephants, and bears have all suffered in the name of entertainment throughout the, Vegan statistics are rising worldwide, and theres more than one reason why. 163.172.42.123 Fact 26: Since epiphytes (including bromeliads, mosses, and orchids) cannot produce their food by themselves (they do not have roots), they often depend on living plants for nutrient and water. 60% of the Congo Rainforest Is in Africa. The largest rainforests on Earth surround the Amazon River in South America and the Congo River in Africa. The importance of rainforest species in public health is even more incredible considering that less than one percent of rainforest species have been analyzed for their medicinal value. A rainforest is an area of tall trees and a high amount of rainfall. The Amazon rainforest covers an enormous 6.7 million square kilometres. Covering . Besides admiring their beauty and diversity, people should start worrying about their pollution. Rainforests help regulate our climate and provide us with everyday products. Fact 20: The barks of trees in rainforests tend to be thin and smooth. Every tropical rainforest biome is important in its own way. Fact 18: Rainforests hold more than two-thirds of the worlds plant species! As the name suggests, rainforests are forests that grow in places in which there is a lot of rainfall. With the current deforestation rates, researchers believe that in 100 years, there will be no rainforests. Fact 6: The rainforest is home to many plant and animal species. One of the tropical rainforest characteristics is the diverse terrestrial ecosystems. Lets get more rainforest information about the effects of industrial pollution. It, therefore, follows that, as elevation increases, night time temperature decreases significantly, which in turn affects the forests ecology. We havent forgotten about our youngest rainforest explorers. Now, lets explore the third biggest rainforest and see why the New Guinea rainforest is important. 1. The Tropical Rainforest is a-ma-zing, and if youre learning about it at school, Im sure you agree! A lot of people's livelihoods directly depend on rainforests. It is over 5.5 million square kilometers, 1.4 billion acres, and extends over . Throughout both the Amazon and Congo, mining and logging operations clear-cut to build roads and dig mines. Besides giving us fresh air, theyre essential for regulating the Earths climate. The animals of the temperate rainforest are mostly made up of large mammals and small birds, insects, and reptiles. Toucans Make Many Noises. In the Pacific Northwests rainforests, logging companies cut down trees for timber while paper industries use the wood for pulp. A rainforest is typically made up of four key layers: emergent, upper canopy, understory, and forest floor. Fact 15: The rainforests have been proven to be very productive! Generating sustainable, forest-based livelihoods that incentivize conservation is a proven approach to saving the worlds forests. Although the rainforest region accounts for less than 7 percent of the land surface on Earth, it contains more than 50 percent (conservatively) of the plant and animal species found on Earth. The ecosystem supports fruits including bananas, papayas, mangos, cocoa and coffee beans. Cassowary. They are, however, home to an incredible amount of biological productivity, storing up to 500-2000 metric tons of leaves, wood, and other organic matter per hectare (202-809 metric tons per acre). Tropical rainforests have a bigger variety of trees, hundreds of species in fact! Amazing! More than 150 ethnic groups have lived in the Congo rainforest for over 50,000 years. Click to reveal Other amazing things you can find in the Belize rainforest include deep blue swimming holes, perfect for a refreshing swim on a hot day, and giant waterfalls. These geographic conditions help create areas of high rainfall. Pygmy gliders (Acrobates pygmaeus) are small rodents that get their name from the way flaps of skin between their legs allow them to glide from branch to branch. Rainforests also provide us with many medicinal products. Rain Forests Facts for Kids. They absorb CO2 and release H2O. Latin American forests are home to black howler monkeys, whose calls can be heard almost 5km away! Plants here, such as palms and philodendrons, are much shorter and have larger leaves than plants that dominate the canopy. Tropical rainforests are the most biologically diverse terrestrial ecosystems in the world. Did you know that 89% of CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry? So lets look at our Top 50 Fascinating Facts about the Tropical Rainforest! Many of the trees (such as Kapok trees) are supported by thick buttresses which can stretch up to 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) or more. Rainforests affect the global rainfall pattern. Shell do anything in her power to help an animal in need. Rainforests produce about 20% of our oxygen and store a huge amount of carbon dioxide, drastically reducing the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. See the positive change our work is making around the Many bats, birds, and insects prefer the open airspace the understory offers. GIVING OPTIONS, The Rainforest Alliance certification seal means that the Trees in temperate rainforests can live much longer than humans, some live for up to 1000 years! A beam of sunlight makes its way through the leaves and lights up the brightly colored wings of a macaw. Eventually they extend into the canopy, reaching it via the understory and lower canopy trees, and sometimes growing up with their supporting trees. 11. Tropical forests presently cover about 1.84 billion hectares or about 12 percent of Earth's land surface (3.6% of Earth's surface). The dense vegetation dulls sound, so manybut not allcanopy dwellers are notable for their shrill or frequent vocalizing. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. 4. Added benefit: the shade requirements for Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee and cocoa farms also contribute to better quality crops. In Latin American rainforests, you can hear the calls of the black howler monkey. 48 acres of tropical forest are lost each minute. In the Amazon rainforest, the towering trees of the emergent layer include the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) and the kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra). We shouldnt underestimate these rainforest habitat facts and stats. The large leaves are necessary to capture as much light as possible (since most of the light is usually intercepted by the leaves of much taller trees). This temperature is fairly constant all through the year, since, the temperature near the equator does not change significantly throughout the year. Fact 23: The largest flower in the world The giant rafflesia flower (Corpse lily) is housed in the rainforest. Now that we have your attention, lets check some more cool rainforest facts. Here are 25+ interesting facts about the rainforests. Because of the intricate interdependencies of the rainforest ecosystem, the entire web can suffer if it is damaged in one . Pink Dolphin (Boto) Yes, there is such a thing as a pink dolphin, and they are known as the Boto. About 30 million species of plants and animals live in the rainforest. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Animals call the understory home for a variety of reasons. For instance, unique rainforest ecosystems have influenced the diet of cultures from Africa to the Pacific Northwest. A typical exception is the Palm tree (whose bark does not follow the described trend). Beneath the emergent layer is the canopy, a deep layer of vegetation roughly six meters (20 feet) thick. The very top part is called the canopy, which can be as tall as 98 feet to 164 feet (30 to 50 meters). In 2017 alone, we lost 15.8 million hectares of tropical forests; all told, humans have destroyed nearly half of the worlds original forest cover. The tallest trees spread their branches and leaves blocking the light from the trees below, and creating a canopy over the forest. Due to palm oil concessions, between 1,000 and 5,000 orangutans are killed every year. Fact 5: The rainforests have been proven to play a critical role in global climate regulation. Foliage is often sparse on tree trunks, but spreads wide as the trees reach the sunny upper layer, where they photosynthesize the suns rays. create a world where people and nature thrive in The Amazon basin contains the world's largest rainforest, which is nearly the roughly of the continental United States and covers about 40 percent of South America. Many countries are supporting businesses and initiatives that promote the sustainable use of their rainforests. 1. Tropical rainforests encompass approximately 1.2 billion hectares (3 billion acres) of vegetation and are sometimes described as the Earths thermostat. However, we cannot afford to give up on tropical forests. Therefore, hagfish depend on the water gradient for osmosis. Poison dart frogs warn off predators with their bright colors. The Amazon Rainforest has over 1,300 types of birds, 427 mammals, 3,000 fish species, and 2.5 million species of insects. Intergovernmental groups address rainforest conservation at a global scale. Smaller trees grow in patches of sunlight. Since 1947, the total area of tropical rainforests has probably been reduced by more than half, to about 6.2 to 7.8 million square kilometers (3 million square miles). Fact 17: In most rainforests, some places within the forest get at least one (1) inch of rain or more per day! From the understory, the Mbuti may gather honey from bee hives, or hunt monkeys. A portion of the plot may be left fallow for months or years. They include orchids, lilies, heliconia and bromeliads. Sweet fruit entices animals, which eat the fruit and deposit seeds on the forest floor as droppings. Not only do they regulate global temperatures, they also cool and regulate local micro-climates and limit the Earth's reflectivitywhich in turn stabilizes ocean currents, wind, and rainfall patterns. In the next layer, the canopy, the leaves and branches of the trees all touch one another or are connected by vines. The Amazon rainforest is truly an ecological kaleidoscope, full of colorful sights and sounds. The largest part of the Savanna biome covers almost half of the African surface. Sign up for useful tips to green your life and protect our planet. With so much food available, more animals live in the canopy than any other layer in the rainforest. Fact 2: The largest rainforest in the world is situated in South America in a vast, forested area of the Amazon River basin in Brazil and its neighboring countries. In some rainforests it rains more than an inch every day! 2. Compounds in rainforest plants are already used to treat malaria, heart disease, bronchitis, hypertension, rheumatism, diabetes, muscle tension, arthritis, glaucoma, dysentery, and tuberculosis, among other health problems. Explore a sampling in this colorful rhyming story. 6. The fruit and seeds of many understory shrubs in temperate rainforests are edible. Vampire bats and anacondas live in the rainforests of South America. 9. Here are 25+ interesting facts about the rainforests. 2. The Amazon river has more than 3,000 fish species. Lets read more amazing facts about the biggest rainforests in the world. Stopping the Insect Apocalypse: Tips on How You Can Help Save Insects, How to Choose More Sustainable Gifts that Support People and the Planet, Use our conservation curricula in your classroom. 9. These demands encourage local governments to develop rainforest acreage at a fraction of its value. Think of Pineapple, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Rubber and Medicines They all come from the rainforest! Due to the Tropical Rainforests' High Temperatures, the Average Air Humidity Falls Between 77% and 88%. Fact 12: In true rainforests, there are no dry seasons! Plus, theres only one Earth, and its in shambles. Nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest lies within the borders of Brazil. Typical examples include The rainforest in Southwestern Canada and Pacific Northwest of the United States of America. Lianas are thick, woody vines that grow up the trees. Many rainforests are located in developing countries with economies based on natural resources. They are great hunters. The rainforests understorey layer can be thousands of meters away from the canopy layer. Central Africas tropical rainforest canopies and understories are home to some of the most endangered and familiar rainforest animalssuch as forest elephants, pythons, antelopes, and gorillas. Plants gathered or harvested include berries, nuts, and wild celery.. Compared to other biomes, everything decomposes 10 times faster in tropical rainforests. Costa Rica is a global pioneer in this field, investing in ecotourism projects that financially contribute to local economies and the forests they depend on. Here, trees as tall as 60 meters (200 feet) dominate the skyline. The strangler figs then become free-standing trees! More than half of it is in Brazil, but parts are in several other South American countries, including Ecuador and Bolivia. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon Rainforest. Since 1990 Peru has lost 2,773,810 acres of primary rainforest. The Amazon rainforest is the worlds largest tropical rainforest. Smaller rodents, such as rats and lowland pacas (a type of striped rodent indigenous to Central and South America), hide from predators beneath the shallow roots of trees that dominate the canopy and emergent layer. The rainforest is waking up. Talk to your family, friends, and acquaintances about how they can help save the rainforest too. Here are some suggestions on how you can contribute to precious rainforest preservation: Last but not least, spread the word on social media. The annual average rainforest temperature is, The Amazon rainforest has the hottest temperatures of. weird facts about Amazon rainforest! By definition, rainforests are woodlands characterized by lush vegetation and comparatively high temperature and rainfall throughout the year. To be considered a rainforest it must rain about 80 inches (200 cm) per year, but most of them get more rain by far. It is from 0 feet to 60 feet above the ground. The oldest tropical trees in the world are between 800 2000 years old! Lets see some more interesting facts and find out how many rainforests are there worldwide. We need rainforests to regulate the climate, maintain the water cycle, and purify the air we breathe. Because of their warmth and moisture, tropical rainforests produce. The rainforest has four layers. Jewel-toned parrots squawk and fly through its trees. Countless animal species live in rainforest layers. In fact, the average annual temperature has been put at about 25 degree Celsius (approximately 77 degrees Fahrenheit). This rainforest biodiversity is immense, containing. Lets discuss their jungle habitat, rainforest plants, and animals in numbers. Although they are a historically nomadic society, agriculture has become a way of life for many Mbuti communities today as they trade and barter with neighboring agricultural groups such as the Bantu for crops such as manioc, nuts, rice, and plantains. Millions of mushrooms and other fungi decompose dead and dying plant material, recycling nutrients to the soil and organisms in the understory. They are used to treat asthma, arthritis, malaria, heart disease, and pneumonia. The strangler figs begin their lives as epiphytes, they germinate in the canopy trees and send roots down to the soil. Occasional cases of dry seasons are . Lets learn more facts about the rainforest and see what you can do to prevent its destruction. This area is comprised of the tops of trees and . The canopy is from 60 to 130 feet. Such humid air produces extreme and frequent rainfall, ranging between 200-1000 centimeters (80-400 inches) per year. 6. 18 Though it's . Sao Paulo CNN . Restoring them and their ability to sequester carbon is one of several critical steps we must take to address our global climate crisis. Tell the people how important rainforest preservation is. The Brazilian mahogany produce a large, hard fruit that mature in the rainy season. More than a hundred (100) millimeter of rainfalls every month (equivalent to about 4 inches of rainfall). These plants provide food and shelter for small animals and birds . They start out as small upright shrubs. climate change, and help people and wildlife 1. Rainforests hold more than two-thirds of the world's plant species. The Alliance also allows tourism businesses use of their seal after they complete an education program on efficiency and sustainability. Tropical rainforests are found in Central and South America, western and central Africa, western India, Southeast Asia, the island of New Guinea, and Australia. Animals such as wild pigs (Sus scrofa), armadillos, and anteaters forage in the decomposing brush for these tasty insects, roots and tubers of the South American rainforest. But what are the actual statistics? This list of easy-to-remember rainforest fun facts will keep every kids attention. Trees in the rainforest grow very tall because they have to compete with other plants for sunlight. product (or a specified ingredient) was produced by A falling raindrop can travel 10 minutes from a rainforests canopy to the bottom floor. The fungi can even consume the plastic in an oxygen-free environment, leading many environmentalists and businesses to invest in research to investigate if the fungi can help reduce waste in urban landfills. It can take around 100 years for tropical trees to grow 1 cm, Tropical rainforests act as a carbon sink which means they absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide, African tropical rainforests create one fifth of the worlds oxygen, More than 75% of medicines have been developed from tropical plant extracts, The Amazon tropical rainforest produces approximately 10 billion tonnes worth of fruits, nuts and other useful products every year, Over 400 million people depend on tropical rainforests for their survival, African tropical rainforest lions are the smallest lions in the world, Tropical rainforests play a crucial role in climate regulation, There are over 200 different species of tropical tree per hectare, Malaria is often found within tropical forests, Sustainably harvesting tropical trees can create sustainable livelihoods, Rainforest inhabitants use more than 275 different plants for medicinal purposes, Tropical forest soils are very deep and rich, perfect for growing crops, It would take only 1 football pitch sized area of tropical forest to supply enough oxygen to support 4 adults. Lightweight seeds are carried away from the parent plant by strong winds. Organic matter falls from trees and plants, and these organisms break down the decaying material into nutrients. Lizards, jaguars and tigers live at this level. The Amazon Rainforest is responsible for producing than 20% of the world's oxygen, which is why it is many times referred to as "Lungs of the Earth". In the Amazon rainforest, large-scale agricultural industries, such as cattle ranching, clear huge tracts of forests for arable land. All rights reserved. 13. They can also understand basic parts of arithmetic and even, in rare cases, multiplication. Rainforest plants are also used in the creation of muscle relaxants, steroids, and insecticides. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The above facts about the rainforest show that the human effect on flora and fauna is more destructive than nurturing. Large raptors, such as white-tailed hawks (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) and harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja), are its top predators. You can explore the Amazon from 9 countries; Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and the three Guyanas. 60% of the Congo rainforest is in Africa, and over. Fact 12: In true rainforests, there are no dry seasons! Copyright 1987 - 2023, Rainforest Alliance |, natural climate solutions, including forest conservation/restoration, choosing products that bear the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal, successful conservation of standing forests. Rainforests are home to over half of the world's plant and animal species. Butterflies, birds, snakes and small monkeys live in this layer. There are over 100 species of rainforest trees found in each hectare. Humans have used tropical plant extracts as medicine since 10,000BC, Tropical rainforest soil is very poor in nutrients which means tropical forest plants have to be packed full of nutrients in order for them to grow, There is more carbon in tropical forests than in the atmosphere, It takes tropical trees 10 years to absorb 1 tonne of CO2 per year, The Amazon is home to the most species of amphibian in the world, Around 75 million tonnes of tropical fruit are harvested each year, A total of 50,000 different insects have been identified within tropical rainforests, 90% of all tropical rainforest animals are arboreal which means they spend their entire life living on or within tropical forests, Fungi are often found within tropical forests, Some tropical rainforest trees can grow up to 40m within 10 20 years, Tropical rainforest leaves are used to make paper, The tropical forest soils make tropical forests great for farming, It is estimated that tropical forests harbour over two-thirds of all species on earth. Fact 11: True rainforests are usually not above 1,000 meters (approximately 3,280 feet). Tammy Slaton's weight loss journey has been a big part of 1000-lb Sisters as she tries to get her health back on track. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. harmony.LEARN Regrowth After A Rainforest Is Cleared. The Democratic Republic of the Congo used REDD funds to create an online National Forest Monitoring System that tracks and maps data on logging concessions, deforestation in protected areas, and national forestry sector measures. Birds droppings in tropical jungles grow new plants. This makes rainforests astoundingly dense with flora and fauna; a 10-square-kilometer (four-square-mile) patch can contain as many as 1,500 flowering plants, 750 species of trees, 400 species of birds and 150 species of butterflies.