The rainforests understorey layer can be thousands of meters away from the canopy layer. 17 It can reach a length of 30 feet and weigh up to 550 pounds. The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest on Earth, measuring about 2.5 million square miles. The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest. Foliage is often sparse on tree trunks, but spreads wide as the trees reach the sunny upper layer, where they photosynthesize the suns rays. farmers, foresters, and/or companies working together to Fact 17: In most rainforests, some places within the forest get at least one (1) inch of rain or more per day! Such ample sunlight and moisture are the essential building blocks for tropical rainforests diverse flora and fauna. The New Guinea Rainforest Has Plants That Date Back 100,000,000 Years Ago. Sometimes the unconscious things we do can cause greater damage. 7. They live in the Amazon river. Here are 25+ interesting facts about the rainforests. [12] To attract a female partner, male capuchin monkeys will urinate in their hands and then rub it thoroughly into their fur. Found in the rainforests and floodplains of South America, the anaconda is the largest snake species in the world. Over 18 million acres of forest are lost every year due to deforestation. But there are types of monkeys much different, 89% of CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry, 8% to 10% of all US fires are from discarded cigarettes, 70% of the worlds water supplies go to agriculture, 80% of the worlds insects and 40% of bird species, 50+ Terrifying Factory Farming Facts to Know in 2022, Disturbing Circus Animals Statistics & Facts To Know in 2022, Revealing Vegan Statistics: Veganism Is on the Rise in 2022, 2022s Environment Statistics Beyond the Human Impact, 30+ Insect Population Statistics Every Human Needs to Know. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Did you know that you should thank the rainforest for every breath you take and most of your food? 1. However, we cannot afford to give up on tropical forests. The tropical rainforest biome covers less than 10% of the Earth's 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 Here are some suggestions on how you can contribute to precious rainforest preservation: Last but not least, spread the word on social media. One of the tropical rainforest characteristics is the diverse terrestrial ecosystems. Parts of the Congo can be found in several other countries too, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. Running through the north of the rainforest is the Amazon . Fact 27: The four major levels in a rainforest are: The emergent layer (The topmost), The Canopy layer, The Understory and The forest floor (Lowest level). The upper layer of the rainforest is known as the canopy - and it's got its own little mini ecosystem going on! When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. What, Insect population statistics show that our planet is home to over 10 quintillion insects at any given time., Monkeys symbolize fun, wit, and intelligence to many of us. Cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and ginger are just a few spices of the rainforest. All rights reserved. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Small trees and plants that do not need much light grow here. Crops harvested in Chimbu garden plots include sweet potatoes, bananas, and beans. Their diet consists of plants and animals from every layer of the rainforest. Nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest lies within the borders of Brazil. This is why the loss of forests often leads to drought. The temperate rainforest of the northwest coast of North America is the home of the Tlingit. Due to bountiful Pacific inlets, rivers, and streams, the traditional Tlingit diet consists of a wide variety of aquatic life: crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, seals, and fish such as herring, halibut, and, crucially, salmon. The Amazon rainforest covers an enormous 6.7 million square kilometres. They include orchids, lilies, heliconia and bromeliads. 2. They aren't blind. Rain Forests Facts for Kids. The trees and plants are so thick in the rainforest that it often takes minutes for the rain to get to the ground! Rainfall Levels in Rainforests Are Around 2,000 mm per Year. Thats good because too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can make the planet too warm. The Tropical Rainforest is a-ma-zing, and if youre learning about it at school, Im sure you agree! world.LEARN Tropical rainforests encompass approximately 1.2 billion hectares (3 billion acres) of vegetation and are sometimes described as the Earths thermostat. This layer of vegetation prevents much of the sunlight from reaching the ground. 10. High temperatures keep the air warm and wet, with an average humidity of between 77 percent and 88 percent. Products that bear the Rainforest Alliance seal contain ingredients from farms or forests that follow strict guidelines designed to support the sustainable development of rainforests and local communities. Around 2% of sunlight actually reaches the ground. Damage to nature could halve living standards for the poor and reduce global GDP by about 7% by 2050 (BBC News). Therefore, the leaves some juvenile (small) plants may be almost 10 times larger than the leaves on adult trees of the same tree species! Cooler temperatures and a more stable climate slow down decomposition, allowing more material to accumulate. While trees in the emergent layer rely on wind to scatter their seeds, many canopy plants, lacking wind, encase their seeds in fruit. Here are 25+ interesting facts about the rainforests. More than a hundred (100) millimeter of rainfalls every month (equivalent to about 4 inches of rainfall). 60% of the Congo Rainforest Is in Africa. 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. Your IP: GIVING OPTIONS, The Rainforest Alliance certification seal means that the The Rainforest Alliance is a nonprofit organization that helps businesses and consumers know that their products conserve rather than degrade rainforests. Save the Rainforest: Be a Role Model and Get Active. Performance & security by Cloudflare. 2. The tallest trees spread their branches and leaves blocking the light from the trees below, and creating a . 8. Rainforests also store a considerable percentage of the worlds freshwater, with the Amazon Basin alone storing one-fifth. The canopy is from 60 to 130 feet. Natali is an animal lover and book addict. The water forms a thick cloud-cover over the rainforest, so it is always warm and humid. Once covering 14% of land on Earth, rainforests now make up only 6%. Most lianas produce long shoots with tendrils that attach themselves to a support. Wealthy nations drive demand for products, and economic development increases energy use. Sign up for useful tips to green your life and protect our planet. Trees have adapted to this damp environment by producing glossy leaves with pointed tips that repel water. . 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. A falling raindrop can travel 10 minutes from a rainforests canopy to the bottom floor. According to Global Forest Watch, our planet loses tropical forestland equivalent to the size of Bangladesh is every year. 7. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. These facts about the Amazon rainforest confirm that it has rich vegetation and many unknown species yet to be discovered. The strangler figs then become free-standing trees! The Amazon rainforests canopy layer, with its jungle-like density. Fact 4: On the African continent, most of the rainforest is concentrated along the Atlantic coast and the Congo River basin, whereas, in most regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres, only small areas of the temperate rainforest is situated along the coasts where rainfall and humidity are high and humidity is mild. Fact 9: Rainforests are usually absent where the temperature goes below or gets close to 0o This is because the plants and animals which are usually found in rainforests are not well adapted to withstand frost! The largest part of the Savanna biome covers almost half of the African surface. Sunlight strikes the tropics almost straight on, producing intense solar energy that keeps temperatures high, between 21 and 30C (70 and 85F). Read our 10 facts about weather! Fact 1: Before a forest can be classified as a rainforest, the forest must have a closed canopy in which the treetops (or crowns) touch each other, creating a shaded forest interior. Palm oil is among the threatening biotic factors, and with the increased oil production, the rainforests water and vegetation are at great risk. If you purchase via links on Pawsome Advice, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. While each layer is distinct, they exist in an interdependent system: processes and species in one layer influence those in another. Game hunted by the Yanomami include deer, tapirs (an animal similar to a pig), monkeys, birds, and armadillos. The rainforests encompass more than 3.5 million square kilometers, which represents about half of the total global rainforest cover! REDD funds were also used to investigate best practices in solving land disputes in Cambodia, which lacks proper forest zoning and boundary enforcement. Rainforests hold more than two-thirds of the world's plant species. The Rainforest Alliance is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit registered in the US under EIN: 13-3377893. Please be respectful of copyright. A mushroom discovered in the tropical rainforest of Ecuador, for example, is capable of consuming polyurethanea hard, durable type of plastic used in everything from garden hoses to carpets to shoes. Although rainforests cover less than 3 percent of the planet, these ecological powerhouses are critical to nearly every aspect of the planets healthincluding our very ability to breathe. Even larger predators, including leopards (Panthera pardus), skulk in the darkness to surprise their prey. They can occur naturally, and rainforests support plants and animals. Many take advantage of the dimly lit environment for camouflage. A typical exception is the Palm tree (whose bark does not follow the described trend). What Type of Rainforest Tree Species Are You? 3. Canopy Layer: Large-leafed shrubs that are suited to the warmth, shade, and moisture grow here. Now that we have your attention, lets check some more cool rainforest facts. Small, waxy leaves help trees in the emergent layer retain water during long droughts or dry seasons. Tropical rainforests are found in Central and South America, western and central Africa, western India, Southeast Asia, the island of New Guinea, and Australia. Switching to reusable utensils and straws, or buying eco-friendly rubber toys for your pet will make at least a small difference. According to a study deciphering the Brazilian Atlantic forest, regenerating the rainforest to its native form can take up to 4000 years. 4. Travel the U.S. and find out about different kinds of treesand what makes nature incredibly awesome. She or he will best know the preferred format. In the Amazon rainforest, the towering trees of the emergent layer include the Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) and the kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra). 12. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c06ab0ece3b2a23 Fact 23: The largest flower in the world The giant rafflesia flower (Corpse lily) is housed in the rainforest. Learn about the different natural environments of plants and animals. Spanning 8 countries and one overseas territory in South America and representing an area twice the size of India - or roughly 28 times the side of the UK! The largest rainforests on Earth surround the Amazon River in South America and the Congo River in Africa. While there is some debate about its length, the river is generally believed to be at least 4,000 miles (6,400 km) long, which makes it the second longest river in the world after the Nile River in . Many countries are supporting businesses and initiatives that promote the sustainable use of their rainforests. 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. With the continued growth of the strangler figs, they enwrap their hosts and literally strangle the host tree to death! The common name "toucan . So let's look at our Top 50 Fascinating Facts about the Tropical Rainforest! In the Congo rainforest, roads and other infrastructure development have reduced habitat and cut off migration corridors for many rainforest species. Tropical rainforests have an average temperature of about 70-85 F (22-30 C).
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