Rainforests

Tropical rainforests are forests with tall trees, warm climate, and lots of
rain. In some rainforests it rains more than one inch every day!

Rainforests are found in Africa, Asia, Australia and Central and South America. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon makes up 54 percent of the planet’s rainforests.

Rainforests are important to the global ecosystem. They provide a home to many plants and animals who help stabilize the world's climate, protect against flood, drought, and erosion. They are also a source for medicines and foods.

Sadly, many rainforests are being destroyed. Every year an area of rainforest the size of New Jersey is cut down and destroyed. The plants and animals that used to live in these forests either die or must find a new home.

Humans are the main cause of rainforest destruction or deforestation. Deforestation is another word for when the trees in a forest are cut down and removed.

Between 2004 and 2005, the average annual deforestation rate in the Amazon was 13,900 miles per year. If this continues, the Amazon will be reduced by almost half in the next two decades. This could mean the extinction of many species.

Humans are cutting down rainforests for many reasons, including wood for timber, grazing land for cattle and road construction.

Rainforests are disappearing very quickly. The good news is that there are a lot of people who want to save rainforests. The bad news is saving rainforests is not going to be easy.

There are a few things we can do to help save rainforests. We can help restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down. We can encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment. We can also establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife and support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment.