There are some really cool things about rainforests that you ought to know. It’s not only awe inspiring scenery; forests provide us with two of the essentials for life, oxygen and food. It is also a unique ecosystem of plants, animals, and other living and nonliving things that Mother Nature has perfected through thousands of years of evolution.  

Trees are necessary for our survival on this planet. Trees, like all plants, produce oxygen through the photosynthesis process. Beyond producing oxygen, plants are also primary producers of foods for other living things on this planet. Plants are the base of the food chain and the rest of us are, in many ways, dependent on plants for food, both directly and indirectly.

Some cool things about Rainforests

Rainforests do a number of cool things for us. Besides giving us food and huge amounts of oxygen, they act as natural air conditioners and air filters. They filter out carbon dioxide from the air keeping us cool, while supplying us with fresh oxygen. They also keep us cool by giving us shade, cooling the air and ground around them. Another important things plants and trees do for the planet is recycle water and help moderate the earth’s rainfall. Overall, trees help the earth’s temperature to stay cool. Below are some more interesting facts about rainforests.

Interesting facts about rainforests

How much do we know about rainforests? As useful as they may be, there are still facts about the rainforest that are not commonly known. For example do you know how many different types of trees are there in the Amazon rainforest? How much of the forest is being destroyed every day? Or do you know how many tropical rainforest plants have been identified as having anti-cancer properties? Find out answers to these questions and much more below.

Below are some facts about rainforest that everyone ought to know.

• Rainforests are the oldest living ecosystem on Earth that receives the maximum amount of rainfall throughout the year.
• Although rainforests cover only 2% of the total Earth’s surface, they are home to over 50% of the plants and animals of the earth.
• Rainforests are found in several countries of the world and not only in South America. They are also found in Africa, Asia, Central America and North America. They are in every continent except in Antarctica.
• There are two types of rainforests, the temperate and the tropical.
• Rainforests influence the weather pattern and rainfall around the world.
• A fifth of the world’s fresh water is found in tropical rainforests.
• They help to maintain our supply of fresh drinking water.

Abundant life and resources of rainforest

• Rainforests have 170,000 of the world’s 250,000 known plant species. 400 species of birds and 150 species of butterflies.
• Rainforests provide many important products for us. Such as timber, coffee, cocoa, and various types of plants and animals use for food and other purposes.
• More than 2,000 tropical forest plants have been identified by scientists as having anti-cancer properties.
• Trees are cut down for industrial use and for supplying raw materials to several industries, such as paper, furniture, housing, etc.

Threats to rainforest

• Over 150 acres of rainforest is lost every minute around the world. At this rate, the rainforests could be wiped out in 40 years!
• Rainforests are being constantly threatened by unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, and poorly planned logging, mining and ranching practices.
• Experts also estimate that 130 species of plants, animals and insects become extinct every single day from the loss of rainforest habitats.

Conclusion

Rainforests benefit us in many different ways. They provide us with everything we need, including food, shelter, medicine, clothing, and water. They also help the climate to stay cool and pleasant for us, filtering the atmosphere, giving us shade and bringing rain to the land. They also supply a major portion of clean drinking water for us.

The biggest threat to rainforest is growing human civilization and our actions. Our irresponsible farming, industrialization, and pollution, as well cutting down trees faster than they can grow back is reducing the size of rainforests around the world. With the increase in population, a tremendous pressure is being put on the natural resources, and therefore, the rainforest are being destroyed rapidly every day.

Good news is you can help the rainforests to regrow! Start by reducing use of fossil fuels and conserve as much resources as possible. Plant trees whenever and wherever possible, being sure to plant a species suitable to your region, use an alternative to paper, recycle and rebuild materials, and generally live a sustainable lifestyle. Sustainable logging and farming practices need to be enforced by government bodies. Corporations and individuals also need to practice sustainable methods of agricultural and business operations.

If we all act now, our actions can reduce negative impacts on the global ecosystem and help forests around the world to regrow and regenerate. Help the planet to recover from the damage that we have already done for thousands of years.

Virtual Field Trip – Amazon Rainforest

Video Credit: VirtualFieldTripsnet

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Source: Nourish the Planet

Related articles and resources:

• Could our Rainforests be Wiped Out in 40 Years? | Institute of Ecolonomics
• Rainforests Facts | The Nature Conservancy
• Rain Forest Threats, Rain Forest Species – National Geographic
• Want Fresh Vegetables? Build Your Own Vegetable Garden! | Nourish The Planet
• 35 Facts of Tropical RainForest – Conserve Energy Future