RAINFOREST

THE AMAZING AMAZON

What is a rainforest? The rainforest is a very dense, warm

and wet forest that is the home for millions of plants and animals.

The rainforest is made up of four separate layers called strata.

Each strata has it’s own living environment

Rainforest Strata CANOPY: The upper parts of the

trees. This leafy environment is full of life in a tropical rainforest and includes: insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more.

UNDERSTORY: A dark, cool environment under the leaves but over the ground.

EMERGENTS: Giant trees that are much higher than the average canopy height. It houses many birds and insects.

FOREST FLOOR: Teeming with animal life, especially insects. The largest animals in the rainforest generally live here.

Where Are Rainforests? Tropical rainforests are found in a belt

around the equator of the earth. Across South America, Central

America, Africa,Southeast Asia and Australia.

Rainforest Climate It is almost always

raining in the rainforest. They get over 80 inches of rain a year.

The range of temperature is between 75 and 80 degrees F.

Animals of the Rainforest The rainforest is home to more than

half of the world’s animals. Colorful and unusual animals live in all

four layers of the rainforest. There are tiny insects to large

mammals.

People of the Rainforest There are many indigenous groups of

people that live in scattered villages throughout the rainforest.

They get there food, clothing and housing from materials found in the rainforest.

Forest people are mostly hunter-gatherers.

Rainforest Facts Rainforests recycle and clean water. The trees and plants remove carbon

dioxide from the atmosphere. Rainforests affect the greenhouse

effect. Rainforest plants provide shelter and

food for animals and provides much of the world’s oxygen supply.

The Disappearing Rainforest

Rainforests once covered 14% of the earths land surface, it now covers only 6%.

Rainforests are being destroyed for it’s timber and farming operations.

The remaining forest could be eliminated in less than 40 years.

Protect the Rainforest Many organizations are working to

protect tropical rainforests and the rights of those living in and around it.

Be environmentally responsible. Recycling is an easy way for all of us

to help preserve the environment.