The Wonderful World of the Rainforest

1. The Wonderful World of the Rainforest How important is the rainforest to humans?

2. The Rainforest • By Natasha Cheeks

3. Overview • What is a rainforest? • The different rainforest and where they are located • The importance of the rainforest • Why do we need to save the rainforest? • Conclusion

4. What is a rainforest? • A forest with heavy annual rain • Earth’s oldest living ecosystems • Covers only 6% of the Earth’s surface • contains more than ½ of the world’s plant and animal species • Has four layers • Emergent layer • Canopy layer • Understory layer • Forest floor

5. The Earth’s Rainforest http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html

6. Central America • Located in the middle of North America and South America at the peninsula • Used to be entirely covered by rainforest • Famous for its large number of tropical birds including parrots • Animals • Poison arrow frogs • Toucans • Hummingbirds • Monarch butterfly • Piranha

7. The Amazon • Located in South America • The largest rainforest on Earth • Has the 2nd longest river • 1/5 of plants and bird species • 1/10 of mammal species • Animals • Jaguar • Tapir • Many types of monkeys

8. Central Africa • 2nd largest rainforest • Contains areas of • High cloud forest • Mangrove swamps • Flooded forest • Madagascar is to the south east • Animals • African Grey Parrot • Chimpanzee • Gorilla • Scaly-tailed squirrels

9. Southern Asia • Has many locations • Stretches from India and Burma in the west to Malaysia and the islands of Java and Borneo in the east • Is hot and humid year round • Animals include: • Komodo dragon • Bengal Tiger • King Cobra • Dawn Bat • Jambu Fruit Dove

10. Australasia Rainforest • Located in Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea • Undergrowth is dense and lush • Lies in the path of wet winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean • Animals include • Brown tree snakes • Carpet python • Komodo dragon • Kakapo

11. Importance of the Rainforest • Our source of many items that we use in our homes • Eat several foods from the rainforest • Many medicines come from rainforest • Many different beautiful plants and animals • The Earth’s living lung • Breathes in carbon dioxide and breathes out oxygen

12. Why Should We Save the Rainforest? The National Wildlife Federation in 1993 listed ten reasons why we should save the rainforests: • People have no right to destroy the rainforests for their own purposes. • Destroying the forests may change the world's weather patterns. • The loss of the forests are causing serious problems such as soil erosion and water pollution. • Wood products in which the rest of the world depends may soon become scarce and more expensive. • Many migrating birds common in North America depend on the rainforest habitats. The loss of the rainforest may affect these species. • Cultures of the forests are losing their native lands. They have a right to live where and how they want. • There are many plants that could help scientists develop new crops, medicines, and other products. We don't want to lose our knowledge of the rainforest plants, animals and other information. • Rainforests are exotic and unique where strange plants and animals live which inspires many people. We can't lose this inspiration. • The forests contain more than 50% of all plant and animals species in the world. Destroying the forests will destroy these species forever. • So little has been researched in the forests that could provide people with many beneficial products, even a possible cure for cancer. We can't destroy what nature has given to us. http://www.hipark.austin.isd.tenet.edu/projects/fourth/rainforests/environment.html

13. Conclusion • The rainforest is the Earth’s largest ecosystem • Has four main location • Is a home to many different plants and animals • Has four layers • Has five different areas on the Earth • Is very important to us as a human being • Why would you save the rainforest?