https://vimeo.com/10563513
rainforest

Some of the most important trees in the world live in rainforests. Even though the nearest rainforest may be far away from you, they still help you every day.

Tropical rainforests have a wide variety of tall trees, diverse plants and animals, warm climates, and lots and lots of rain. To be a rainforest, an area must receive at least 80 inches of rain each year. Many rainforests receive an inch or more of rain every single day!

Rainforests are found in the tropical areas north and south of the equator. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon rainforet in South America. Rainforests can also be found throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and Central America.

In rainforests, most plants and animals live in the canopy rather than on the ground. And what a collection of plant and animal life it is! Scientists believe that around half of the plants and animals found on the Earth live in rainforests.

Scientists sometimes call rainforests the “lungs” of Earth. The millions and millions of trees in Earth’s rainforests take in huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce much of the oxygen humans and animals depend on.

Rainforests also help to maintain Earth’s climate. Rainforests are also an important home to about half of thespcies of plants and wildlife on the planet. 

Finally, rainforests help maintain the water cycle through their large amounts of rainfall every year. Water produced in rainforests makes its way all over the world. As rainforests decrease in size, Earth’s water cycle is affected, leading to droughts in different areas around the world.