forest of North America." (Allo, 1996)
The diversity of rainforest species applies to much more than just trees. "Although insects represent
only 62 percent of the 1.4 million named organisms on the planet, scientists estimate that the total
number of arthropods to number between 8 million and 80 million." (Allo, 1996)
Only 20 percent of the nutrients of the rainforest are in the soil; 80 percent of the nutrients remain in
the trees and plants. The rainwater of the forest is recycled by evaporation. Clouds above the
forest's canopy help reflect sunlight which keeps temperatures within the forest to remain more
Although rainforests take vast amounts of time to regenerate, young forests are more effective at
removing carbon from the air than older forests. Older forests absorb carbon less efficiently, but
have more total carbon stored within them.
The soil of the rainforests is only suitable for being rainforest soil, crops do not grow well in it.
When forests are cut down, the soil erodes quickly and soon only a dry desert remains.
Humans also inhabit the rainforests. Most of these people are indigenous, or Indian. It is estimated
that there are over 1,000 or more indigenous groups around the world, but they are also becoming
extinct. "In 1900, Brazil had one million Indians. Today, there are fewer than 200,000 in the
There are two types of rainforests: tropical and temperate.
Tropical rainforests are found in 85 countries around the world. "Ninety percent of these forests
are concentrated into fifteen countries, each country containing over 10 million hectares each."
(Malaysian Timber Council, 1995) Tropical rainforests are located near the equator, where
temperatures stay above 80 degrees Fahrenheit year round. These dense, damp forests occur in
Latin and South America, Africa, and in Southeast Asia. "Although they [tropical rainforests] cover
just seven percent of ...