Suche
Mein Konto
Why is protecting the rainforest so important?
The rainforest is subject to extremely high annual rainfall and is usually located in tropical regions. There are two different types of rainforests – tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests are usually very dense and full of broad deciduous trees. They are located 10° north or south of the equator and are known as the “largest pharmacy in the world”. This is because more than a quarter of medicines and medicines used today come from their plants. Temperate rainforests have an annual rainfall (precipitation) of at least 55 inches (140 cm), an average annual temperature between 39 and 54°F, and closed tree canopies covering at least 70% of the sky...
Why is protecting the rainforest so important?
The rainforest is subject to extremely high annual rainfall and is usually located in tropical regions. There are two different types of rainforests – tropical and temperate. Tropical rainforests are usually very dense and full of broad deciduous trees. They are located 10° north or south of the equator and are known as the “largest pharmacy in the world”. This is because more than a quarter of medicines and medicines used today come from their plants. Temperate rainforests have an annual rainfall (precipitation) of at least 55 inches (140 cm), an average annual temperature between 39 and 54 °F, and closed tree canopies that cover at least 70% of the sky.
Half of all living plant and animal species on earth live in the rainforests. It is estimated that there are up to 80 different species of trees per acre. There is also extremely diverse wildlife throughout the rainforest. Most of these animals have had to evolve and adapt to survive in these tropical environments and are therefore unable to survive outside of their specific ecosystem. Some of these animals include toucans, parrots, sloths, gorillas and lemurs. The vast majority of plants and plants used medicinally are also found in the world's rainforests. Despite all this, it is astonishing that rainforests only cover 6% of the earth's surface.
There are also a number of indigenous cultures that live in and depend on the unique rainforest ecosystems. Most of these people had little to no contact with outside civilizations and after hundreds of years only had rainforest animals as neighbors; It is no surprise that they cannot and do not want to adapt to modern times. These tribes have relied on the rainforest for every aspect of their lives and are the most knowledgeable about medicinal herbs and plants in this ecosystem. Unlike those who extract from the rainforest without considering the dangerous impacts they could cause, the native tribes can cultivate the land without disturbing the balance of the rainforest's animal and plant ecosystems.
Over the years, rainforests have been heavily and negatively impacted by human intervention. Some of the most damaging activities include deforestation, logging and urban development. As the world's population continues to grow, we will undoubtedly see more deforestation and devastation in this valuable ecosystem.
As a result of these activities, a number of plant and animal species native only to tropical rainforest climates have become extinct, endangered or critically endangered. Medicines that have yet to be discovered may be lost to us forever due to deforestation.
Knowing this, a number of organizations around the world are working hard to do everything they can to protect what remains of this remarkable and extremely fragile ecosystem. Some of the most well-known of these organizations are The Rainforest Alliance Network and The Nature Conservancy. Visit their websites for more information about rainforest animals and what we can do to protect them and their unique and valuable habitat. Read more about protecting the rainforest at http://www.butwhy.com.au/why-is-protecting-the-rainforest-so-important