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Wonder of the Day #667
Why Are Rainforests Important?
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SCIENCE — Life Science
Have You Ever Wondered...

    Why are rainforests important?
    What is the canopy?
    How much rain do rainforests get every year?

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    Africa, agriculture, Amazon, animals, Asia, atmosphere, Australia, canopy, carbon dioxide, Central America, climate, climate change, earth, equator, farm, nature, oxygen, plant, rain, rainforest, road, science, South America, species, tree, tropical, urbanization, water cycle, wood

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by chloe from AL. chloe Wonders, “why is the rain forrest so important?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, chloe!

Do you love trees? We do! And you should, too. Trees do all sorts of great things for humans, from taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen to providing shade and places to build fabulous tree houses.

Some of the most important trees in the world live in rainforests. Even though the nearest rainforest may be a long ways away from you, you still benefit from rainforests every day.

Tropical rainforests feature a wide variety of tall trees, diverse populations of 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 rainforest in South America. Rainforests can also be found throughout Africa, Asia, Australia and Central America.

All rainforests have a canopy, which is a layer of branches and leaves formed at the tops of the tall trees that make up the rainforest. The canopy can easily be 100 feet or more above the ground.

In rainforests, most plant and animal life exists 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.

Unfortunately, every year a section of rainforest the size of the state of New Jersey is destroyed. Rainforest destruction occurs for many reasons, from cutting down trees for wood to making room for farms or roads. Many groups oppose rainforest destruction because of the important role rainforests play in our world.

Scientists sometimes call rainforests the “lungs" of Earth. The millions and millions of trees in Earth's rainforests absorb tremendous amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce much of the oxygen humans and animals depend upon for survival.

Rainforests also help to stabilize Earth's climate. Scientists believe carbon dioxide is a major contributor to climate change. By absorbing carbon dioxide, rainforests help to reduce the effects of worldwide climate change.

In addition to the important role rainforests play in Earth's climate, they also are an important home to about half of the species of plants and wildlife on the planet. Many of the species found in rainforests are endangered and can only survive in rainforests.

Finally, rainforests help maintain the water cycle by producing 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.

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Ready to learn more about rainforests? The Internet features tons of resources that you can use to learn more about all sorts of different aspects of rainforests. Check out the links below and enjoy exploring rainforests from the comfort of home or school!

    Virtual Rainforest Visits
    Online Rainforest Games
    Virtual Rainforest Storybooks
    Rainforest Plant & Animal Facts
    Rainforest Activities

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Wonder Words

    rainforest
    canopy
    carbon dioxide
    oxygen
    tropical
    diverse
    population
    climate
    equator
    destruction
    absorb
    tremendous
    atmosphere
    contributor
    endangered
    species

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