RainForest

= A Summary of Life in the Rain Forests by Lucy Baker =

Introduction
==== The rain forests are very important and interesting places. The rain forests were unchanged for 60 million years. However, in the past 50 years, half of the world's rain forests have been cut down. This is awful, because half of the world's species of plants and animals live in the rain forests. Since it rains on average 32 feet yearly, the rain forests are the wettest places in the world. The rain forests have three important layers. Although the rain forests are very wet, people have lived there for many generations. These are some of the reasons that the rain forests are very important and interesting places. ====

Where in the World? Have you ever wondered where the rain forests are? The rainforests are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Here you can find Central and South American, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The rain forests are hot, wet, and complex environments. There are forty different types of rain forests between the tropics. So, the next time you are wondering where the world’s rain forests are, look between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

The Plant Bank
====The rain forest is full of different plants. Scientists have counted 280 different species in one 2 ½ acre area! Plants can even grow on the forest floor. Light reaches the floor and allows tons of herbs and ferns to grow. The canopy is full of plants. Moss, lichen, and other flowers and plants grow that cover the branches of the canopy. These plants called epiphytes don’t harm the host tree, because their roots dangle from the tree branches. In conclusion, you can see that a ton of different plants grow in the rain forest.====

Feasting In the Rain Forest
The lush vegetation of the rain forests is home to insects and many other animals. For example, sloths spend most of their slow and creative lives in the treetops of the rain forests. Furthermore, flies and beetles act as cleaners by clearing out waste and debris. Did you know that wasps and bees pollinate the flowers and hummingbirds can fly backwards? As you can see the rain forests lush vegetation provides an amazing home for many insects and animals.

Forest Fiends

The world's rain forests are dangerous places. There are hundreds of predators in the rain forests. There are large predators incl ﻿ uding eagles, big cats, and tree snakes. Other predators like constrictors choose to wait for larger prey on the forest floor. However, large predators are not alone in the rain forests. There are small predators like poisonous insects, spiders,wasps, bees, and scorpions. As you can see, rain forests are dangerous places. Rain Forest People For thousands of years, people and tribes have lived in the rain forests. The rain forests have become their homes. The people of the rain forests have established communities, cultures, and customs. Unfortunately, their way of life is in danger of being lost forever. The people of the rain forests know how to care for them. However, it is common for many outsiders to mistreat and invade the land. Hopefully, the people and the tribes of the rain forests can continue to live there for thousands of years to come.

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The rain forests are natural treasures of our world. Unfortunately, people are chopping them down. People are doing this only for the timber and land. Additionally, there are miners cutting down the forests. These miners are hoping to find mineral reserves such as, copper, uranium, and iron. About 500 million people have moved into the world's rain forests. The majority of them are slash-and-burn farmers. This is extremely tragic because it is difficult to stop this destruction. The rain forests provide natural treasures and are sadly being destroyed. ======

Saving the Forests
==== More people are becoming aware of the need to save many species of plants and animals that have made their homes in the rain forests. More than 50 wild species become extinct every day. This happens because of rain forest destruction. However, many animals can still be saved. Little steps have been taken to save the forests. For example, conservation groups have started huge rain forest campaigns. More people are becoming aware of the need to save the rain forests’ plants and animals. ====

Paradise Lost
==== In the year 2050, scientist predict that all rain forests will be tragically destroyed. Farmers should not slash-and- burn down rain forests, because millions of plants and animal species will become extinct. Rain forests are located in areas with poor soil. This poor soil is why the rain forests can become lifeless in less than 10 years. After years of damage from slash-and-burn farmers, the tropical rain washes away the rich topsoil and the land becomes challenging to cultivate. The waste left from the farmers is drenched in water, and the water runs down hill to flood villages and clogs rivers with mud. This is why the scientists predict that the world's rain forests will become extinct by 2050. ====

Gifts from the Forest

The rain forests can provide us with many gifts. Examples of these gifts are berries and animals for food. The rain forest can also provide us with coffee, cocoa, tea, rubber, and even medicines. One fourth of the world’s medicines come from the rain forest. Many rain forests have useful insects and poisons. Special insects work as pesticides that you don’t have to pay for! The poison dart frog’s poison is used in dart blowers for hunting. The rain forests' trees contain a variety of benefits. Multiple types of wood come from rain forests trees. Some tree sap can be used as fuel for cars! These are some of the many gifts the rain forests can provide us with.