What's happening to your favorite tropical rainforest?

Earth scientists warn us that the trees in these forests emit a good part of the oxygen the rest of us breathe. Therefore, the health and future of the tropical areas are of vital interest to environmentalists.

Where are the tropical rainforest areas, and what is the climate like there? The rain forests are located around the world near the equator.

The largest area is in South America along the Amazon River, but there are sizable tracts of rain forest in central Africa and the Islands of Southeast Asia. In these regions, the rain falls nearly every day, and as much as 400 inches, about 10 metres, a year can fall.

Grasslands also exist in tropical regions and have their own unique climate. A tropical savanna climate is characterized by a rainy season in which as much as 50 inches can fall within 6 months or less. The dry season, which lasts 5 months or more, will usually log less than four inches for the whole time.

Because of this extended dry period, the vegetation seen in these areas tends to consist of grass and small shrubby trees.

And in the future...

Here's a comment we received: Hi, its my pleasure to write something in this blank. I am from Northeast of India and there is a state called Sikkim. It is known for its greenery. However when i went sikkim on the year 2004, the main thing which grabbed my attention is the deforestetion in that area. All the big trees are down and no-one takes the initiative to take the step to florish greenery again. Its really painful. ~Rupam from India

Deforestation is happening because the trees are seen by local people, governments, and landowners as being a readily available cash crop. These regions, however, provide a lot more than just trees. The plants necessary to make many medicines grow in these areas, as do many other important plant and animal species.

The tropical rainforest is a fascinating item to study, with its huge variety of plants and animals. By examining the climate and characteristics of these regions, we can get a better understanding of their importance to the rest of the world and maybe put an end to these problems.

Go back from this Tropical Rainforest page to the previous one, Solution Global Warming,

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