What Makes the
Tropical Rainforest Special?
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The rainforests are home to half of the Earth's plant and
animal species.
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They are winter homes to many birds that breed in temperate
latitudes.
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Tropical rainforests are some of the most beautiful wildernesses
on our planet.
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They are home to tribal cultures that have survived successfully
in the forests for many thousands of years.
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The forests are a potential source of medicinal plants that
may benefit everyone on Earth.
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The ecosystem of the rainforest is based on the most complex
interdependence of plants and animals. This is both the forest's strength
and its weakness: highly specialized organisms are particularly vulnerable
to disturbance, because they cannot adapt fast enough to survive the change.
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Tropical rainforests help maintain global rain and weather
patterns. Much of the water that evaporates from the trees returns in the
form of rainfall. Removal of the forest can change the natural rainfall
patterns.
  
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