3. EMERGENTS
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The top layer of the rainforest is the
emergent layer.
Here, trees as tall as 60 meters
(200 feet) dominate the skyline
. Foliage is often sparse on tree
trunks, but spreads wide as the
trees reach the sunny upper layer,
where they photosynthesize the
sun's rays
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4. CANOPY LAYER
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The canopy, where more species
live than anyplace else in the
rainforest, is the denser layer of
greenery about 20 feet thick
formed by the next tallest trees.
It acts like a roof over the rest of the
rainforest.
The canopy blocks winds, rainfall,
and sunlight, creating a humid, still,
and dark environment below.
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5. UNDERSTORY LAYER
05
Several meters below the bottom of the
canopy is the understory, a layer made
up of young trees, short species of trees,
shrubs, and soft-stemmed plants.
Is typically a sheltered layer that is
warm and damp.
Forest understory plants provide food
and shelter for small animals and birds
and large predators which live in the
trees.
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6. FOREST FLOOR
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The forest floor is the darkest of all rainforest
layers, making it extremely difficult for
plants to grow.
Leaves that fall to the forest floor decay
quickly.
Decomposers, such as termites, slugs,
scorpions, worms, and fungi, thrive on the
forest floor.
Only two per cent of sunlight gets through
the thick canopy trees and understorey
plants to reach the forest floor.
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7. TROPICAL CLIMATE
Tropical climates, generally located between
the tropics, experience average monthly
temperatures of 25 to 28 degree celcius and
go through cyclical wet and dry seasons.
The heat causes more frequent evaporation in
tropical bodies of water, leading to greater
humidity and more rain
The greater availability of water and the
higher concentration of solar energy makes it
easier for plant life to proliferate, which, in
turn, supports other forms of life.
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8. 08
HOW HAS RAINFORST VEGETATION
ADAPTED TO ITS CLIMATE ?
Vegaetation in rainforests is adapted to thrive in hot, humid and wet climate. They're accustomed
to the cyclical climate
In tropical rainforests most trees have wide buttress roots to support them as they grow incredibly
tall due to flourishing water and sunlight capacity
Epiphytes (plants that grow on the surface of other plants) get their moisture from rain, air or
moisture
Tree barks in tropical rainforest are particularly thin and smooth as they do not need protection
from the cold as temperatures fluctuate between 26 to 28 degree celcius. The smooth surface
allows the water to slip down into the soil quickly, thus helping the soil absord water and nutrients
Plants have thick, waxy leaves with pointed tips. The pointed tips channel the water to a point, so it
runs off – that way the weight of the water doesn’t damage the plant, and there’s no standing
water for fungi and bacteria to grow in. The waxy coating of the leaves also helps repel the rain.
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10. 10
FACTS ABOUT RAINFORESTS
Most of the heat on earth is concentrated on the
tropical rainforests as mojority of them are situated
on the equator. Therefore leading to thriving flora and
fauna
The climate is hot and humid all year long along with
unprecedented frequent showers of rainfall
Tropical areas have an important role as they have the
most rich biodiversity and contribute to many
flourishing ecosystems on earth. The biodiversity is
however thinning owing to human intervention
Most of the endemic species on earth belong to the
tropical climate
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11. SIGNIFICANCE OF RAINFORESTS
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1. Biodiversity: Tropical rainforests are incredibly diverse ecosystems, housing a wide variety of plant and
animal species. They are known to contain more than half of the world's species, making them crucial for
global biodiversity.
2. Carbon Sink: Rainforests play a vital role in regulating the Earth's climate by acting as carbon sinks. They
absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their trees and vegetation,
helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.
3. Oxygen Production: Rainforests are often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" because they produce a
significant amount of the world's oxygen. The dense vegetation in these forests releases oxygen through
the process of photosynthesis, which is essential for all living beings.
4. Medicinal Potential: Many plant species found in tropical rainforests have medicinal properties and are
used in traditional medicine. These forests hold immense potential for the discovery of new drugs and
treatments for various diseases.
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12. 12
WILDLIFE INHABITATION
In terms of wildlife inhabitation, tropical rainforests are home to a vast array of species. Some notable wildlife
found in these forests include:
1. Mammals: Jaguars, orangutans, sloths, tapirs, and monkeys are among the mammal species that inhabit
tropical rainforests.
2. Birds: Colorful birds like toucans, parrots, macaws, and hummingbirds are commonly found in these
forests.
3. Reptiles and Amphibians: Various reptiles, including snakes, lizards, and turtles, as well as numerous
amphibians such as frogs and caecilians, thrive in tropical rainforest environments.
4. Insects: Tropical rainforests are teeming with insect life, including butterflies, beetles, ants, and many
other fascinating species.
5. Fish and Aquatic Species: Some rainforest regions are home to unique aquatic ecosystems, with fish,
amphibians, and aquatic plants that have adapted to the specific conditions of these environments.
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14. WHAT ARE UN SDG's ?
The Sustainable Development Goals or Global
Goals are a collection of seventeen interlinked
objectives designed to serve as a "shared
blueprint for peace and prosperity for people
and the planet, now and into the future" The
SDG's aim to transform our world. They are a
call to action to end poverty and inequality,
protect the planet, and ensure that all people
enjoy health, justice and prosperity
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15. 15
Goal 15 is about conserving life on land.
It is to protect and restore terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests,
combat desertification, and halt and
reverse land degradation and stop
biodiversity loss. Healthy ecosystems
and the biological diversity they support
are a source of food, water, medicine,
shelter and other material goods. They
also provide ecosystem services – the
cleaning of air and water – which
sustain life and increase resiliency in the
face of mounting pressures.
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16. 16
STATISTICS
Forest cover fell from 31.9 per cent of total land area in 2000 to 31.2 per cent in 2020, a net loss of almost 100
million hectares.
Agricultural expansion is driving almost 90 per cent of global deforestation, including 49.6 per cent from
expansion for cropland and 38.5 per cent for livestock grazing.
Between 2010 and 2021, the area of forest land under certification schemes increased by 35 per cent. The
proportion of forests under a long-term management plan increased from 54 per cent in 2010 to 58 per cent in
2020.
More than 700 million hectares of forest (18 per cent) were in legally established protected areas in 2020.
Human activities such as logging and farming are encroaching upon habitats, putting about 20 per cent of
reptile species at risk.
Globally, the mean percentage coverage of key biodiversity areas increased from over one quarter in 2000 to
nearly one half in 2021.
More and more countries are establishing national targets for incorporating ecosystem and biodiversity values
into their accounting and reporting systems. By January 2022, 37 per cent of countries assessed are on track to
achieve or exceed their national targets.
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17. IMPACT OF HUMAN
ACTIVITIES ON RAINFORESTS
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Huge areas of diverse tropical forest are lost or degraded every year with dramatic consequences for biodiversity.
Deforestation and fragmentation, over-exploitation, invasive species and climate change are the main drivers of
tropical forest biodiversity loss.
Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to tropical rainforests. After cutting down trees, the land is often
burned to prepare the soil for farming. A 2022 report shows that 13.2% of the original Amazon forest biome has
been lost due to deforestation and other causes.
Invasive species pose a threat to the natural ecosystem of the habitat. In the absence of their natural predators,
competitors and pathogens, they can prosper in new environments and spread at the expense of native species,
affecting entire ecosystems.
Changing climate leads to forest degradation. Once sufficiently degraded, the forest will lose its ability to
generate its own rainfall, thereby preventing the rainforest ecosystem from being able to exist at all. Instead of
leafy forests teeming with wildlife, the Amazon would be a desolate expanse of shrublands.
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