Rainforest

Rainforest

An area of tall, mostly evergreen trees with a high amount of rainfall, covering just six percent of Earth's surface and home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species.

Biodiversity

The variety of plant and animal species in a particular habitat, which is particularly rich in rainforests.

Emergent Layer

The top layer of the rainforest, where trees can reach heights of up to 60 meters (200 feet) and are exposed to direct sunlight.

Canopy Layer

The dense layer of vegetation beneath the emergent layer, approximately six meters (20 feet) thick, that forms a roof over the understory and forest floor.

Understory Layer

The layer located below the canopy, characterized by darker, more humid conditions and shorter plants with larger leaves.

Forest Floor Layer

The bottom layer of the rainforest, which is the darkest and home to decomposers that break down organic matter.

Tropical Rainforests

Rainforests located between the latitudes of 23.5°N and 23.5°S, known for high temperatures and humidity, and the most biologically diverse ecosystems.

Temperate Rainforests

Rainforests found in mid-latitudes with milder temperatures, typically located in coastal, mountainous areas.

Amazon Rainforest

The largest tropical rainforest in the world, located in South America, known for its vast biodiversity.

Deforestation

The process of clearing forests for agricultural and industrial development, leading to habitat loss and species extinction.

Conservation

Efforts made by individuals, communities, and organizations to protect and sustain rainforest ecosystems.

Mbuti

An indigenous community in the Ituri rainforest of Central Africa, traditionally hunter-gatherers.

Chimbu

A people living in the highland rainforest of New Guinea, practicing subsistence agriculture through shifting cultivation.

Tlingit

An indigenous group from the temperate rainforest of the northwest coast of North America, known for their diverse diet from marine and freshwater sources.

Yanomami

An indigenous people of the northern Amazon rainforest, practicing hunting and shifting-cultivation agriculture.

REDD Program

The United Nations' initiative aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by providing financial incentives to member countries.

Rainforest Trust

A nonprofit organization that supports local conservation groups in purchasing and managing critical rainforest habitats.