Rainforests

• Biome - areas of the planet with a similar climate and landscape,where similar plants and animals live
• Biodiversity - The variety of life in the world or in a particular area.
• Commercial Farming - farming to sell produce for profit.
• Debt Reduction - National debt relief in return for protecting rainforests
• Deforestation - the chopping down and removal of trees
• Ecotourism - Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and benefits local
• Logging - cutting down trees and selling the timber
• Soil Erosion - removal of topsoil faster than it could be replaced
• Sustainability - The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Climate - High temperatures (27*C) and high rainfall (2000mm +)
• Water - Distinct wet season lasting several months. Leaching during this time
• People - Traditional tribes live sustainability. Exploitation for $$ gain by non-indigenous.
• Poison Dart Frogs - bright colours deter predators
• Sloths - long,sharp claws that help them cling onto branches
• Spider Monkey - prehensile tail to be able to grasp the branches of trees
• Jaguars - large claws,which enable them to climb small trees and catch their prey
• Most trees are evergreen to help them take advantage of the continual growing system
• many trees are really tall and the vegetation cover is dense - very little reaches the forest floor
• Many indigenous people have adapted to life in the rainforests
• Indigenous people make a living by hunting and fishing, gathering nuts and berries and growing vegetables
• The soil isn't very fertile as heavy rain washes nutrients away. There are surface nutrients due to decayed leaf fall,but this layer is very thin as decay is fast in the warm,moist conditions