Rainforests of the World

A hot, wet, green world

A rainforest is a thick forest where it is hot all year and it rains a lot — sometimes more than two metres of rain a year! Most rainforests grow near the equator, the warm middle band of the Earth. They are bursting with life. In fact, more than half of all the kinds of animals and plants on Earth live in rainforests, even though rainforests cover only a small part of the land.

The four layers

A rainforest is like a tall building with different floors. Each layer has its own animals and plants.

1. The forest floor

The bottom layer is dark and damp because the tall trees block most of the sunlight. Here, insects, fungi and bugs break down fallen leaves. Larger animals like jaguars and forest pigs roam here.

2. The understorey

Above the floor is the understorey, full of shrubs, young trees and large leaves reaching for light. Frogs, snakes and many insects live here.

3. The canopy

The canopy is a thick green roof of treetops, about 30 metres up. This is the busiest layer. Most rainforest animals live here, including monkeys, sloths, parrots, toucans and tree frogs, because there is plenty of fruit and leaves to eat.

4. The emergent layer

A few giant trees poke right above the canopy. This top layer is called the emergent layer. Eagles, large butterflies and bats fly here in the bright sunshine.

Amazing rainforest animals 🐆

Rainforests are home to incredible creatures: bright poison dart frogs, slow-moving sloths, colourful macaws, huge anacondas, and tiny leaf-cutter ants that carry pieces of leaf many times their own size. New species are still being discovered every year.

The lungs of the Earth 🌍

Rainforest plants take in carbon dioxide and give out lots of oxygen — the gas we breathe. This is why rainforests are sometimes called the "lungs of the Earth." They also soak up rain and help control the world's climate and weather.

Why we must protect them

Sadly, people are cutting and burning rainforest trees to make space for farms, roads and wood. This is called deforestation. When the trees go, the animals lose their homes and the Earth loses its helpers that clean the air. We can help by saving paper, recycling, and supporting groups that protect forests.

Be a rainforest explorer

You may not live near a rainforest, but you can still explore! Make your own mini layered forest in a jar or box: add soil, small plants or moss for the floor, taller twigs for the canopy, and one tall stick for the emergent layer. Keep it damp and watch how a warm, wet space helps plants grow. You can also visit a botanical garden glasshouse to feel real rainforest air.

To understand how rainforest animals depend on each other, read Food Chains and Ecosystems. And to see why these forests are so wet, learn about The Water Cycle Explained.