Rainforests Biodiversity

Tropical rainforests — characterized by high rainfall (200cm+/year), consistent warm temperatures, and multi-layered canopy structure — cover about 6% of Earth's land surface but contain approximately 50% of all plant and animal species. They are found in South America (Amazon), Central Africa (Congo Basin), and Southeast Asia (Borneo, Sumatra, New Guinea). The richest forests are in Borneo and New Guinea — the convergence of Asia and Australia has produced extraordinary endemism. A single hectare of Bornean forest can contain more tree species than all of Europe. Rainforest species provide 25% of all pharmaceuticals (aspirin, quinine, morphine, taxol are rainforest-derived); researchers estimate 70% of cancer-fighting plants come from tropical forests. Deforestation destroys forest at the rate of 1 football field per second — primarily for cattle ranching, palm oil, and soy production.