Rainforest Canopy

The rainforest canopy — the uppermost continuous layer of tree foliage in tropical forests, typically 25–40 meters above ground — is the most biodiverse habitat on Earth. It is a world largely unknown until canopy access methods (climbing ropes, hot air balloons, construction cranes) enabled scientists to study it from the 1970s onward. An estimated 50% of Earth's terrestrial species live in canopies. Each canopy tree supports a unique ecosystem — hundreds of insect species, specialized birds, orchids, bromeliads, tree frogs, snakes, and mammals that may never descend to the forest floor. The canopy intercepts 95% of sunlight, regulates temperature, and cycles water back into the atmosphere. Its destruction through deforestation immediately eliminates the associated biodiversity.