Tropical Rain-forests

Tropical rain-forests has the largest diversity of species in the whole world, making them one of the largest habitats.

Tropical rain-forests are located within the tropics at 5⁰ north and south of the equator otherwise known as the equatorial climate belt. the main rain-forest in Tobago is located in the main ridge which is the oldest protected rain-forest in the western hemisphere. The climate is generally consistent year round and the atmosphere is most times hot and humid. There is little fluctuation in the temperature and the rainfall every month is generally above 50mm.

The temperature is usually around 26-28⁰C to ensure year round growth. Precipitation must be more than 2000mm per year again to ensure tree growth.

Flora and Fauna

There is a variety of species, approximately 200 different species per ha (no pure stands). The trees typically have Buttress Roots, Evergreen leaves (waxy, dark green, drip tip). There are also some Deciduous trees (plum, poui trees), Lanais (woody vines), Epiphytes (orchids) and Parasitic plants (strangler figs). In Panama, 1 ha: 1600 species of birds; approx. 40,000 insects on 1 tree; 950 different species of beetles. This here alone shows the diversity these rainforests hold.

Opportunities

Lumbering

Sustainable Timber Harvesting

Ecotourism

Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Value

Agriculture

Problems

· No pure stands: large areas may need to be exploited to obtain few selected species

· Dense forest: there is difficulty in accessibility, so roads may need to be constructed through the rain-forest

· Replanting efforts are not adequately monitored › Eg Amazon- 20% of the forest has been cut down in the last 40 years

· Deforestation: forest cleared to grow crops; nutrient cycle breaks (lack of nutrients in soil store results in large amounts of fertilizers, lime, pesticides, herbicides being used, causing eutrophication)

· CO2 emissions increase when forests are burnt (greenhouse gas)

· Soil erosion occurs (sedimentation in rivers, flooding)

· Loss of biodiversity (flora and fauna)

· Climatic impact: half of the rainfall in the forest is produced by transpiration occurring in the forest; less forest means less precipitation.

What should we do?

The rain-forests for most persons for one, is there min source of income. it is also one of the only supplies of the oxygen that we need to survive on a whole. so imagine, if our rain forests were to disappear what will happen. I can tell you, human life will cease to exist as we know it. We need to do all that we can to ensure our forests stay intact and that life continues one, as we try our best to live in harmony with our natural environment.