The Rain Forest

One of the most talked about places in the world is the rain forest. This amazing ecosystem has more species and plants than all the other ecosystems in the world combined. There are more than 10 million species. Scientists say that there are even species that haven’t been identified yet.

The rain forest is a lush and green place. It is called the rain forest because it rains a lot. It may begin raining at a moment’s notice. Constant thunderstorms lead to a lot of flooding and very wet soil. It is also a very hot and humid place. The climate remains the same all the time. This consistency in climate creates a stable environment for many plants and animals. The largest rain forests can be found in the African Congo, the Amazon Basin in South America, and Southern Asia.

There is a lot of concern about the amount of rain forest that is being destroyed. Animals and plant species become extinct when their environment is destroyed. Scientists say that over 500 square miles of the rain forest is destroyed every minute. That’s a lot of destruction!

Why is the rain forest being destroyed? There are many different reasons. One of the reasons is so that farmers can make fields to grow plants. The rain forest is also chopped down to use the wood for things like furniture. Organizations have been set up to try and keep people from cutting down any more rain forests.