| 1) The tallest trees are the emergents, towering as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around. Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here. Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies. |
| 2) This is the primary layer of the forest and forms a roof over the two remaining layers. Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. It’s a maze of leaves and branches. Many animals live in this area since food is abundant. Those animals include: snakes, toucans and treefrogs. |
| 3) Little sunshine reaches this area so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet. Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards. There is a large concentration of insects here. |
| 4) It’s very dark down here. Almost no plants grow in this area, as a result. Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly. A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a regular climate will disappear in 6 weeks. Giant anteaters live in this layer. |
LANGUAGE ACTIVITY
Task 4. Put in the missing word.
Us, ecosystems, biodiversity, year, planet, belt, people,
Down, wood, deforestation, up, population
Rainforests wrap … (1) the equator of the earth like a green... (2). After millions of years of evolution, they are the biologically rich ecosystems on our … (3). Tropical rainforests contain a hugely rich diversity of species of plants and animals. They are also home to many different ingenious … (4) who have unique and treasured cultures. Rainforests are precious resources for all of … (5). They provide vital … (6) for the whole world. They store water, regulate rainfall and a home to over half the planets … (7). But more importantly, they also play a crucial role in climate change. Rainforests absorb almost a fifth of the world human-made CO2 every … (8). But tropical deforestation releases an extra 17% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. So if the rainforests are destroyed, it is bad news on both counts. Cutting (9) … tropical forests to clear the land in this way enables rainforest nations to provide globally traded commodities, such as timber, palm oil, beef and soy. The world … (10) is likely to increase from 6 billion to 9 billion over the next 40 years. This population, combined with rising incomes, will lead to a continual increasing demand for … (11), animal feed and fuel. And this, in turn, will lead to more … (12) of rainforests with devastating for everyone.
