| Rainforests are forest locations that have very high | | | | different types of the available rainforest fruits are |
| rainfall measurements each year. The most well | | | | used. |
| known rainforests are tropical rainforests found in | | | | As you can see, much of the world's resources come |
| Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Australia | | | | from our rainforests. Even the U.S. National Cancer |
| and the Amazon region in Africa. | | | | Institute confirms that many of the plants in the |
| Rainforests play a very important role in our daily life | | | | rainforest are effective in fighting cancer cells. At least |
| whether we are aware of it or not. For example, two | | | | one fourth of the active ingredients in cancer fighting |
| thirds of the world's animal and plant species live in the | | | | drugs can be found exclusively in the rainforests of the |
| rainforests. Millions of plants, animals and insects are | | | | world. Several companies and organizations are |
| currently living in the rainforests of the world waiting to | | | | currently researching plants in the rainforests as |
| be discovered. The majority of natural medicines | | | | possible cures for viruses, cancer and AIDS. |
| available on the market today come from tropical | | | | A constant concern revolves around the destruction |
| rainforests. Between 70 and 80 percent of the world's | | | | of the rainforests. Rainforests are destroyed so the |
| population depends on plant medicines. Hundreds of | | | | trees can be used as timber and the land used for |
| prescription drugs are made in some part from plants | | | | grazing cattle and for farming. However, due to the |
| found only in the rainforest, also. | | | | composition of the soil in a rainforest, the ground is not |
| More than 20% of the oxygen in the world is | | | | suitable for farming. Rainforests are much more useful |
| produced in the Amazon rainforests alone. The | | | | to humans and to the earth if left intact. Valuable |
| Amazon Basin is also home to at least one fifth of the | | | | resources, such as plants, animals, fresh water and |
| world's fresh water resources. There are an | | | | oxygen are destroyed and lost forever by rainforest |
| estimated 3,000 types of fruit that grow in the | | | | destruction. The destruction of the rainforest is the |
| rainforests of the world. In the United States, only 200 | | | | leading cause of animal extinction. |