40+ Good To Know Facts About The Rainforest

Did you know that you should thank the rainforest for every breath you take and most of your food? We also make medicine from some of the plants there. So, why are we ruining it?

Let’s learn more facts about the rainforest and see what you can do to prevent its destruction.

Fascinating Facts About the Rainforest

Rainforests cover less than 2% of the Earth’s surface.
25% of modern medicines originate from tropical plants.
Around 20% of the world’s fresh air comes from the Amazon Rainforest.
The Amazon Rainforest has over 1,300 types of birds, 427 mammals, 3,000 fish species, and 2.5 million species of insects.
Rainforests are home to more than half of the planet’s terrestrial species.
Over 18 million acres of forest are lost every year due to deforestation.

Interesting Facts About the Rainforest

Rainforests are crucial for keeping our planet healthy. They absorb CO2 and release H2O. Besides giving us fresh air, they’re essential for regulating the Earth’s climate.

Let’s see some more interesting facts and find out how many rainforests are there worldwide.

Rainforests Cover Less Than 2% of the Earth’s Surface.

(Source: Live Science)

Rainforests are home to half of the world’s species.
There are seven temperate rainforests, and the Pacific one is the biggest.
Around 30 million species of plants and animals live in tropical rainforests.
25% of modern medicines originate from tropical plants.
In South-East Asia, alternative medicine uses around 6,500 tropical plant varieties to treat illnesses, including malaria and syphilis.

Among the rich rainforest vegetation, only 1% of plants are in use. The other 99% are yet to be discovered or have no use in medicine so far. We should thank rainforests for providing some of the best cancer medicines. Also, natural remedies like organic CBD oil for dogs and humans or therapeutic essential oils are derived from plants grown in the rainforests.

Now that we have your attention, let’s check some more cool rainforest facts.

The Livelihood of 1,6 Billion People Depends on the Rainforest.

(Source: Star Chefs)

400 tribes, with one million Indians, live in the Amazon forests.
The most famous tribal people, called Pygmies, live in the Congo rainforest.
22 ecosystems, 270 plant species, and 6 forest types have been identified in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve.
Rainforests are home to more than half of the planet’s terrestrial species.

Rainforest inhabitants have a very different life than ours. Living in these areas without basic survival instincts is impossible, and many people get lost there without ever returning.

Let’s read more amazing facts about the biggest rainforests in the world.

Rainfall Levels in Rainforests Are Around 2,000 mm per Year.

(Source: Internet Geography)

The annual average rainforest temperature is 82,4 °F.
Rainforests absorb 250 billion tons of CO2, equal to 90 times the man-made greenhouse gas emission per year.
The Amazon rainforest has the hottest temperatures of 91 °F during the day and 71°F at night.

The facts about the rainforest climate are telling that there is no typical four-season weather out there. For example, there are only dry and wet seasons in tropical forests, with an average temperature of 77 °F.

Due to the Tropical Rainforests’ High Temperatures, the Average Air Humidity Falls Between 77% and 88%.

(Source: National Geographic)

Because of their warmth and moisture, tropical rainforests produce 75% of the rain through transpiration and evaporation.
One of the tropical rainforest characteristics is the diverse terrestrial ecosystems. There are over 100 species of rainforest trees found in each hectare.
The tropical forests of Sumatra and Borneo are home to the Sumatran rhinoceros, which is one of the five extinct rhino species.

These unique facts about the tropical rainforests show that it has the most diverse ecosystem globally.

The Top Rainforest Layer Is the Emergent Layer.

(Source: All Famous Faqs)

The bottom tropical rainforest layer, or the forest floor, receives only 2% of the sunlight.
Most trees in the emergent layer are 200 feet high.
The Amazon rainforest’s canopy layer, with its jungle-like density, contributes to 75% of all photosynthesis on the planet.
The rainforest’s understorey layer can be thousands of meters away from the canopy layer.

The rainforest provides shelter and food for animals and plants. Logically, the tallest trees form the emergent layer, and they get the most sunlight and rain. In contrast, the forest floor receives a small amount of sunlight and humidity.

Important Facts and Stats About the Rainforest

The top three biggest rainforests are the Amazon, Congo, and New Guinea rainforest. Let’s discuss their jungle habitat, rainforest plants, and animals in numbers.

Around 20% of the World’s Oxygen Comes From the Amazon Rainforest.

(Source: Save the Amazon)

Over 30 million people live in the Amazon rainforest.
The Amazon rainforest is home to 10% of all species on Earth.
Also, there are more than 1,300 types of birds, 2.5 million insect species, 3,000 fish species, and 427 mammals.
Over the past 30 years, 15% of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest has been destroyed.

The Amazon rainforest locations cover nine countries, and more than half of the rainforest is in Brazil.

These facts about the Amazon rainforest confirm that it has rich vegetation and many unknown species yet to be discovered.

60% of the Congo Rainforest Is in Africa.

(Source: World Atlas)

The Congolese Rainforest soaks up 1,2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
More than 150 ethnic groups have lived in the Congo rainforest for over 50,000 years.
60% of the Congo rainforest is in Africa, and over 70% of plants in Africa are there.

The Congolese rainforest is the second biggest in the world.

Now, let’s explore the third biggest rainforest and see why the New Guinea rainforest is important.

The New Guinea Rainforest Has Plants That Date Back 100,000,000 Years Ago.

(Source: Schoolwork Helper)

This rainforest biodiversity is immense, containing 5%–10% of all species in the world.
The rainforest covers 65% of the Papua New Guinea island.
The New Guinea rainforest has over 11,000 known species of vascular plants, 1,200 species of trees, and around 200 species of ferns.

New Guinea’s dense tropical forests are home to some of the most unique plants and animals.

Scary Rainforest Facts

Did you know that 89% of CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry? Are you still not worried about pollution?

Maybe these devastating rainforest stats about the “the lungs of the world” destruction will change the way you look at things.

Every Year, Over 18 Million Acres of Forest Are Lost Due to Deforestation.

(Source: Pei Mag)

Every second, 1,5 acres of rainforest are deforested.
Deforestation is a reason for 15% of the greenhouse gas emissions that remain in the atmosphere.
People cause 90% of the wildfire in US forests.
In the last 50 years, 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been lost due to cattle ranching.
By 2030, over half of the Amazon forest could be gone due to the increased carbon release into the Earth’s atmosphere.

People must realize that by destroying the rainforest, we’re putting our natural source of fresh air and overall environmental stability at risk.

Most of the wildfires are caused by people, and 8% to 10% of all US fires are from discarded cigarettes. Sometimes the unconscious things we do can cause greater damage.

With the current deforestation rates, researchers believe that in 100 years, there will be no rainforests. What’s more terrifying, some Amazon facts predict the rainforest will collapse even sooner.

Let’s get more rainforest information about the effects of industrial pollution.

Palm Oil Plantations Take 27 Million Hectares of the Earth’s Surface.

(Source: Rainforest Rescue)

Due to palm oil concessions, between 1,000 and 5,000 orangutans are killed every year.
Palm oil production in Para has led to Amazonian water pollution to the extent that it causes people to feel sick after swimming.

Palm oil is among the threatening biotic factors, and with the increased oil production, the rainforests’ water and vegetation are at great risk. Also, palm oil plantations are the main reason why forest land is being cleared, leaving orangutans with no shelter and food.

Besides drinking, 70% of the world’s water supplies go to agriculture, so imagine what happens to the food we eat when it’s grown in a contaminated environment.

Stats and Facts About the Tropical Rainforest Biome

A rainforest biome is an ecosystem that consists of sprawling forests with diverse flora and fauna. They can occur naturally, and rainforests support plants and animals.

There are many types like tundra, forest, savanna, desert, and freshwater biomes.

Now, let’s learn some interesting facts about the tropical rainforest biome.

The Tropical Rainforest Biome Covers 7% of the Earth’s Surface.

(Source: Earth & Human)

The largest part of the Savanna biome covers almost half of the African surface.
Birds’ droppings in tropical jungles grow new plants.
The tropical rainforests are one of the oldest biomes on Earth, with some of them dating back to the age of dinosaurs.
Compared to other biomes, everything decomposes 10 times faster in tropical rainforests.

Every tropical rainforest biome is important in its own way. Besides plants and trees, rainforests are home to many more species. In their honor, here are some interesting facts about the rainforest animals and insects.

The Tropical Rainforest Biome Is Home to Over 15 Million Animal Species.

(Source: Earth & Human)

80% of the world’s insects and 40% of bird species can be found in the tropical rainforests biome.
The most common animals in the Amazon rainforest are macaws and parrots.
The African Gray Parrot in lowland African rainforests is classified as vulnerable species, ranging in population from 120,100 to 259,000.

Countless animal species live in rainforest layers. Some are very rare, and you can’t find them outside the tropical rainforest biome.

Considering how many forests there are worldwide, it’s no wonder there are still unknown animal and plant species.

Fun Rainforest Facts for Kids

We haven’t forgotten about our youngest rainforest explorers. This list of easy-to-remember rainforest fun facts will keep every kid’s attention.

A falling raindrop can travel 10 minutes from a rainforest’s canopy to the bottom floor.
In Latin American rainforests, you can hear the calls of the black howler monkey from 3,1 miles away.
The Amazon river has more than 3,000 fish species.
Tasmania’s temperate rainforests have pine trees that live up to 2,000 years.
Lions are famous as “Kings of the Jungles”, but they usually live in grasslands and savannas.
Rainforest animals use plants in the jungle to hide from predators.

Aren’t these jungle facts fascinating?

What Can You Do Today to Save the Rainforest

Here are some suggestions on how you can contribute to precious rainforest preservation:

Reduce paper, wood, and plastic consumption. Try to use products from recycled materials as much as possible. If you do good research, you’ll find plenty of sustainable products. The only problem here is the goodwill of people. Are the 25 trillion plastic pieces in the ocean and millions of paper waste not alarming enough to change our habits?
Limit your meat intake. Have you heard about the Meatless Monday Campaign? It advocates reducing meat intake to prevent climate change, soil pollution, and resource decline.
Avoid palm oil products. Every day, large rainforest areas are cleared for palm oil plantations. Vote against that by purchasing products without palm oil.

Last but not least, spread the word on social media. Switching to reusable utensils and straws, or buying eco-friendly rubber toys for your pet will make at least a small difference.

Tell the people how important rainforest preservation is. Share some useful ideas on how to help and motivate others to make a change. We shouldn’t underestimate these rainforest habitat facts and stats.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have a better idea of what the rainforest looks like, you can tell that it’s a true paradise for animal and nature lovers.

We need rainforests to regulate the climate, maintain the water cycle, and purify the air we breathe. Besides admiring their beauty and diversity, people should start worrying about their pollution.

The above facts about the rainforest show that the human effect on flora and fauna is more destructive than nurturing. But if all of us can make even the slightest change in behavior, the world would be a better place.