RAINFOREST FACT SHEET

Did you know that…

• Rainforests are primarily defined by two factors: where they are found on the earth and the amount of rainfall they receive. Rainforests are typically found in tropical locations and receive from 160-315 inches of rain per year.
• There are 3.4 million square miles of tropical forest around the equator.
• While rainforests cover only 2% of the Earth's surface or 6% of its landmass, they house over ½ of the plant and animal species on Earth.
  
• Costa Rican rainforests contain:
• 850 kinds of birds
• 100 species of dragonflies
• 729 types of butterflies
• 205 kinds of mammals
• 10,000 different varieties of plants
• There are at least 3000 types of fruits in the rainforest including: avocados, coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, guavas, pineapples, mangos, and tomatoes.
• Vegetables include: corn, potatoes, rice, winter squash, yams · Spices include: black pepper, cayenne, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sugar cane, turmeric, coffee, and vanilla.
• The US National Cancer Institute has identified 3000 plants that are active against cancer cells. 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest.

Despite these benefits…

• Rainforests are being destroyed at a staggering rate. According to the National Academy of Science, at least 50 million acres a year are lost, an area the size of England, Wales, and Scotland combined
• An average of 137 species of life forms are driven into extinction every day in the world's tropical rainforests due to things such as logging and cattle ranching which are destroying the trees and the animals' homes

· On average, rainforest destruction includes:

• 64 acres/minute · 3,800 acres/hour · 93,000 acres/day
• 2,800,000 acres/month
• 33,800,000 acres/year

Read About the Rainforest