Tropical rainforests By Rhett A. Butler (001) WHAT ARE RAINFORESTS? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tropical rainforests are forests with tall trees, warm climate, and lots of rain. In some rainforests it rains more than one inch every day! Rainforests are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America. The largest rainforest in the world is the Amazon rainforest. (002) WHERE ARE RAINFORESTS LOCATED? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainforests are found in the tropics, the region between the Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer. In this region the sun is very strong and shines about the same amount of time every day all year long making the climate warm and stable. Many countries have rainforest. The countries with the largest amount of rainforest are: 1 Brazil 2 Congo, Democratic Republic 3 Peru 4 Indonesia 5 Colombia 6 Papua New Guinea 7 Venezuela 8 Bolivia 9 Mexico 10 Suriname (003) WHAT MAKES A RAINFOREST? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Each rainforest is unique but there are certain features common to all tropical rainforests. + Location: rainforests lie in the "tropics" + Rainfall: rainforests receive at least 80 inches of rain per year + Canopy: rainforests have a canopy which is the layer of branches and leaves formed by closely spaced rainforest trees. Most of the plants and animals in the rainforest live in the canopy. The canopy may be 100 feet above the ground. + Biodiversity: rainforests have a high level of biological diversity or biodiversity. Biodiversity is the name for all living things -- like plants, animals, and fungi -- found in an ecosystem. Scientists believe that about half of the plants and animals found on earth's land surface live in rainforests. + Symbiotic relationships between species: species in the rainforest often work together. A symbiotic relationship is a relationship where two different species benefit by helping each other. For example some plants produce small housing structures and sugar for ants. In return the ants protect the plants from other insects that may want to feed on the plant's leaves. (004) WHAT IS THE CANOPY? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the rainforest most plant and animal life is not found on the forest floor but in the leafy world known as the canopy. The canopy, which may be over 100 feet above the ground, is made up of the overlapping branches and leaves of rainforest trees. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of life in the rainforest is found in the trees making this the richest habitat for plant and animal life. Many well-known animals including monkeys, frogs, lizards, birds, snakes, sloths, and small cats are found in the canopy. The environment of the canopy is very different from the environment of the forest floor. During the day, the canopy is drier and hotter than other parts of the forest and the plants and animals that live there are specially adapted for life in the trees. For example, because the amount of leaves in the canopy can make it difficult to see more than a few feet, many canopy animals rely on loud calls or lyrical songs for communication. Gaps between trees mean that some canopy animals fly, glide, or jump to move about in the treetops. Scientists have long been interested in studying the canopy but because of the height of rainforest trees research has been difficult until recently. Today there are special facilities with rope bridges, ladders, and towers to help scientists discover the secrets of the canopy. The canopy is just one of several vertical layers in the rainforest. Take a look at the diagram on the left to see the other layers (the overstory, understory, shrub layer, and forest floor). (005) THE RAINFOREST FLOOR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The leaves of the canopy makes the ground layer of the rainforest is often a dark and humid place. However, despite its constant shade, the rainforest floor is an important part of the forest ecosystem. The forest floor is where decomposition takes place. Decomposition is the process by which decomposers like fungi and microorganisms break down dead plants and animals and recycle essential materials and nutrients. Many of the largest rainforest animals are found on the forest floor. Some of these include elephants, the tapir, and the jaguar. (201) WHY DO RAINFORESTS HAVE SO MANY KINDS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tropical rainforests support the greatest diversity of living organisms on Earth. Although they cover less than 2% of Earth's surface, rainforests house more than 50% of plants and animals on Earth. Here are some examples of the richness of rainforests: + rainforests have 170,000 of the world's 250,000 known plant species + the United States has 81 species of frogs, while Madagascar which is smaller than Texas, may have 300 species. + Europe has 321 butterfly species, while a park in the rainforest of Peru (Manu National Park) has 1300 species. Rainforests have an abundance of plants and animals for the following reasons: + Climate: because rainforests are located in tropical regions, they receive a lot of sunlight. This sunlight is converted to energy by plants through the process of photosynthesis. Since there is a lot of sunlight that means there is a lot of energy in the rainforest. This energy is stored in plant vegetation which is eaten by animals. Because there is a lot of food there are many species of plants and animals. + Canopy: the canopy structure of the rainforest means there are more places for plants to grow and animals to live. The canopy offers new sources of food, shelter, and hiding places, provides another world for interaction with between different species. For example there are plants in the canopy called bromeliads that store water in their leaves. Animals like frogs use these pockets of water for hunting and laying their eggs. (202) RAINFOREST MAMMALS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tropical rainforests are home to many kinds of mammals, ranging in size from tiny mouse lemurs to the African forest elephant. While large mammals like cats (tigers, jaguars, leopards, and small cats) and primates (including monkeys and apes) are best known, most rainforest mammals are small, nocturnal, and inconspicuous. Bats and rodents are the most abundant types of mammals in most rainforests. (203) RAINFOREST BIRDS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tropical rainforests are home to many kinds of birds, including parrots, hornbills, toucans, and raptors like eagles, hawks, and vultures. Some migratory birds live in rainforests during the winter and return to cooler regions during the spring and summer. For example many songbirds in the United States winter in Central America or even the Amazon. (204) Rainforest Reptiles & Amphibians -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tropical rainforests are home to a huge diversity of reptiles (snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, and crocodiles) and amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians). These are found in virtually all rainforest habitats, ranging from the high canopy to streams and creeks. Unfortunately many herps (the term for reptiles and amphibians) are under threat due to habitat loss, the pet trade, and environmental change. Amphibians are particular at risk due to the outbreak of a deadly disease that is spreading around the globe. The disease has already killed at least 170 species of frogs and toads over the past 30 years. Scientists have not yet pinpointed what is causing the outbreak or how it can be controlled. Emergency measures have been implemented for some endangered species, which are being collected and kept in zoos, aquariums, and botanical gardens until a cure can be found. (205) Rainforest fish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tropical rainforest waters -- including rivers, creeks, lakes, and swamps -- are the home to the majority of freshwater fish species. The Amazon Basin alone has over 3000 known species and possibly as many unidentified species. Many of the tropical fish kept in freshwater aquariums are originally from the rainforest. Fish like Angelfish, neon tetras, Discus, and common algae-eating catfish are from the tropical forests of South America, while Danios, Gouramis, Siamese Fighting Fish (or Betta), and the Clown Loach are from Asia. (206) Rainforest insects -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Most of the animal species found in the rainforest are insects. About one quarter of all animal species that have been named and described by scientists are beetles. Roughly 500,000 kinds of beetles are known to exist. (301) RAINFOREST PEOPLE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tropical rainforests are home to tribal people who rely on their surrounding for food, shelter, and medicines. Today very few forest people live in traditional ways; most have been displaced by outside settlers or have been forced to give up their lifestyles by governments. Of the remaining forest people, the Amazon supports the largest populations, though these people too, have been impacted by the modern world. While they still use on the forest for traditional hunting and gathering, most Amerindians, as these people are called, grow crops (like bananas, manioc, and rice), use western goods (like metal pots, pans, and utensils), and make regular trips to towns and cities to bring foods and wares to market. Still these forest people can teach us a lot about the rainforest. Their knowledge of medicinal plants used for treating illness is unmatched and they have a great understanding of the ecology of the Amazon rainforest. In Africa there are native forest dwellers sometimes known as pygmies. The tallest of these people, also known as the Mbuti, rarely exceed 5 feet in height. Their small size enables them to move about the forest more efficiently than taller people. (302) GREAT CIVILIZATIONS IN THE RAINFOREST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today most forest dwellers live in small settlements or practice nomadic hunting and gathering. In the past, tropical rainforests and surrounding areas supported great civilizations like the Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs that developed complex societies and made great contributions to science. These great civilizations faced some of the same environmental problems (excessive forest loss, soil erosion, overpopulation, lack of water supplies) that we face today. For the Maya, the damage to the environment may have been so great as to cause their downfall. (303) MEDICINAL PLANT KNOWLEDGE OF NATIVE PEOPLE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of the most exciting areas of research in tropical forests is ethnobotany which is the study of how people use native plants to treat illness and disease. Forest people have an incredible knowledge of medicinal plants with remedies for everything from snake bites to tumors. To date many of the prescription drugs used in the western world have been derived from plants and 70% of the plants identified as having anti-cancer characteristics by the US National Cancer Institute are found only in the tropical rainforest. Typically knowledge of medicinal plants is carried by the shaman or "medicine man" of a village. The shaman treats the sick often during elaborate ceremonies and rituals using plants gathered from the surrounding forest. While shamans have incredible healing powers, their knowledge is rapidly disappearing as rainforests are cut down and tribes abandon their traditions. Shamans are going extinct faster than rare and endangered species. (304) WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NATIVE PEOPLE OF THE AMAZON? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Before the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus in the 15th century, an estimated 7-10 million Amerindians (the term for American indigenous peoples) lived in American rainforests, half of them in Brazil. Great cities existed in the Andes and the Amazon supported agricultural societies. The arrival of Europeans brought the end of the native civilizations in Central and South America. Europeans carried diseases that killed millions of Amerindians and within 100 years of the arrival of these outsiders, Amerindian population was reduced by 90%. Most of the surviving native people lived in the interior of the forest: either pushed there by the Europeans, or traditionally living there in smaller groups. (305) KIDS IN THE RAINFOREST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While they don't watch TV, use the Internet, or play video games, kids in the rainforest do many of the same things you probably do. They play with friends, help their families with chores, and go to school. Since "rainforest kids" live closer to nature than the average American child, they learn things that are helpful in the environment around them. From an early age many children learn how to fish, hunt, and collect materials and food from the forest. Instead of going to a playground or a shopping mall for fun, children in places like the Amazon spend most of their time outdoors playing in the forest and in rivers and streams. (401) WHY ARE RAINFORESTS IMPORTANT? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainforests are important to the global ecosystem. Rainforests: + provide a home to many plants and animals; + help stabilize the world's climate; + protect against flood, drought, and erosion; + are a source for medicines and foods; + support tribal people; and + are an interesting place to visit (402) RAINFORESTS HELP STABILIZE CLIMATE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainforests help stabilize the world's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is believed to contribute to climate change through global warming. Therefore rainforests have an important in addressing global warming. Rainforests also affect local weather conditions by creating rainfall and moderating temperatures. (403) RAINFORESTS PROVIDE A HOME FOR PLANTS AND WILDLIFE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainforests are home to a large number of the world's plant and animals species, including many endangered species. As forests are cut down, many species are doomed to extinction. Some rainforest species can only survive in their natural habitat. Zoos cannot save all animals. (404) RAINFORESTS HELP MAINTAIN THE WATER CYCLE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainforests help maintain the water cycle. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, "the water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth." The role of rainforests in the water cycle is to add water to the atmosphere through the process of transpiration (where they release water from their leaves during photosynthesis). This moisture contributes to the formation of rain clouds which release the water back on the rainforest. In the Amazon, 50-80% of moisture remains in the ecosystem's water cycle. When the forests are cut down, less moisture is goes into the atmosphere and rainfall declines and sometimes leads to drought. (405) RAINFORESTS REDUCE EROSION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The roots of rainforest trees and vegetation help anchor the soil. When trees are cut down there is no longer anything to protect the ground and soils are quickly washed away with rain. The process of washing away of soil is known as erosion. As soil is washed down into rivers it causes problems for fish and people. Fish suffer because water becomes clouded, while people have trouble navigating waterways that are shallower because of the increased amount of dirt in the water. Meanwhile farmers lose topsoil that is important for growing crops. (501) WHY ARE RAINFORESTS BEING DESTROYED? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every year an area of rainforest the size of New Jersey is cut down and destroyed. The plants and animals that used to live in these forests either die or must find a new forest to call their home. Why are rainforests being destroyed? Humans are the main cause of rainforest destruction or deforestation. Humans are cutting down rainforests for many reasons, including: + wood for both timber and wood for making fires; + agriculture for both small and large farms; + land for poor farmers who don't have anywhere else to live; + grazing land for cattle; and + road construction (502) LOGGING AND TIMBER HARVESTING IN THE RAINFOREST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One of the leading causes of rainforest destruction is logging. Many types of wood used for furniture, flooring, and construction are harvested from tropical forests in Africa, Asia, and South America. By buying certain wood products, people in places like the United States are directly contributing to the destruction of rainforests. While logging can be carried out in a manner that reduces damage to the environment, most logging in the rainforest is very destructive. Large trees are cut down and dragged through the forest, while access roads open up remote forest areas to agriculture by poor farmers. In Africa logging workers often rely on "bushmeat" for protein. They hunt wildlife like gorillas, deer, and chimpanzees for food. Research has found that the number of species found in logged rainforest is much lower than the number found in untouched primary rainforest. Many rainforest animals cannot survive in the changed environment. Local people often rely on harvesting wood for rainforests for fire wood and building materials. In the past such practices were not particularly damaging to the ecosystem. However, today in areas with large human populations, the sheer number of people collecting wood from an area rainforest can be extremely damaging. For example the forests around the refugee camps in Central Africa (Rwanda and Congo) were virtually stripped of all trees in some areas. (503) AGRICULTURE IN THE RAINFOREST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every year thousands of miles of rainforest are destroyed for agricultural use. The two main groups responsible for converting rainforest into farmland are poor farmers and corporations, Poor farmers in many parts of the world rely on clearing rainforest to feed their families. Without access to better agricultural lands, these people use slash-and-burn to clear patches of forest for short-term periods of time. Typically, they farm the cleared land for a couple of years before the soil is exhausted of nutrients and they must move on to new patch of forest. Agricultural companies are clearing more rainforest than ever before, especially in the Amazon where large tracts of rainforest are being converted into soybean farms. Some experts believe that South America will someday have an area of farmland that rivals that of the American Midwest. Much of this farmland will come at the expense of the Amazon rainforest. (503a) Why are biofuels bad for rainforests? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recently there has been a lot of interest in using plants as fuels to replace fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel that contribute greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, warming the planet. These plant-based fuels, called biofuels, are typically produced from agricultural crops. The are two main types of biofuels: ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is typically made from corn and sugar cane, while biodiesel is made from the fruit of palm trees (more about palm oil), soybeans (more about soy), and canola (also called rapeseed). While biofuels produced from agricultural crops can generate less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels, in practice, scientists are finding that some are causing environmental problems. Biofuels may also be hurting the poor. The reason is largely economic. Now that traditional food crops are being used for the production of energy, there is increased demand for such crops, translating to higher prices. While higher prices may be good for some farmers who receive more money for the crops they grow, consumers have to pay more for food. In poor countries, where people have very little money, it means that many go hungry. In 2007 and 2008 several countries saw protests and riots by people who could not afford to pay higher prices for food. Higher prices for crops is also causing other problems. To take advantage of higher prices, farmers all over the world are converting land for crop production. With most of the land in North America and Europe already used for farming, agriculture is expanding in tropical places, especially in Brazil and Indonesia, where there are still large areas suitable for new agricultural land. The trouble is that some of this land is currently covered by tropical rainforests. When farmers cut down rainforests for farms and ranches, the dead trees release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (just like when fossil fuels are burned). Further the destruction of rainforests displaces indigenous people and kills wildlife. Therefore biofuels are having a significant impact on the environment. Some biofuels are less bad than others. When crops are grown on abandoned agriculture lands and in areas that are not covered by natural ecosystems, they can have a low impact on the environment provided that fertilizers and pesticides are not over-used. In the future, new types of biofuels will produce even less greenhouse gas emissions and may actually help the environment. For example, the use of native grasses for biofuel production in the United States could offer higher biofuel yields and generate less pollution than corn-based ethanol. At the same time, these grasses can enhance soil fertility and do not drain the water table. (504) CATTLE IN THE RAINFOREST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clearing for cattle pasture is the leading cause of deforestation in the Amazon and Brazil now produces more beef than ever before. Besides raising cattle for food, many landowners use cattle to expand their land holdings. By simply placing cattle on an area of forest land, landowners can gain ownership rights to that land. (505) ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE RAINFOREST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Road and highway construction in the rainforest opens up large areas for development. In Brazil, the Trans-Amazonian highway resulted in the destruction of huge areas of forest by poor colonists, loggers, and land speculators. In Africa, logging roads give access to poachers who hunt endangered wildlife as "bushmeat" or meat sold to city dwellers. (506) THE ROLE OF POVERTY IN DEFORESTATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poverty plays a major role in deforestation. The world's rainforests are found in the poorest areas on the planet. The people who live in and around rainforests rely on these ecosystems for their survival. They collect fruit and wood, hunt wildlife to put meat on the table, and are paid by companies that extract resources from forest lands. Most rural poor never have the options that we in Western countries take for granted. These people almost never have a choice to go to college or become a doctor, factory worker, or secretary. They must live off the land that surrounds them and make use of whatever resources they can find. Their poverty costs the entire world through the loss of the tropical rainforests and wildlife. Without providing for these people rainforests cannot be saved. (601) HOW CAN WE SAVE RAINFORESTS? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rainforests are disappearing very quickly. The good news is that there are a lot of people who want to save rainforests. The bad news is saving rainforests is not going to be easy. It will take the efforts of many people working together in order to ensure rainforests and their wildlife will survive for your children to appreciate and enjoy. Some steps for saving rainforests and, on a broader scale, ecosystems around the world is to focus on "TREES": + Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests. + Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down. + Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment + Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife + Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment (602) SAVING RAINFORESTS THROUGH EDUCATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Education is a critical part of saving the world's rainforests. People must see the beauty and understand the importance of these forests so they will want to protect them. Environmental education should occur both in western countries like the United States and in countries that have rainforest like Bolivia and Madagascar. In the United States, people need to understand their role in the loss of rainforests. For example, buying certain products like mahogany contributes to the cutting down of rainforests in other countries. If we as make an effort to learn about the environment we can understand what we're losing as rainforest disappears. We can also make decisions to buy products and support companies and organizations that help the rainforest. In rainforest countries local people sometimes do not know why forests are important. Through educational programs these people can learn that forests provide key services (like clean water) and are home to plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Few children in a place like Madagascar know that lemurs are not found in America. They are quite happy when they learn that lemurs only live in Madagascar. (603) REHABILITATE AND RESTORE RAINFORESTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In trying to protect rainforests we need to also look at how damaged forests can be brought back to health. While it is impossible to replant a rainforest, some rainforests can recover after they have been cut down -- especially if they have some help through the planting of trees. In some cases it is also possible to use deforested lands for improved forms of agriculture so they can provide food for people living nearby. When these people have food they will not need to cut down more forest to plant crops. One promising area of research looks at ancient societies that lived in the Amazon rainforest before the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century. Apparently these populations were able to enrich the rainforest soil, which is usually quite poor, using charcoal and animal bones. By improving soil quality, large areas of the Amazon that have been deforested could be used to support agriculture. This could help reduce pressure on rainforest areas for agricultural land. Further, the "terra preta" soil as it's called, could be used to help fight global warming since it absorbs carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas. (604) ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO LIVE IN WAYS THAT DO NOT HURT THE ENVIRONMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A key part to saving rainforests and the environment is encouraging all people to live in ways that do less harm to the world around them. Driving fuel efficient cars, conserving water, turning off lights when you don't need them, and recycling are all ways that you and your family can reduce your impact on the environment. What can I do to help the environment? In rainforest countries many scientists and organizations are working to help local people live in ways that cause less damage to the environment. Some people call this idea "sustainable development." Sustainable development has a goal of improving the lives of people while at the same time protecting the environment. Without improving the livelihood of people living in and around rainforests it is very difficult to protect parks and wildlife. Conservation must be in the interest of local people to make parks work. (605) ESTABLISH PARKS THAT PROTECT RAINFORESTS AND WILDLIFE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creating protected areas like national parks are a great way to save rainforests and other ecosystems. Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental or cultural value. Generally protected areas are managed by governments and use park rangers and guards to enforce the rules of the park and protect against illegal activities like hunting and the cutting down of trees. Today parks protect many of the world's most endangered species. Animals like Pandas are found only in protected areas. Parks are most successful when they have the support of local people living in and around the protected area. If local people have an interest in the park they may form a "community watch" which protects the park from illegal logging and wildlife poaching. An effective way to protect rainforests is to involve indigenous people in park management. Indigenous people know more about the forest than anyone and have an interest in safeguarding it as a productive ecosystem that provides them food, shelter, and clean water. Research has found that in some cases, "indigenous reserves" may actually protect rainforest better than "national "parks" in the Amazon. Parks can also help the economy in rainforest countries by attracting foreign tourists who pay entrance fees, hire local wilderness guides, and buy local handicrafts like baskets, T-shirts, and beaded bracelets. (606) SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT DON'T HURT THE ENVIRONMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today there are many companies concerned about the environment. These companies look for ways to reduce their impact on the world around them through recycling, using less energy, and supporting conservation efforts in other countries. If consumers like you and your parents support these companies by buying their products and services then the environment will be better off. How to find out if companies are eco-friendly (607) ECOTOURISM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ecotourism is environmentally responsible travel to enjoy and appreciate nature and cultural experiences. Ecotourism should have low impact on the environment and should contribute to the well-being of local people. (610) WHAT YOU DO CAN AT HOME TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are several things you can do at home to help reduce your impact on the environment. + Eat less beef and pork. Fish and poultry have a much lower impact on the environment, while other protein sources including nuts and organic soy are even less damaging to the planet. + Think about packaging before you buy products. Individually-wrapped candy generates a lot of trash, while fruits and vegetables are healthier and mean less waste. + Turn off lights when you don't need them. When light bulbs burn out replace them with energy-efficient bulbs + Do not waste water. + Recycle. + Encourage your parents to drive fuel-efficient cars and not to overheat their house. + Don't let your animals go when you don't want them any more. Before buying a pet be sure that you are ready to take care of it. Having a pet is a responsibility. Things you can do to help save rainforests: + Don't buy products made from wildlife skins + Don't buy exotic pets that have been collected from the wild. You can ask pet stores whether animals are "wild-caught" or "captive bred." "Captive bred" animals are more friendly for the environment + Buy recycled paper. + Don't buy wood products from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, or Africa unless you know they come from eco-friendly suppliers. A good way to know if wood is rainforest-safe is if it has a "certification label." An example of a certification label is "FSC-certified" which means the wood comes from sustainably managed forests. + Learn more about rainforests and the plants and animals that live in them. Tell your friends and parents why rainforests are important. (611) COPYRIGHT and LEGAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consent to the use of this document for free distribution via print is hereby given, provided that mongabay.com is credited as the source. Mongabay.com aims to raise interest in wildlife and wildlands while promoting awareness of environmental issues. Unless otherwise specified, all content on the site is written by Rhett Butler. Translated in [LANGUAGE] by [YOUR NAME] An English version of the site is available.