Rainforest

A rainforest is a forested biome with high annual rainfall due to the Intertropical convergence zone. Some cite a minimum normal annual rainfall of 2000 mm (about 100 inches or 200 centimetres), with normal rainfall at least 60 mm during each of the twelve months of the year. Others set the minimum annual rainfall barrier as low as 1700 mm (about 67 inches). The soil can be poor because high rainfall tends to leach out soluble nutrients. This type of biome is found in both temperate and tropical climates. As well as prodigious rainfall, many rainforests are characterised by a high number of resident species and tremendous biodiversity.

Source of drugs

Tropical rain forests are called the 'world's largest pharmacy' because the large amount of natural medicines discovered there. Nearly half of the medicines that we use come from the rainforests. For example, rain forests are responsible for containing the "basic ingredients of birth control hormones, stimulants, and tranquilizing drugs" (Banks 36). Scientists believe that the cures for many more diseases will be discovered there in the future. This is a fairly anthropocentric point of view. A film, Medicine Man, dramatises the idea that cures for our illnesses exist in the rainforest.

Related Topics:
Pharmacy - Birth control hormone - Stimulants - Tranquilizing drug - Scientists - Anthropocentric - Medicine Man

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