Layers of a rainforest

One of the most interesting things about a rainforest is its layers...it's got 4 layers in all.

You can see some devoted environmentalists spending days studying just 1 layer...
I know one guy Debajyoti Dutta Roy whose life-long ambition is to just make about a $1 million, and spend the rest of his life in the woods, making audio visuals and enjoying the scenery.
Check out his stuff at http://greenblueplanet.blogspot.com
Now, may I point, the layers are all dependent on each other.

Check out this excerpt from source rainforestconcern.org :

"The rainforest canopy is divided into four main layers: the emergent layer consists of the tallest trees (emergent trees) which can grow to heights of 70m. These trees act as a buffer, sheltering the lower trees from heavy rains. Beneath this layer is the main canopy of smaller trees which are intertwined with climbing vines and hold flowering plants, called epiphytes, on their branches. Below this is the understorey containing young saplings and shrubs. The final layer, the dark forest floor contains only a few plants as only 2% of the sunlight reaches this layer of the forest, making it difficult for plants to grow. "

Since the tall trees act as a buffer....the cutting down of these ultimately lead to the destruction of the entire rainforest.....causing the destruction of fauna dependent on the flora, too.

Saving tropical rainforests hold key to preserving biodiversity

This is because though the tropical rainforests cover only about 2% of the world’s land surface....they are home to more than 50% species of animals and plants.

Check out this iguana pic from wikimedia :



Serves an important role in the tropical rainforest ecosystem of the Central American rain forests.

Quite diff' rent from the marine iguanas....yet another example of Nature's wonderful phenomenon of adaptation.

The Rain Forests are being depleted at an alarming rate .........

If you check 'em.....half the problem of global warming can be checked.

Besides saving our poor iguana pondering over where to get its next breakfast !

Manmohan Singh's Strategy to Save Tigers

It seemed to me that the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was HONEST in wanting to save the tigers....which tiger experts like Billy Arjan Singh almost say has no chance of surviving within next 10 years.

That is, tigers IN THE WILD will become extinct in 10 years.
UNLESS WE TAKE DRASTIC STEPS.

So, Manmohan Singh set up a Tiger Task Force. But it did not yield results. Though a far past predecessor late Prime mInister Indira Gandhi is acclaimed worldwide for her EFFORTS TO SAVE THE TIGER THRU' PROJECT TIGER.

PROJECT TIGER DID WORK !

But then, after reaching a peak, tiger population has begun to dwindle.

Now reaching an alltime low of 1100 in India.

This report is from ndtv.com Let us also thank NDTV for their effort :

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the Chief Ministers of states with tiger reserves to take direct charge of the task of protecting tigers.

After a sustained NDTV campaign to save the tiger, the Prime Minister held an emergency meeting on Saturday and had a clear message for the Chief Ministers.

The Prime Minister will hold a Conference of Chief Ministers to put in place a coordinated response to the challenge of tiger conservation.

The government has also decided to sanction whatever amount it takes to save the tiger.

But there's a warning for the states. Any state that doesn't want to save the tiger, or denies the problem will not be given these funds."

Very Good strategy. But let us, poor bloggers like me, request him to INDIVIDUALLY also SPEND SOME TIME & EFFORT TO SAVE THE TIGER.

Let us draw some inspiration from Russia's efforts, which has helped the Siberian Tiger.

Hope we remember -

EXTINCTION OF THE TIGER MEANS VIRTUAL COLLAPSE OF THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM IN WHICH THE ANIMAL LIVED.

IT ALSO MEANS DISASTER FOR MANKIND.

Global Warming Trend

Take a look at the following chart. It clearly shows the trend.

As a chart/graph analyzer, I would put more emphasis on the 5 year-trend.....since it covers a greater sample size.


Image Source: globalwarmingart.com


Anyway, where are we heading, folks ?