biodiversity
hotspot
The tropical rainforests constitute the largest
reservoir of living organisms, harbouring
50 to 75% of all the terrestrial biodiversity.
The tropical rainforests hold an inestimable
variety of plants, with 70% of all known plant species
over a surface area equivalent to 12% of the Earth’s
emerged lands! 300 different species of trees can
be found on one hectare of tropical rainforest, as against a
maximum of 10 to 30 species in the temperate forests.
They are also home to a great diversity of animals. The fauna
can be emblematic (gorilla, orang-outang, elephant, jaguar).
But there are also less “visible” species (like amphibians,
birds, snakes, fish, a host of insects), which in fact make up
the majority.
The realm of insects
Insects make up 75% of the biodiversity
of tropical rainforests. Among them, are the
beetles (scarabs, weevils, ladybirds, cockchafers
and so on), present in greater quantities.
The tropical rainforests also offer living quarters for many
human communities who greatly depend on the resources
found there to sustain themselves. Some still live by hunting
and gathering, but can also keep livestock and practise
agricultural production. Many of them have woven strong
spiritual links with their environment.
The tropical rainforests alone contain 84% of the Earth’s reptiles
and 91% of its amphibians.
Three-quarters
of forest species,
mostly insects,
appear to live
in the canopy (the
upper parts of trees),
between 40 and
50 metres above
the ground.
Passiflora (passion flower)
in the forest litter
of French Guiana.
Did you know? In a single day in an equatorial
rainforest, more species of butterflies and moths can
be observed than in a whole lifetime in the temperate zones •
300 million
people in the world
depend directly
on tropical rainforests
7
MINISTÈRE
DES
AFFAIRES ÉTRANGÈRES
ET EUROPÉENNES
FTH/en - 2011