Rain Forests: Nature's Friends

 Rain Forests: Nature's Friends

    There are two kinds of rain forests. One kind is a tropical rain forest. Tropical rain forests are in warm places the other kind is a temperate rain forest. Temperate rain forests are in cooler places.
    Rain forests are thick with trees. They are also wet places. It is always raining in a rain forest. Lots of plants and animals live in rain forests.
    Rain forests have four zones, or layers. The top layer is the tops of giant trees. It is called the emergent zone. Birds and insects live there. The next zone is called the canopy. It is the upper part of the trees. Many kinds of animals live in the canopy. The understory is the next zone. It is the lower layer of the forest that has a lot of plants and small animals. It is dark and cool. The last zone is the forest floor. Insects and large animals live there.
    Rain forests are important to the world. Rain forest plants make a lot of the earth's oxygen. They also take carbon dioxide out of the air and store it in their roots. This helps to keep the earth cooler. Rain forest plants are used to make medicine. These drugs help people fight diseases. Rain forests also clean and recycle water for the earth.
    Rain forests are in danger. People are cutting down trees in rain forests to make wood and paper. Rain forests need our help. We must ask people to stop cutting down rain forest trees.