- [Narrator] Shrouded in a blanket of clouds they awaken.

Their canopies of green glitter in the sun.

Their wildlife start to slither.

(snake hissing)

- Chirp. (birds chirping)

- And growl. (growling)

- And one of the planets richest ecosystems

comes to life.

(crickets chirping)

Rainforests are the oldest living ecosystems on the planet.

Some can trace their origins to over 70 million years ago.

Back to a time when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.

While the giant reptiles have disappeared

rainforests continue to thrive

growing on every continent except Antarctica.

Two types of rainforests are scattered across the globe.

Temperate and tropical.

Temperate rainforests are mainly found in the mid-latitudes.

Often near cooler, coastal, mountainous regions.

Tropical rainforests are primarily located

in warmer climates between the Tropic of Cancer

and the Tropic of Capricorn.

(thundering)

As their names imply, temperate and tropical rainforests

are the wettest forests on earth

receiving up to about 33 feet of rain per year.

This precipitation plays a critical roll in creating

an exceptionally lush and biologically diverse habitat.

While rainforests only make up about 6100:01:35,770 --> 00:01:38,300 of the Earth's surface area, they are home

to over half of the World's plant and animal species.

This biodiversity creates benefits

that extend far beyond the rainforest boundaries.

Rainforest plants produce an assortment of food items.

In addition to ingredients useful

in everyday products and medicines.

In fact, an estimated 70% of the plants used

in cancer treatments are only found in rainforests.

On an even larger scale, rainforests help

to stabilize the planet's climate.

It's lush, green vegetation regulate global temperatures

by absorbing massive amounts of radiation from the Sun.

They also absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide

and convert them into oxygen,

about 40% of the planet's breathable air.

Over the past few centuries, rainforests have disappeared

at an alarming rate.

Factors such as economic inequalities, human development,

and demand for natural resources have fueled

the deforestation of these rich ecosystems.

At the current rate, rainforests, which have survived

for over 70 million years

may completely disappear within the next century.

But through educational campaigns,

sustainable logging practices,

and cooperation with local communities,

deforestation may begin to slow down

helping to preserve rainforests

for many generations to come.

(dramatic music)