While we are on the subject of gardens, I thought of compiling a list that talks about ‘gardens’, basically plants, on a whole other level. Now, a garden is a place where you can spend some quality time with your family and friends, but these rainforests are no joke. This is not a place to be at, at least not unsupervised. With all their animal and insect species, dangerous species at that, they are not a safe place for you to travel to. Although many have been to these places of course, that’s where most of the herbs come from but it is definitely something I would not advice. Either way just enjoy the read and I hope it proves useful to you.
10. PACIFIC TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
The rainforest is characterized by heavy rains and moderate temperatures. Of course it will be quite humid here because of the rains. It is delineated by the World Wildlife Fund. You can find both the ocean and a forest here so it is open to a lot of different species in the animal kingdom. The forest has seen a lot of timber being cut and sold which is a major concern for the conservation groups. Deforestation is one of the major causes of global warming, which happens to be a very important environmental issue these days. Save trees people and save the planet.
9. SINHARAJA FOREST RESERVE
This place serves as a national park in Sri Lanka. It is very significant internationally and was taken in as a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was declared a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978. The name of the forest translates into ‘Kingdom of the Lion’. You cannot easily see the wildlife at this place because of the very thick vegetation. It is home to elephants, leopards and other wild creatures.
8. SANTA ELENA CLOUD FOREST RESERVE
This place is a heaven and is known as a terrain of cloud forest. You will see a lush garden of mosses, ferns, flowers and epiphytes on literally every tree. With the clouds drifting really low, it is beautiful and scary at the same time. The clouds serve as a source of continuous moisture for the plants to nurture and grow which is absolutely remarkable. Hire and guide and walk through this amazing place and you will be awed.
7. KINABALU NATIONAL PARK
It is also known as Tama Kinabalu and can be found in Malay. It was the first national park of Malaysia and was established as so in 1964. It also happens to be Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site. It is a very important biological site in the world and is home to more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna including 100 different species of mammals. Tourists are very attracted to this particular destination. Each year thousands of climbers and visitors come to this park for their respective purposes.
6. TONGASS NATIONAL FOREST
In the southeastern Alaska, this is the biggest national forest in the United States. It spreads across an area of 17 million acres. It is home to rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. It encompasses the islands of the Alexander Archipelago, fjords, glaciers and peaks of the Coast Mountains. Logging was approved by the Obama administration an area of around 381 acres of this forest. That happened in the July of 2009.
5. SOUTHEAST ASIAN RAINFOREST
Unfortunately these forests are not as dense as they used to be at one time. A lot of deforestation has led this forest and most of its area without plantation which happens to be a major concern for the conservation groups. The forest is home to many rare birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. The deforestation has in turn put those species in danger as well. These forests were thought to be the most bio diverse regions in the world; sadly, the case is no longer the same. At one point there were 200 different species of trees in a hectare.
4. DAINTREE RAINFOREST
This is a tropical rainforest and can be found at the north east coast of Queensland, Australia. It covers an area of around 2,600 square kilometers. The rainforest is named after Richard Daintree. The area between Mossman Gorge and Bloomfield River is entirely the forest. The area also has a Daintree National Park and some lands that are privately owned. The forest is home to some of the earliest plants on Earth such as Psilotopsida and the Lycopsida and therefore is one of the most important forests in the world.
3. VALDIVIAN TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
This particular forest is spread over an area of about 248,100 square kilometers and can be found in Chile and Argentina. Angiosperm trees, bamboos, conifer trees, narrow coastal strips, ice sheets, glaciers and a central valley highlight the forest. The temperature is usually humid due to heavy rains. It’s normally very foggy here, which I love; I love fog. The ecosystem in this particular forest is maintained by various conservation groups. They are trying to at least, which in my opinion is a smart move.
2. THE CONGO RAINFOREST
This forest can be found in the Central Africa and it happens to be the second largest rainforest in the entire world. It also has one of the longest rivers running from within it. The rainforest covers a bigger part of Northern Congo. A lot of hunting has put many different species of animals in danger however, the jungle itself is very much safe. Have you ever heard of the pygmy chimpanzee? Yeah, well it lives only in the Congo rainforest. There are many other precious species living in the cover of this forest.
1. AMAZON
It is also known as Amazonia or Amazon Jungle. It is the largest jungle in the world and covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America. It is spread over an area of 1.7 billion acres. The forest runs through Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Majority of the forest is contained in Brazil which is around 60 percent. I visited this particular forest when I was two years old. Of course I do not remember that; the information comes to me from my mother. It is a beautiful canvas set in green.