Trees are here on the Earth for billions of years. Their presence makes the Earth a unique planet-hosting diverse forms of life. Not only are trees essential for life, but as the longest living species on the Earth, they give us a link between the past, present and future. Research shows that within minutes of being surrounded by trees and green space, your blood pressure drops, your heart rate slows and your stress level reduces.

We should be thankful for the resilience of Mother Earth- that she continues to adapt and survive, despite the way that we humans misuse natural resources. Trees give us clean oxygen to breathe and absorb Carbon-dioxide as they grow and the carbon that they store in their wood helps slow the rate of global warming. We couldn't care less about the availability of oxygen unless there is a lack of it. Human-driven and natural loss of trees-deforestation affects wildlife, ecosystems, weather patterns, and even the climate. We should pledge for reversing the mindless practices that are polluting our cities, coasts and forests. We must embrace the oneness of Mother Earth.

Rainforest or the forest begets rain. Rain comes as a boon. When rain falls torrentially on huge trees, it seems Mother Earth is embracing her beloved child with immense love. The ecological balance of the Earth depends on rainforests. Without rainforests, more than sixty percent of this planet would become a lifeless desert where a drop of water would be costlier than a gem.

Tropical rainforests are one of the world's most complex ecosystems. These hot and humid forests harbour millions of species- 10 percent of the world's known species can be found in the Amazon alone-which together form a unique structure that rises in stories from the forest floor to the tops of the tallest trees. Each of these layers holds its own unique community of plants, animals and other creatures that interact to create a rainforest.

Tropical rainforests are mainly located between the latitudes of 23.5 N (the tropic of Capricorn) - the tropics. Tropical rainforests are found in Central and South America, western and central Africa, Western India, Southeast Asia, the island of New Guinea, and Australia.

Sunlight strikes the tropics almost straight on, producing intense solar energy that keeps temperatures high, between 21 and 30 C (70 and 85 F). High temperatures keep the air warm and wet.

Temperate rainforests are located in the mid-latitudes, where temperatures are much milder than in the tropics. Temperate rainforests occur in oceanic moist regions around the world. These geographic conditions help create areas of high rainfall. Temperate rainforests filled with evergreen and laurel trees are lower and less dense than other kinds of rainforests because the climate is more equable, with a moderate temperature range and well-distributed annual rainfall.

We will discuss 10 important rainforests around the world. We will obviously start with the Amazon rainforest, the largest rainforest in the world. It covers 6 percent of the surface of our planet and produces over 20 percent of our oxygen. A majority of the rainforest, over 60 percent, is found in Brazil. The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests, and comprises the largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world with an estimated 390 billion individual trees divided into 16000 species. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest. The region is home to 2.5 million insect species, 2000 birds and mammals, 2200 fishes and 378 reptiles.

Sinharaja forest reserve is a biodiversity hotspot in Srilanka with an area of only 88.64 square kilometres. It is estimated that 60 percent of the reserve's trees are endemic and many of these are considered rare. Beyond the trees, the Sinharaja Forest reserve is also home to a variety of native animals found nowhere else on the planet. Like the green pit vipers and hump-nosed viper. It is also home to 95% endemic birds.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda, deriving its name from the thick forests of tall bamboo and dense ground cover of ferns, vines and other plants the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is difficult to enter on foot. 'Bwindi' also means impenetrable in the Runyakitara language. Its impenetrability does come with a few parks; the forest is home to over half the planet's endangered mountain gorillas.

 The Daintree in Australia is the world's oldest tropical rainforest, estimated to date back over 180 million years. As a result, in the lush rainforest, you'll find some pretty prehistoric plants. The Daintree is more than just old plants. Within its borders, there are also gorgeous white sand beaches and an array of insects, birds, reptiles and mammals found nowhere else in the wild.
 Manu National Park Cloud Forest, Peru is an incredible reserve in southern Peru with a wide variety of landscapes, flora, and fauna. It protects diverse ecosystems such as lowland rainforests, cloud forests and Andean grasslands. The climate is generally much cooler leading to some unique and furry inhabitants as the spectacled bear. The Manu Cloud Forest sits at an altitude of over 4,000 metres above sea level and is also home to Peru's national bird, the Cock of the Rock!

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica is a cloud forest with a high biodiversity, consisting of over 2500 plant species, 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120 reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of insects. The cloud forest is in fact home to some of the special species of the cat family like Jaguars, Pumas, Oncillas, Ocelots, Margays, and Jaguarundis.

The Kanha National Park, India, is the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's famous novel 'The Jungle Book'. The Kanha National Park is a mix of landscapes from lush bamboo forests to grassy plains. The National Park's biggest drawcard, however, is not the Jungle Book but the tiger. At the core of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, these elusive cats are regularly spotted roaming around. There are other rare animals as well like the swamp Deer, which the reserve saves from extinction!

The Lacandon Jungle is an area of rainforest which stretches from Chiapas, Mexico, into Honduras and into the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula. The Lacandon jungle is the definition of tropical lush vegetation, humid climate, stunning coastlines and an abundance of jungle animals and plants. The Lacandon is also home to some of Central American most incredible archaeological Mayan sites.  A lucky person may even hear or lucky enough to see jaguars in their natural habitat.

Danum Valley, Borneo for most of human history, there were human settlements within the Danum Valley. As a result, this paradise escaped much of the destruction caused by industry, like logging and farming, other rainforests have faced. The rainforest is home to some of the most unique and rare you'll ever see in the wild Bornean Orangutans, East Sumatran rhinoceros, gibbons, mouse-deer and clouded leopards. There is also some incredible bird watching and river swimming to be done.

Rainforest's rich biodiversity is incredibly important to our well-being and the well-being of our planet. Rainforests regulate our climate. Unsustainable industrial and agricultural development, however, has severely degraded the health of the world's rainforests. The greatest cause of tropical rainforest destruction today comes from human activities, which, unlike natural damage is unrelenting and thorough. The role of humans in the deforestation of the world's forests is considerable and extensive. When it comes to deforestation- either stopping it or encouraging it – a country's laws and policies can make a great difference. But no country has just one policy that shapes all outcomes, nor one single authority that controls all sectors. Rather, the laws influencing how land and forests are used (or abused), and the lines of authority that govern them, form a complex, tortuous web where the threads themselves are often unclear, let alone how they all interact. We need to act right now if we want to save our precious gift. Would Mother Earth ever forgive us?