Ethnic Equality
Towards Racial and Ethnic Equality
Ethnic equality means that people, regardless of their race and ethnicity, have the same opportunities to fulfill their human rights and potential, and are not denied equal access on the basis of their ethnicity to services, to jobs, to education, to economic development, to the allocation of resources or benefits, and in all aspects of life. ...learn more
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Mar 26, 2008
Updated: Oct 18, 2009
Membership: Open
Semi-Private
All Areas of Focus » Terrestrial Ecosystems »
Tropical Moist Forests
Tropical moist forests (rain forests) cover more than 11.5 million square kilometers (6 percent of the earth's surface) and are themselves highly various in types (e.g. cloud forests, varzea, etc.) and species. Global terrestrial biodiversity of species is concentrated in these forests. They have tall stature, many vines, epiphytes, and, in the neotropics, many palms. They have few restrictions on seasonal growth, though climate change and droughts may become important. Severe logging of tropical hardwoods, clearing for pasture and crops, as well as natural catastrophes (hurricanes) threaten some moist forests and highly charismatic species like the bonobo, Sumatran rhino, the indri and the recently rediscovered Edward's pheasant. These forests are key to regulating global climate and part of the carbon cycle. They provide rubber, Brazil nuts, rattan, watershed protection, and other services and products.
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Keywords lowland tropical broadleaf rain forests, varzea forests, igapo foresst, peat forests, cloud forests, mangrove forests, primates, inland water fish, insects, ecosystems, biodiversity, deforestation, climate change, carbon cycle, cattle ranching, logging, rain forest expansion |
Photo sources
Top Right: Rainforest frog
