Tropical Rainforests in Malaysia

Ever wondered why rainforests matter so much to our planet? These incredible ecosystems are located just a few degrees either side of the equator, with Malaysia's forests in South-east Asia being some of the most threatened.

Tropical rainforests have amazing characteristics that make them unique. They're hot and humid all year round with incredibly high biodiversity - meaning they're packed with different species of plants and animals. The soil is quite special too - it's iron-rich but actually infertile and prone to leaching, where important minerals get washed away when the forest is cleared.

The forest has distinct layers, like a natural skyscraper. The ground layer $0-10m$ is pretty dark with mainly ferns and young trees, whilst the top canopy $35-50m$ gets most of the sunlight. The middle canopy $20-35m$ is where most of the action happens - it's the most productive layer with mushroom-shaped tree crowns that have massive photosynthetic surfaces.

Quick Fact: Rainforests contain more than half the world's plant and animal species, despite covering less than 6% of Earth's surface!

Malaysia faces several major threats to its rainforest. Logging is huge - they're the world's largest exporter of tropical wood. Mineral extraction for tin, gas and oil is expanding rapidly. Commercial farming, especially for palm oil production, encourages deforestation on a massive scale.