What is the difference between temperate forests and rainforests

Temperate forests have been decimated over the centuries, but are now expanding in many areas and actively building carbon stores. Temperate rainforests Some temperate forests receive so much rain they are sometimes called rainforests. The great Douglas fir and hemlock forests of the United States' Pacific Northwest and Canada's British Colombia receive more than 2, mm of rain a year. They are dominated by coniferous trees. Another type of temperate, evergreen rainforest occurs in Chile, South America.

Here there is a great diversity of broadleaved trees including the Southern Beech. Deciduous forests Broadleaved trees have big, thin-skinned leaves which allow them to absorb maximum sunlight. These leaves are delicate and vulnerable to winter winds, frost and snow.

Broadleaved trees that grow in colder areas shed their leaves in winter - they are deciduous. Learn more. Pacific Temperate Rainforests Extending from Alaska down to Northern California , the Pacific Temperate Rainforest ecoregion is considered by the WWF as the planet's largest temperate rainforest ecoregion in the world. Appalachian temperate rain forest Another North American rainforest is the Appalachian temperate rainforest , which is located in the southern part of the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern United States.

Valdivian Temperate Rainforest The Valdivian temperate rainforest can be found on the west coast of Argentina and Chile. Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests The Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests is an ecoregion located in southern Japan, consisting of, predominantly, evergreen broadleaf trees. Plant Trees Where They're Needed Most As the need for reforestation is global and ever-changing, we feature where trees are most needed now. Learn more With your help, we will: Recover areas degraded by agricultural use Protect watersheds upstream of countless families and villages Reforest landscapes with strong cultural ties to Indigenous communities.

Overview Impact What You Get Tree Species The Andes Mountains of South America used to have abundant forest coverage, but a growing population and increasing agricultural production have caused significant deforestation. The forests of the Andes are critical for the Indigenous populations who rely on them for food, water, and jobs. But their impact goes far beyond the communities living nearby; the Andes' watersheds drain into the Amazon basin, supplying water to innumerable communities and cities downstream.

Thank you so much for your support of healthy forests! The tree planting will help restore wetlands, safeguard existing forest, and protect critical Amazon headwaters. A personalized tree certificate see gallery to say thanks for your donation. We'll also send you updates about this project, so you can track the impact your trees are having on the community and environment.

Our partner has chosen trees that will bring the greatest overall benefit to the region. This includes various types of Polylepsis trees which are native to the Andes and have adapted to the extremely high altitude. Judy O. Jun 10, Related questions How do biomes change with altitude? How can different biomes exist on a mountain? How are biomes formed? The middle layer, or understory, is made up of vines, smaller trees, ferns, and palms. A large number of plants from this level are used as common houseplants.

Because of the small amount of sunlight and rainfall these plants receive, they adapt easily to home environments. The bottom layer or floor of the rainforest is covered with wet leaves and leaf litter. This material decomposes rapidly in the wet, warm conditions like a compost pile sending nutrients back into the soil. Few plants are found on the floor of the forest due to the lack of sunlight.