Although rain forests are located in both tropical and temperate climate zones, most of the world's rain forests lie in the equatorial regions of South America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia, forming a lush green belt around the planet. The world's largest rain forest is found in the Amazon River Basin in South America and is 5.2 square kilometers in size. Rain forests receive between 160 and 400 inches of rain annually and have an average temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to this extreme moisture and warmth, the forests teem with life. Occupying only 6 to 7 percent of the planet's land surface, they are home to more than half of the world's plant and animal species.

In recent years, a great deal of concern has arisen over the destruction of the forests. Environmentalists warn that over one-half of the earth's original rain forests have been wiped out. According to the Rainforest Alliance...