Define and describe the biome
A rainforest is some sort of forest or jungle. The Daintree is one of the largest and oldest rainforests of the world, stretching over 1200 square hectares. It is 135 million years old with an amazing landscape and striking diversity. Amongst the rainforest there are plants that can't be found anywhere else in the world such as the IDIOT fruit. From dense rainforest to mountain range lies fast flowing streams, waterfalls and stunning gorges. The stunning scenery of a rich and colourful world is here waiting to be discovered.
What animals live in the Daintree?
There are many fast and skilled animals in the Daintree. Some of the most common animals are cassowaries and kangaroos. Animals in most rainforests are owls, snails and variety of insects.
What plants grow in the Daintree?
There are loads and loads of plants in the Daintree, some spiky, some soft, more than you can imagine. The most common ones in rainforests are the strangler figs, chocolate trees, avocados, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts and very very tasty passion fruits. The Daintree plants are the cheese tree, wax flower, maple silkwood, fan palms and backscratcher ginger. If you take a trip to the Daintree rainforest you can discover more.
What types of climate does the Daintree have?
Rainforests are very damp and muggy. Rainforest climate ranges from 21°c - 30°c all year round. Rainfall can be very heavy reaching up to 5cm in one hour. Rainforests help regulate Earth's temperature all the time. The Daintree is tropical all year with a max temperature of 32°c in summer and 25°c in winter.
What threats does the Daintree have?
Rainforests can have many threats to wildlife or the natural environment. Everyday rainforests have several threats such as: harvesting wood, clearing for farms, forest and mining. The Daintree has fragmentation caused by clearing of the rainforest, displacement of wildlife and susceptibility to invasive weeds and biodiversity of the forest and animals losing homes.
Human impact
Indigenous and native people have lived in rainforests for many thousands of years. They rely on their surroundings for food, shelter and many medicines. Holidays in the Daintree is not a choice because it is such an amazon and popular destination, so that's why it is important to visit in an ethical way. Resources that the biome offers us fruits, including bananas, papayas, mangoes, cocoa and coffee beans.
