Firstly, the rainforests are so important because they provide a home to millions of plant and animal species. The rainforest is made up of four layers: The Emergent, Canopy Layer, Understory Layer and the Forest Floor. All of these are home to animals and plants of the world. Green- Tree Snakes, Possums and bats are some of the rainforest animals that live in the Canopy Layer.
Butterflies such as the Ulysses Butterfly; the Zodiac Moth, Spiders, Crickets
and beetles live in the understory. This is also where Orchids, mosses, ferns,
lichens, climbing plants and palms thrive.
On the Forest Floor is where colourful Fungi grows best. Australian animals such
as the Bandicoot, Echidna, Platypus, Cassowary, Brolga, Frilled-Necked Lizard,
Carpet Python and Northern Leaf-Tailed Geckos are also found on the Forest
Floor.
Secondly, rainforests play an important part in the Water Cycle because of the rainfall that's produced through the leaves of the trees giving out moisture which is then evaporated into the air.
Thirdly, plants in the forest take in Carbon Dioxide and change it into clean air which helps fight pollution and slows the Greenhouse Effect.
Some of the foods we eat today originally come from the rainforests like bananas, cocoa, coffee, these also include pepper, corn and cinnamon.
Lastly, the plants and animals of the rainforest provide us with food, fuel, wood, shelter, jobs and hundreds of medicines, including anti-cancer drugs.