A jungle refers to land covered with dense, tangled vegetation, typically found in tropical climates. Jungles differ from the interior of mature rainforests because they receive more direct sunlight, which spurs the growth of thick underbrush. This dense growth often makes them challenging to navigate and creates a unique and vibrant ecosystem.
Major Jungle Regions
The world’s jungles are primarily concentrated in several expansive tropical regions. South America hosts the largest of these, the Amazon, covering an area of approximately 6 to 7 million square kilometers. The Amazon basin spans nine nations, with most of its forested area, about 60%, located within Brazil, and significant portions also found in Peru and Colombia. This vast expanse represents over half of the remaining rainforests globally.
Africa’s Congo Basin is home to the world’s second-largest tropical forest, encompassing around 2 million square kilometers. This system stretches across six Central African countries, with the Democratic Republic of Congo containing the largest share of its lowland forest. The Congo Basin is recognized for its significant role in the continent’s ecology.
Southeast Asia also features extensive jungle ecosystems, particularly on islands like Borneo and New Guinea, as well as parts of Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula, which includes Malaysia and Thailand. These ancient forests are some of the oldest on Earth, with some areas in Malaysia potentially existing for over 100 million years. Smaller jungle areas are found in Central America, spanning countries such as Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. Australia also contributes with the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, an ancient ecosystem.
Environmental Conditions for Jungles
Jungles thrive in specific environmental conditions that foster dense vegetation. They are typically found near the equator, within approximately 10 to 15 degrees latitude, where consistent solar radiation creates a perpetually warm climate. Temperatures in these regions rarely drop below 18°C and often average around 28°C year-round, with minimal seasonal variation.
High annual rainfall is a defining feature, typically exceeding 1,680 millimeters per year, and in some areas reaching up to 10,000 millimeters. While some jungles experience distinct wet and dry seasons, precipitation remains substantial. This consistent moisture, combined with warm temperatures, results in high humidity levels, often above 75%, and sometimes reaching 88% during peak wet seasons.
The combination of consistent warmth, abundant rainfall, and high humidity provides an environment conducive to a wide variety of life. These conditions support high biodiversity, with tropical forests, including jungles, housing an estimated 40% to 75% of all biotic species globally. The stable environment allows plants and animals to thrive year-round, enabling the evolution of specialized species that occupy diverse ecological niches.
Protecting Jungle Ecosystems
Jungles play an important role in maintaining global ecological balance. They act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen, which helps regulate Earth’s climate. For instance, the Amazon forests alone store over 150 billion metric tons of carbon and absorb billions of tons of CO2 annually. These ecosystems also contribute to the global water cycle by releasing moisture into the atmosphere, influencing rainfall patterns far beyond their immediate vicinity.
Beyond their climatic contributions, jungles are major biodiversity hotspots. Though they cover a small percentage of the Earth’s surface, they are home to a disproportionately high number of plant and animal species, many of which remain undiscovered. This variety of life provides a source for potential new medicines and scientific advancements.
Despite their global importance, jungle ecosystems face numerous threats. Large-scale deforestation for agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development is a primary concern, leading to habitat loss and fragmentation. Climate change and human encroachment further exacerbate these pressures. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserve these environments for their ecological services and the species they support.