Tropical rainforests contain 70 percent of the world s plant and ninety percent of its insects. Chocolate, vanilla, black pepper, cinnamon, paprika, nutmeg, coffee, tea, ginger, lime, orange, grapefruit, and many other spices, flavors, and fruits come from the rainforest pantry. Fifty percent of the medicines used in the world every day come from rain forest plants. The Amazonian garcinia punctata tree is used as a cure for diarrhea. The Mexican yam is used to manufacture cortisone and hydrocortisone.
Rosy periwinkle contains a drug that fights some forms of childhood leukemia.
Rain forests absorb great amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and can help reduce global warming. However, when rainforests are cut down and burned they actually add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The rainforests produce 40 percent of the oxygen we breathe. In addition to protecting your eyes from both the sun and the reflective glare off of the water, a pair of polarized sunglasses will enhance the variable colors of the coastal waters of Belize. Loose fitting, light colored cotton pants and camping shirts, along with a comfortable pair of hiking shoes or boots are appropiate for exploring the Mainland or trekking through the rain forest.