Tropical Jungles & Arid Deserts (unique habitats)
Alongside rainforests, it’s just as important to save tropical jungles and arid deserts, which although not local to England, are home to some of the most wonderful and endangered species on earth, and also affect global temperatures and climate change issues.
Jungles are packed with mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Bright-coloured frogs, chameleons, and rare snakes find the shelter and food they need here. Many of these cold-blooded creatures have nowhere else to go if the canopy falls.
Reasons to Protect Tropical Jungles
Jungles are a bit like rainforests, but instead of having a canopy floor, these let light in to make plants grow, and different types of creatures live in them. In fact, there are so many plants in a jungle, that it would sometimes be difficult to walk in it!
That’s why a lot of jungle animals live in trees (monkeys and even big cats climb trees). Mostly found in central and South America (just like most rainforests), they are nearly all near the Equator so you won’t find any in England!
Some common creatures that live in jungles are:
- Jaguars (big cats)
- Tigers
- Howler monkeys
- Cobras
Clearing jungles puts whole populations at risk by taking away their food, shelter, and safe spaces. Protecting their home offers the best chance for these animals to thrive.
Like rainforests, tropical jungles act like the earth’s lungs, by absorbing huge amounts of carbon dioxide, due to tall trees and thick layers of leaves, that soak up greenhouse gases, and store carbon for years.
Many of today’s medicines come from jungle plants. Hundreds of wild plants, roots, and fungi are used to treat everything from fever to cancer. If jungles disappear, so do possible cures and key ingredients for treatments we haven’t even found yet. Common medicines from jungles include:
- Quinine is from the cinchona tree, to treat malaria.
- Vincristine is from the rosy periwinkle, to treat cancer.
- Morphine is from the opium poppy, to treat pain
- Digitalis is from foxgloves, to treat heart conditions
Reasons to Save The World’s Arid Deserts
Arid deserts might seem harsh, empty, or even lifeless to some. In reality, they play a key role in our planet’s health, helping sustain rare habitats, native wildlife, and even the balance of our air.
Many creatures live only in desert habitats: rare lizards, snakes, and insects that have adjusted to hot, dry days and chilly nights. Birds such as the greater roadrunner or desert lark thrive in these rough conditions.
Reptiles do especially well in deserts. Species like the Mojave rattlesnake or bearded dragon rely on open, sun-baked ground. Some live below ground to escape the heat, while others change colour to blend into sand or stones.
One of the most familiar desert trees is California’s Joshua Tree, which can take up to 75 years to flower! They are actually a species of yucca that lives in a protected park that supports up to 60 native mammals. Due to climate change, it’s the first tree to be listed as an endangered species, just like for animals.
England’s Own Desert – in Kent!
You would not think it, but England also has a desert. It’s in Dungeness in Kent, on the southeast coast. It’s not officially declared as such, but is one (the Met Office won’t classify it, as it receives more rainfall than a desert does).
This triangular space of land was formed by different sediments and includes Romney Marsh, 7 lighthouses, a light railway, 30 houses (converted from old railway coaches) and concerningly, two nuclear power stations.
From the Old Norse word ‘nes’ for headline, it also houses one of England’s biggest expanses of shingle, with the RSPB trying to keep the area free from over-tourism, to protect resident birds. The area is also home to many rare bees, beetles, spiders and moths, and over 600 plant species.
A unique species found here is the Sussex emerald moth, who emerges at night, and is bright green, hence its name.
Avoid using off-road vehicles in fragile habitats.
