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Where does rubber come from in the Amazon?
A century ago, rubber was an entirely natural product, made from the latex produced by three species of trees found in the vast forests of the Amazon basin (Hevea brasiliensis, Hevea guyanensis and Castilloa elastica).
Where are rubber trees harvested?
Today, however, most plantations are located in the Asia Pacific (Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia) West Africa, and Central America (Guatemala). Latex is considered a low-impact crop. Rubber trees have a life span of about 32 years. At 7 years, the tree is considered mature and ready for harvesting.
What are the important trees of Amazon basin?
The luxuriant vegetation encompasses a wide variety of trees, including many species of myrtle, laurel, palm, and acacia, as well as rosewood, Brazil nut, and rubber tree. Excellent timber is furnished by the mahogany and the Amazonian cedar.
Did you know fact about the Amazon rainforest?
Nearly two-thirds of the Amazon rainforest is found in Brazil. The Amazon is thought to have 2.5 million species of insects. More than half the species in the Amazon rainforest are thought to live in the canopy. 70 percent of South America’s GDP is produced in areas that receive rainfall or water from the Amazon.
How many trees are in the Amazon forest?
390 billion
The Amazon represents over half of the planet’s remaining rainforests, and comprises the largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world, with an estimated 390 billion individual trees divided into 16,000 species.
How many trees are in the Amazon basin?
What trees produce rubber?
The major commercial source of natural rubber latex is the Amazonian rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), a member of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. This species is preferred because it grows well under cultivation. A properly managed tree responds to wounding by producing more latex for several years.
Who discovered rubber trees?
First discovered by the ancient Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, the latex sap from the rubber tree was once used to make rubber balls, to waterproof clothes and even to form homemade shoes.