Choose any one of the following vegetation types: (a) Cool temperature eastern margin (Laurentian type) (b) Temperate grassland (c) Tropical rainforest Describe the vegetation type chosen under the following headings (i) location (ii) vegetation characteristics (iii) economic importance
Explanation
(a) (i) Location of Tropical Rain Forest: Tropical forest is located between latitudes 5° and 1 C'° k:orth and South of the equator. The vegetation is found in Amazon basin of South America, the Coast of West Africa, Zaire, Malaysia, Indonesia and Columbia. (b) Characteristics of Rain Forest are: (i) The forest is green throughout the year (ii) It contains very many families and species of trees including lianas or climbers and epiphytes (iii) There are three distinct lavers of trees, i.e the top layer, middle layer and lower layers. (iv) Economic trees Uke Iroko, Obeche, Mahogany, African Walnut, etc are found (v) There are undergrowth at the base of the forest. (c) Economic Importance of the Rain Forest: (i) Durable and valuable hardwoods are got from the region, e.g Ebony, Iroko, Obeche, Mahogany, etc (ii) Cultivation of cash crops like oil palm, cocoa, rubber, etc (iii) very little small scale livestock farming is practised.