Exploring Jamaica’s Rainforest

Reports published in 2010 showed that rainforests in Jamaica covers about 337,000 hectares. The Taino inhabitants of this country named Jamaica as Land of Springs and Land of Wood and Water because of its diverse jungle life. As it was said, Jamaican forests are known as biodiversity rich area. Their rainforests houses about 406 animal species and 21.2 percent of it are endemic. When it comes to plant life, jungles in Jamaica are home to 3,300 plant species. However, despite its riches, reports claimed that rainforest reserves in this country are not undergoing any form of protection. That’s why number of endemic species both flora and fauna are prone to extinction. 

Before planning to go on a rainforest, it would be better if you are equipped with knowledge about it and there’s a great advantage every moment. Better be familiarized with tropical rainforest layers that you will surely encounter along the way:

Emergent layer. This composed of the giant trees emerging from the dense canopy layer. These are the ones that receive the greatest amount of sunlight in the forest. 

Canopy layer. It is a tight, continuous canopy formed from the broad crown of trees approximately 60-90 feet above the ground. The branches are mainly covered with plants and tied together with vines.

Understory. Beside its interesting name, understory is a dark place just below the canopy and receives only about 10 percent of sunlight. Young trees and plants that can tolerate little light comprise the understory. Forest understory also has higher humidity than exposed areas.

Forest floor. Also called detritus, is the most distinctive part of a forest ecosystem. It is mainly consists of shed vegetation above the soil surface. It is one of the richest components of an ecosystem because of the large number of predators and decomposers present. 

Of course, exploration in Jamaican rainforest will never be complete without doing adventures that you will consider experience of a lifetime. Here are some of the activities that you should try:

BOBSLED. Sounds new right? In Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios, you’ll find bobsled adventure that will make you twist down the mountainside. It provides you with a captivating bird’s eye view of the whole town.

CANOPY ZIP LINING. Try this one and rest assured that it’s definitely worth doing. Take a flight through the rainforest with their canopy zip line tour.

SKY EXPLORER. The rainforest Sky Explorer takes you up 700 feet above the Jamaican rainforest. This is a state-of-the-art chairlift that will carry you over and explore the treetops of the Mystic Mountain.