Why is the tropical rainforest important?
STUART: It is hugely important because as you probably know, the vast majority of biodiversity in the world is in tropical rainforests. Tropical rainforests have a very, very important function and that is to keep our climate functioning. They produce a lot of water, store a lot of carbon, and help modulate or protect the climate of the globe. So it is a hugely important ecosystem. Interviewer: How many different scientists are working on research for CTFS (The Center For Tropical Forest Science)? STUART: Well over a hundred scientists are now working with CTFS throughout the world. We have scientists from the United States, we have scientists from Europe and Australia, but we also have many, many scientists now – and this is a very important mission of CTFS – from within the tropical countries where we work. We also have an increasing number of students and post-doctoral researchers and faculty researchers doing all kinds of studies in their own forests. Interviewer: What are the big
