The Brazil nut tree is one of the Amazon's longest living
trees, of an age 1,000 years. Its flowers depend on bees
for pollination. Once pollinated, a coconut-sized seed
containing some tiny 20 seeds, develops for over 15
months before falling to the forest floor. They are found
exclusively in Amazon forests since harvesting is
exhausting, even for the strong. Apart from bees and the
Brazil nut harvesters, the life of many other plants and
animals is intertwined with this tree. The empty seeds fill
with rainwater and provide breeding grounds for flies,
frogs, all of which depend on these small ponds on the
forest floor.. The major threat to the trees is forest
clearing. Sustainable harvesting of Brazil nuts is
therefore vital way to provide protection of forests and
saving the Amazon.
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