Tropical rainforests are located near the equator where the climate is hot with high rainfall throughout the year. They have several distinct layers of vegetation including an emergent canopy layer of tall trees, a continuous main canopy layer, and layers of understory trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. The soil in rainforests is thin and nutrient-poor due to heavy leaching from the high rainfall. Rainforests are being destroyed at a rapid rate due to deforestation for logging, agriculture, and development which has negative consequences for global climate, biodiversity, and human communities.