The trees in this layer may be as high as 100 feet. They form a green roof over the forest below. This roof is like an umbrella or canopy. The canopy is the busiest part of the rainforest. The leaves, flowers and fruit that grow there provide food for monkeys, birds, insects and other animals.

The canopy protects the ground from the sun and light rain. Very heavy rains will get to the ground. Some animals up there never go to the forest floor. Many butterflies, such as the tawny rajah, live in the canopy.
Many of the leaves on the plants in the canopy are pointed, so that the rain can run off the tips of the leaves. These drip tips keep the leaves dry and free of mold.
It is very hard for scientists to study the rainforest canopy, because it's so hard to reach. So they build walkways up in the trees so that they can just walk around up there.