Rainforests act as the
world’s thermostat by regulating temperatures and
weather patterns. They are the biggest carbon
sink on the planet after
the oceans, and they
are critical to our limited supply of fresh
water.
Biodiversity & Deforestation
• A typical patch of rainforest
(4 mi2) contains 1,500 flowering plants, 750
species of trees, 400 species of birds, and 150
species of butterflies
.• Covering less than 2%
of the Earth’s total surface area, the world’s
rainforests are home to half of the Earth’s plants
and animals.
• Rainforests provide timber,
coffee, cocoa and 70% of the plants are identified
as useful in the treatment of cancer.
•
Rainforests are threatened by unsustainable
agriculture, ranching, mining, logging practices,
and
‘slash & burn’ activities for fuel
usage.
• Originally, 6 million mi2 of tropical
rainforest existed worldwide, but as a result of
deforestation, only 2.6 million mi2 remain.
•
More than 56,000 mi2 of natural forests are lost
each year.
• At the current rate, 5-10% of
tropical rainforest species will be lost every
decade. |
