Amazon forest is currently being destroyed through human activity and deforrestation. why does this matter and why should destruction of any forest concern us all.?

  Lungs of the world: 

Amazon forestabsorbs about 25% of atmospheric carbon dioxide. It produces 6 per cent of total oxygen in Earth's atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. So, for these reasons Amazon rainforest is called the lung of the planet earth.

  Top Facts about  the Amazon

The vast and vibrant Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, and it plays a critical role in our fight against climate change.

Here are our top facts about this magical place.

1. THE AMAZON RAINFOREST COVERS AN ENORMOUS 6.7 MILLION SQUARE KILOMETRES

Spanning 9 countries in South America and representing an area twice the size of India – or roughly 28 times the size of the UK! 

2. 10% OF ALL THE WORLD’S WILDLIFE IS FOUND IN THE AMAZON

And incredibly, a new species of animal or plant is discovered in the Amazon every 3 days on average. 

3. THE AMAZON IS HOME TO OVER 30 MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING ALMOST 3 MILLION INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Around 350 different indigenous groups live in the Amazon, which is more than anywhere else on earth, and at least 300 indigenous languages are spoken throughout the Amazon. 

3. THE AMAZON IS HOME TO OVER 30 MILLION PEOPLE, INCLUDING ALMOST 3 MILLION INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Around 350 different indigenous groups live in the Amazon, which is more than anywhere else on earth, and at least 300 indigenous languages are spoken throughout the Amazon. 

5. THE AMAZON’S TREES ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR STORING OVER 75 BILLION TONNES OF CARBON IN THEIR TRUNKS AND BRANCHES

This is absolutely vital in fighting the climate crisis and limiting the rise of global temperatures. 

6. DESPITE ITS IMPORTANCE, EVERY MINUTE AN AREA OF AMAZON RAINFOREST ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO 5 FOOTBALL PITCHES IS CUT DOWN

And shockingly, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon reached a 12-year high in 2020. The main causes of deforestation are cattle ranching and agriculture, the building of roads, railways and dams, illegal logging, and mining. 

7. CURRENT FIGURES SUGGEST ALMOST 20% OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST HAS BEEN LOST ALREADY – WHICH IS AN AREA THE SIZE OF FRANCE

Some scientists estimate that if we lose just 5% more, it will trigger an irreversible tipping point where the Amazon will no longer be able to sustain itself as a tropical rainforest.