Why is the rainforest so valuable?

Why is the rainforest so valuable?

1. By absorbing carbon dioxide, rainforests help to reduce the effects of worldwide climate change

   • They also are an important home to about half of the species of plants and wildlife on the planet

2. Tropical rainforests once covered 14% of the Earths land area

   • Now rainforests only cover less than 6% due to clearance
     • They are still the worlds largest and most complex ecosystem
     • The rainforest ecosystem still contains and estimated 50% of all the worlds plant and animal species

3. These forests are the earths greatest store of ecological biodiversity

   • Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
   • There are around 1.4 million named species on Earth

4. It is believed that the Amazonian forests alone store over half of the Earth's rainwater

   • Without rainforests continually recycling huge quantities of water, feeding the rivers, lakes and irrigation systems, droughts would become more common, potentially leading to widespread famine and disease
     • Deforestation is in fact considered the second major driver of climate change

5. Many indigenous people have been living in harmony with the rainforest for thousands of years, depending on it for their food, shelter and medicines.

   • More than 25% of our modern medicines originate from tropical forest plants

6. Many foods we consume today such as nuts, bananas, coffee and spices, and industrial products such as rubber, resins and fibres, were originally found in tropical rainforests

7. Rainforests: help stabilize the world’s climate; provide a home to many plants and animals; maintain the water cycle protect against flood, drought, and erosion; are a source for medicines and foods; support tribal people; and are an interesting place to visi