Rainforests are complex ecosystems characterized by dense tree canopies, high humidity, and substantial rainfall, often exceeding 80 inches annually. Found primarily in tropical regions near the equator, they maintain consistently warm temperatures. While covering a small portion of Earth’s land, rainforests are important, providing ecological services that sustain global life. Their protection is a global concern, tied to the health of the planet and humanity.
Unparalleled Biodiversity
Rainforests are unparalleled centers of biodiversity, housing an extraordinary variety of plant and animal species. Covering only about 6% of the planet’s land, tropical rainforests are home to 80% of the world’s documented species, including half of all plants and animals. This biological richness includes countless undiscovered species, with millions of unknown insects, plants, and microorganisms.
Many rainforest species are endemic, existing nowhere else. The complex interactions within these ecosystems, from towering trees to fungi and insects, contribute to their stability. Rainforest loss leads to species extinction and diminishes global ecosystem health.
Global Climate Regulator
Rainforests play an important role in regulating Earth’s climate. They function as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and storing it in their biomass. This process helps reduce greenhouse gas concentrations, mitigating climate change. Tropical trees are efficient, accounting for 95% of all tree-based CO2 sequestration globally, continuously absorbing carbon due to no dormant winter.
Beyond carbon sequestration, rainforests influence global weather and the water cycle. Through transpiration, plants release water vapor, contributing to cloud formation and precipitation. This moisture travels long distances, impacting rainfall far from the rainforests; for instance, Amazon moisture can influence Texas rainfall, and African forests can affect weather in the American Midwest. The Amazon alone releases approximately 20 billion tonnes of water daily, playing an important part in regional and global water cycles.
Sources of Essential Resources
Rainforests provide humanity with many resources, used daily. They serve as a source of medicinal compounds, with over a quarter of natural medicines discovered there. For example, quinine comes from cinchona tree bark, and two anti-tumor agents were derived from the rosy periwinkle, a plant native to Madagascar’s rainforests. Over 70% of plants identified by the U.S. National Cancer Institute with potential anti-cancer properties are found exclusively in tropical rainforests.
These ecosystems are also the origin of many food crops that are staples worldwide. At least 80% of the developed world’s food originated in tropical rainforests. Common examples include fruits like bananas, pineapples, avocados, and citrus, as well as vegetables such as corn and potatoes. Spices like cinnamon, vanilla, black pepper, coffee, and cocoa also trace their origins to rainforest environments.
Additionally, rainforests contribute to water supplies. Their dense vegetation and root systems help filter water, stabilize soil, and regulate water flow, protecting against erosion and ensuring water quality.
Home to Diverse Cultures
Rainforests are home to millions of indigenous people and local communities whose lives are linked to these environments. For centuries, these communities have coexisted with the forests, relying on them for food, shelter, medicine, and cultural practices. Indigenous groups, such as the approximately 1.5 million people across 385 ethnic groups in the Amazon, possess traditional knowledge about the rainforest’s biodiversity and its sustainable management.
These communities are often effective stewards of the rainforest. Studies indicate deforestation rates are lower in indigenous territories compared to unprotected areas, and lands managed by indigenous peoples often maintain greater biodiversity. Their traditional practices and understanding of the ecosystem are important for forest health. Protecting their rights and supporting their stewardship is an important aspect of broader rainforest conservation.