5 Cool Facts About Our Planet's Rainforests

Most Important Regions

Rainforests are among the most lush, vibrant, and diverse ecosystems on the planet. They help regulate our climate, provide us with fresh water, and are home to many unique species. With that in mind, here are 5 facts to consider.

1. The Biodiversity

Less than 3% of the world's land is covered by tropical rainforests. These forests are home to over 50% of the terrestrial animal species. These animals range from Bengal tigers, jaguars, orangutans, poison dart frogs, and many more.

2. Freshwater Guardians

Rainforests also play a key role in the planet's fresh water supply. Plants put moisture into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. After deforestation, rainfall diminishes, which often leads to drought and water shortages.

3. Natural Climate Regulators

Rainforests are one of nature's most effective climate solutions. They help regulate global and local climate, reduce heat in the atmosphere, and influence rainfall and ocean currents. If fully deployed, protecting and restoring forests could provide over one-third of climate mitigation required to keep global warming below 2°C, according to some scientists.

4. Medicinal Value

Rainforest plants provide us with some of the most powerful medicines on the planet, including therapies that combat cancer, malaria, and heart disease. In fact, more than 60% of all anticancer remedies are of natural origin. Rainforests are a storehouse of untapped potential for future cures and life-saving medicines.

5. Constantly Vanishing

Tropical rainforests are vanishing at an astounding rate; 40 football fields of forest are destroyed every minute. In 2017 alone, 15.8 million hectares of tropical rainforests were destroyed. As forests continue to disappear across the planet, almost half of the original forest cover has been lost.