Welcome to the Amazon Rainforest!

Let’s take a look around!

The Amazon Rainforest is quite simply, vast. It stretches over eight different countries including Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.

The world’s largest tropical rainforest, it is often referred to as the lungs of the world. However this is actually a myth! It’s true that it pumps out 20% of the world’s oxygen each day. Incredible! But decomposing plants put out a similar amount of CO2 which leaves it in an equilibrium. Most of our oxygen actually comes from microorganisms in our oceans.

Most of the Amazon is dense tropical rainforest. However there are also savannas, grasslands, swamps, floodplains and palm forests in this expansive and dynamic environment.

It’s a place of immense biodiversity with over 3 million species calling it home. All working together in harmony to sustain this incredible ecosystem. It’s estimated that every 2 days another new species is discovered from pink river dolphins to fire-tailed titi monkeys.

5 cool facts

1. One big medicine cabinet!

25% of all modern Western drugs come from rainforest plants. Read our diary post to find out more!

2. There’s another river flowing underneath the Amazon!

Around 4km below the Amazon river is the Rio Hamza which is as long as the Amazon but hundreds of times wider!

3. 30 million people call the Amazon rainforest home!

There are an estimated 50 remote tribes who have yet to make contact with modern civilisation. Sadly they are under threat. Check out the work of Survival International to find out more.

4. It’s very dark at the bottom!

The canopy of the rainforest can be incredibly thick which means only 1% of sunlight makes its way through to the floor. It can take 10 minutes for water to reach the plants at the bottom!

5. The Amazon rainforest thrives due to the Sahara Desert!

The soil in the rainforest needs a lot of fresh dust and phosphorous. Particles picked up from the Sahara desert are blown over the Atlantic and fall into the Amazon to feed the fauna!

5 of the best Amazon residents

There are several MILLION species of plants, birds, mammals, insects and fish in the Amazon rainforest. Here are our pick of the best!

1. Poop it’s a capybara!

Capybaras eat their own poo for breakfast! It’s rich with protein and means they can digest their food twice!

2. Beetle prison

These giant water lilies keep beetles captive overnight by closing over them. They become covered in pollen and when they fly away are able to pollinate another lily flower.

3. Fancy a game of hide and seek?!

This little fella is a Leaf Katydid. So called because their calls sound like they are saying “katydid, katydid”! The body of the insect looks like leaves that have been torn up, decayed or covered in fungi.

4. Stinky!

The stinkbird is well named. They eat so many leaves that they ferment which makes them smell of manure!

5. All the best things come in small packages!

Look at those eyes! This little chap is a pygmy marmoset. They are so small they can fit in the palm of your hand. They like to snack on sticky tree sap.

What do all the rainforest animals say when the jaguar finishes his shower?

They can't say anything, as the jaguar is totally spotless!

What issues face the Amazon Rainforest?

Sadly this incredible biodiverse habitat is facing multiple increasing threats to its survival. From political instability to our insatiable appetite for beef; we lose 150 acres every minute. Every day. More than 20% of the Amazon rainforest has been devastated and we’re on track to reach frightening tipping points in the very near future.

Deforestation

The Amazon rainforest is home to around 390 billion individual trees and 16,000 different tree species. Sadly these trees are getting cut down at a record rate. Much of the deforestation takes place to make room for pastures for cattle and room to grow their feed.

Then room needs to be made for the palm trees. Palm oil is the most widely used oil in the world. Food, drink, household products, cosmetics; we use a LOT of it. Large swarthes of forest are cleared to make way for palm oil plantations. Habitats for thousands of creatures are consequently destroyed.

Forest fires

Each year fires rage across the Amazon. There are now year on year surges, destroying huge areas of rainforest. It’s suggested that 99% of fires in the Amazon are started by human activity. Farmers wanting more land for farming, cattle or logging. Not only are entire ecosystems quite literally going up in smoke, but the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere adds to the heating of our planet.

137 species are going extinct in the rainforest every day

Positive News

Awareness of the issues facing this ecosystem is on the rise, and incredible charities like our partners the Rainforest Trust, are working very hard to protect rainforests around the world. Here are some great examples of individuals, organisations and governments coming together to make positive change.

1. LEAFLEAF

LEAF has been created to mobilise at least $1 billion to start the largest ever public-private effort to protect tropical rainforests. To benefit those depending on them and support sustainable development

2. Indigenous people are fighting backfighting back

A tribe in Panama won a case granting them 400,000 acres of forest. The WWF teamed up indigenous rights’ groups to train Andean tribes to use drones deep in the Amazon to protect wildlife and identify illegal logging.

3. The Costa Rican case study

Back in the 1970s and 1980s Costa Rica had the highest rates of deforestation across Latin America. But they turned the tables with a Payment for Environmental Service scheme which not only stopped but actually reversed deforestation.

What can you do to help?

1. Try eating less meat!

2. Support a cause!

Donate to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) projects, find out more here

3. Take a look at our partner the Rainforest TrustRainforest Trust

Get involved with their ongoing campaigns

4. Pick sustainably!

If the products you purchase include palm oil, pick suppliers who use sustainably farmed palm oil

Positive impacts with Earth Cubs

1. FREE APP! Play our app and teach your kids to love our amazing planet
2. TEACHING RESOURCES! Extensive curriculum linked resources supporting teachers and schools to bring sustainability into the classroom.