About the Amazon - the Lungs of the Planet

The Amazon Rainforests contain over 1.2 billion acres and cover 40% of South America.

The Amazon is often called the “lungs of the planet,” because its plant life creates 20% of the Earth’s oxygen (through photosynthesis).

The Amazon contains an estimated 438,000 species of plants and more are discovered every day.

20% (1 in 5) of all the birds in the world live in the rainforests of the Amazon. More than 20% of the Amazon Rainforest has already been destroyed, yet the rate of new destruction is accelerating. 20,000 square miles are vanishing each year, 3x the rate of 1994, the last time official figures were reported.

Protecting the rainforest is the smartest economic choice around.  For example, one hectare (2.471 acres) used as a cattle pasture will produce just $148 per year. Clear-cutting that same land for timber will produce 8x more or $1,000, but this is a one-time gain, not a sustainable harvest. Sustainably harvesting that land for fruits like Açaí, latex and timber will produce almost 7x more!—or $6,820 per year, every year.