Biodiversity Like No Where Else On Earth

The Amazon Rainforest covers over 1.2 billion acres in nine South American countries (Brazil, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and the three Guyanas). The Amazon alone covers 54% of all the rainforests in the world thus making it literally the lungs of the Earth, since trees act as carbon dioxide filters and oxygen producers. Although nowadays, rainforests make up only about 7% of the Earth's surface, it hosts about 50-90% of the animal and plant population of the entire World! The Amazon River has more species of fish than the Atlantic Ocean itself. In an area that covers less than 25 acres of forest, we can find literally several hundreds of species of trees, at least enough to match the number of species found in the entire continent of North America. Who ever thought that a tree in Peru could host 43 different species of ants? There are more species of birds in a little Peruvian reserve than there are in United States! And this is just the surface of the rainforest. There are still countless species of plants and animals yet to be discovered and an alarming number disappear due to deforestation. The rainforest could be an even better study ground for better comprehending evolution and natural selection than the Galapagos Islands, considering how the inhabitants of the rainforest have so well adapted to the layers in the forest in which they live in.
Once thought as one, huge and intricate ecosystem, we only know now that the Amazon is in fact a series of smaller inter-related and interconnected ecosystems. Some animals that live in a specific area of the forest are so adapted to the conditions imposed on them that they can't live anywhere else. We've only begun to understand why the Life in the Amazon is so complex, yet so fragile... To lose it now would not only mean to lose an important natural ressource, it would also mean to lose a whole encyclopedia of evolution and natural selection. Understanding that helps us understand ourselves and thus makes us more in tune with the World around us.

Definitely Worth More Than It's Weight In Gold...

Unknown to the general public, there are countless hidden gems within the tropical rainforest. Rubber, gum, sugar and so many other products have originated here. But little do people know that of the 3000 plants discovered and studied from the tropical rainforest, a whooping 70% have anti-cancerous properties! 25% of the active ingredients of today's anti-cancer drugs can only be found in the rainforest. Vincristine, an ingredient extracted from a rainforest plant found in Madagascar, is the most powerful weapon against cancer nowadays. It helped drastically reduce the number of childhood leukemia related deaths. The rainforest yields so much potential and is so vital to our survival and that of the creatures living around us. Its complex and beautiful yet delicate balance was the result of one of nature's most fascinating wonder, evolution. We all depend on it's ability to filter and better the quality of our air. Without it, we would literally suffocate. Where most living beings exhale carbon dioxide, trees inhale them and produce more oxygen for us to breath. Considering the growing number of vehicles and exhaust pipes, population expansion and other natural occurences of carbon dioxide (i.e. volcanoes) we need all the filtering we can get.

Ancient knowledge

Some people blame the destruction of the rainforest to the ever growing population. But researchers now believe that before the first Europeen explorers came to the New World, native indians lived in colonies that may have been as big as a million men, women and children along the river bank. Unfortunately, viruses were also brought from the Old World and since the Natives never had the chance to build their immune system for such plagues, most died from diseases. And with them, died the knowledge of how to live in harmony with the rainforest. Only a shadow of what the Natives were exist nowadays, and it's a race against time to get as much wisdom and insight from them as we can.
The animals are not the only ones to be endangered in the rainforest. The people are too. Sadly, some treat the Natives like animals. But all the time spent in the rainforest, it's people have learned to unlock it's secrets, and in return, the Great Amazon has provided food and shelter for the ever growing population of her children. How did they manage to feed such a population? It seems that today's knowledge and awareness is no match for yesterday's experience.

If a Tree Fell in the Forest, Would Anybody Hear?

We hear about it almost everyday. The alarms are ringing frantically. We neglected our duties and missed the time for prevention. Now is the time for salvation! The future lies in the hands of those who care. What can you do to ensure a brighter future? Plenty! You can first start by using paper responsibly. Try your best to reduce your consommation, reuse as much as you can, and of course, recycle. Educate the people around you on the importance of the environment and our resposability towards it. Be a role model and show the people around you that you care. By changing yourself, you might help change the ones near to you. They in turn might teach the ones around them. Through cooperation and patience, the whole World might finally learn to be one whole...

Take a Deep Breath, It May Be Your Last...