Reasons to Save the World’s Tropical Rainforests
Tropical rainforests store a massive amount of carbon in the trees, which helps to stop releasing carbon in the air, and therefore are one of the best ways to prevent climate change.
They are also home to half of the world’s plant and animal species (jaguars in South America and orangutans in Borneo). And colourful wild birds like macaws, toucans and parrots.
Over a quarter of medicines come from rainforest plants, including treatments for cancer, malaria, and infections. Scientists still discover new cures in these forests. Cutting down rainforests shuts the door on future discoveries that could save countless lives.
It’s estimated that the Amazon rainforest produces around a fifth of the world’s oxygen. Yet a fifth has already been lost to logging (for timber), rubber (for car tyres) and food (trees cut down for both cattle grazing and soy production – most used for animal feed).
Obviously anything made from wood comes from trees, and a lot of wood is from abroad. So protect habitats for all species, try to choose recycled or reclaimed where possible (or tree-free).
Who is Buying Beef from Brazil?
Around 80% of Amazon forest has been destroyed to create pasture land for cattle used to sell as beef (the main marks are China and the US – in 2021, major fast food chains bought most of it for western consumers). The UK and Ireland also buys Brazilian beef (usually as corned beef).
If you eat beef, choose organic free-range from local farmers. If you eat soy, choose sustainable brands like Tofoo and Oomph that don’t source from rainforests.
In Peru, a recent law has forgiven all illegal logging, which some think will give a green light to both the logging and cocaine industries. Recently two park rangers have been killed.
This echoes what happened to environmentalist Paulo Paulino Guajajara, who was shot in the head in Brazil, for defending his rainforest home from loggers. Just before he died (he had been threatened several times), Paulo wrote:
We are protecting our land and the life on it: the animals, the birds. These people think they can come into her our home, and help themselves to our forest. No, we won’t allow it. We don’t break into their houses and rob them, do we?
