April 5, 2014 – 17 Days until Earth Day…
An estimated 50 percent of all endangered species live in the rainforest. Our planet’s largest rainforest – The Amazon – lost more than 17 percent of its forest cover in the last century due to human activity.
The substantial losses to our rainforests pose a significant threat to our Earth and health. Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal, and insect species every day from rainforest deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species becoming extinct a year. In addition, 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, with less that 1% of these tropical trees and plants having been tested by scientists. The rainforests are also in charge of housing and recycling a majority of the fresh water found in the world, and regulates levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
To help in conservation efforts directed at these essential ecosystems, visit rainforest-alliance.org to donate or rainforestfund.org to discover the power your words can have.
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