Why are rainforests so important to the health of our planet?

In addition to the vivid beauty that comes with such diversity in flora and animals, rainforests serve an important role in keeping our planet healthy. By collecting carbon dioxide and releasing the oxygen we need to survive. The absorption of this CO2 also contributes to the stabilization of the Earth's climate. Rainforests also contribute to the global water cycle by adding water to the atmosphere via transpiration, which results in clouds. Water emitted by rainforests travels across the planet; experts believe that moisture emitted by African rainforests ends up raining as rain in the Americas!

Rainforests act like a giant sponge, storing water. Indeed, it is estimated that the Amazonian trees alone store more than half of the world's precipitation! Rainforest trees absorb water from the forest floor and expel it into the atmosphere as whirling mists and clouds. Droughts would become more prevalent if rainforests did not recycle vast amounts of water, feeding rivers, lakes, and irrigation systems, potentially leading to widespread starvation and disease. It may surprise you to know that more than 25% of our modern medicines originate from tropical forest plants. Even so, we have only learned how to use 1% of these amazing plants, so imagine the possibilities if we could experiment with the other 99%!