Forests are vital support networks for the species that live within them. The Amazon rainforest alone is a habitat for millions of species of plants and animals—one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.
Plus, forests are essential even to life beyond them. Like the oceans, forests play a crucial role in producing some of the oxygen we breathe and capturing the harmful greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), from our atmosphere.
We must continue to combat deforestation because our forests face other threats, too. For example, largely due to drought and climate change, there were at least 61 percent more fires in the Amazon during the first six months of 2024 compared to the same time span in 2023.
The United Nations Environment Programme writes, “Forests are essential to keep global temperature rise to 2C. They are our best natural ally in reducing emissions while enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem benefits.
However, in 2021, scientists found the Amazon was emitting more carbon than it was storing for the first time—a stark reminder that deforestation is pushing us further into a climate crisis.
