11 Fun Facts about Rainforests

Rainforests cover only about 6% of the Earth's surface, but they are home to over half of the world's known plant and animal species.

The Amazon can be considered the Earth's air conditioner, producing around 20% of the oxygen produced on land via photosynthesis. 

The Amazon rainforest is the largest rainforest in the world, covering an area of around 6.7 million square kilometers. If the Amazon was a country, it would be the ninth largest country in the world.

Rainforests are incredibly biodiverse, with new species being discovered all the time. A variety of rare species including bengal tigers, giant otters, amazon river dolphins and orangutans are all found in rainforests.

A whopping 1.2 billion people depend on rainforests for their livelihoods. People depend on rainforests for food security, construction materials, drinkable water and energy sources.

Rainforests are important carbon sinks, which means they absorb more carbon than they release. The absorption of carbon helps regulate temperatures and fight climate change. 

Many of the world's most important medicines have been derived from plants found in the rainforest, including treatments for cancer, malaria, and other diseases.

Rainforests are incredibly important for the water cycle, with trees and other vegetation helping to regulate water flow and prevent erosion.

Many common houseplants originated in the rainforest and have adapted to low sunlight and little water, making them the perfect companion for your indoor space. 

Almost 80% of all flowers found in Australian rainforests can't be found anywhere else on the planet. The Daintree rainforest is home to the world's rarest flowering plant– the idiot fruit or Idiospermum Australiense.

Deforestation is a major threat to rainforests, with around 17% of the Amazon rainforest having been destroyed since the 1970s. Every 6 seconds, an area equivalent to one professional football field of rainforest is cut down.