The Amazon Rainforest
Lies within South America and spans across 7,000,000 km squared, eight different countries, and one French territory.
The above and below ground biomass store approximately 150-200 gigatons of carbon. That is equivalent to the carbon emitted by more than 150 million gas powered cars per year!
Petroleum extraction, mining, monoculture farming, and general deforestation threaten the Amazon
Approximately 17-25% of the Amazon rainforest has been deforested and many areas in the Amazon are now net carbon sources. This means the rainforest is reaching an irreversible tipping point.
The Amazon is home to hundreds of unique indigenous cultures, including many of the remaining uncontacted tribes, and the most diverse range of plant, animal, and fungi species on the planet.
Habitat destruction has changed indigenous way of life and drastically reduced the biodiversity in the rainforest.
