The rainforests keep our planet alive. They are home to half the species of animals in the world, they provide us with fresh water, and are essential for maintaining our climate stability. And yet every second an acre and a half are lost, and every year 78 million acres of precious rainforests are destroyed. This is why World Rainforest Day was created - to take decisive action to fight the creation of forests, to reduce the effects of climate change on them and to protect our rainforests for future generations.
World Rainforest Day was first created in 2017 by the Rainforest Partnership. This organization works with indigenous peoples living in the vicinity of the rainforests and launches projects that will help heal and renew the rainforests with the local communities. Rainforest Day is about raising awareness of the importance of the existence of rainforests and what they do for us.
Hundreds of events take place on this day, from events in local communities to international virtual events, school education initiatives, charity projects, and hundreds of small private individuals.
The Rainforest Partnership has many community-based projects in the Amazon, but today itself is backed by the involvement of over 70 global partners, from environmentalists to the media, all of whom strive for positive and defining action that preserves the rainforest. The slogan for the event is "Because the world can not wait", a strong statement and call for action for people around the world.
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| A monkey in a rainforest on the island of Borneo in Asia. Most of the island's formerly covered by tropical rainforest is now used for the oil, wood, and palm oil industries. |
The main focus of the day is to stay optimistic and focus on what we can do to save the rainforest.
Our rainforests have sustained us for thousands of years. They produce oxygen, keep local communities alive, absorb carbon dioxide and keep water fresh and clean.
The Amazon Forest (Portuguese: Floresta Amazonica) is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. The forest has existed for about 60 million years. It was formed when the Atlantic Ocean expanded enough to create a tropical climate in the Amazon Basin. After the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, it is estimated that a wet climate developed that led to the spread of the rainforest. The Amazon rainforest is located in the tropical region of South America. Its area is 7,769,994 square kilometers (although its exact borders are controversial), and it covers nine countries: Brazil with about 60% of its total area, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The forest is named after the Amazon River that flows through it and the variety of species in it is the largest in the world.In 2011, after a selection process that lasted four years, the forest and the river that flows through it were chosen as one of the seven wonders of the natural world.
The forest is inhabited by various Native American tribes who subsist on hunting animals, fish and insects that serve as food for them, build huts for themselves and make their clothes from plants, skins and feathers.
So why is the disappearance of the rainforest so dangerous? Leading factors in forest creation include deforestation, mining and industrial development, as well as land clearance for animal husbandry. As wider areas are cleared for deforestation and cattle grazing, more infrastructure is needed to create road areas and store large machinery. The natural habitats of the animals and the homes of the indigenous peoples are being significantly destroyed. The extent of deforestation can cause climate change, floods, desertification and soil erosion - all of which threaten our planet and our way of life.
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| Rainforests account for about 28% of the world's oxygen production |
How to mark World Rainforest Day?
A great way to mark this day is to enrich your knowledge by reading about rainforests on the National Geographic website.
If you are buying products that contain palm oil, an oil that is used to cut down palm trees and damage the habitats of many animals (such as monkeys, for example), look for the RSPO standard symbol - a unique standard for controlled use of palm oil. Share the information about the importance of rainforests on social media.
June 22 is also Onion Rings Day and World Camel Day
