Home to 1,700 species of birds and 50,000 species of plants
The rainforest is an incredible place - rich and diverse, and full of wonderful plants, animals and amazing creepy crawlies. It's home to over 1,700 species of birds and 50,000 species of plants. It's also home to tribes that have been around since the Incas. So it deserves our protection.
Here are some facts you may not know about the rainforest:
- Two thirds of our planet's animal and plant species live in rainforests.
- Incredibly, it's estimated that hundreds of millions of species are still undiscovered.
- One scientist found 43 different species of ant on one tree.
- Rainforests act like a giant barometer, regulating global weather and keeping hurricanes and floods at bay.
- 121 prescription drugs currently sold worldwide come from rainforest plants.
- 25% of active ingredients in today's cancer-fighting drugs come from organisms only found in rainforests.
- With more than 1,400 varieties of tropical plant undiscovered, there could be more potential medicines waiting to be found.
- The Amazon rainforest provides a fifth of the world's oxygen and fresh water.
- The number of species of fish in the Amazon exceeds the number found in the entire Atlantic Ocean.
Did you know?
A 5th of the world's oxygen and fresh water is provided by the amazon.
25% of active ingredients in today's cancer-fighting drugs come from organisms only found in rainforests.
43 species of ant were found by one scientist on one tree.
Rainforests are some of the most amazing places on earth, find out why.
Learn moreThe Charity protects rainforest to reduce gobal CO2 emissions and fight climate change.
Learn moreOvo customers are helping to protect the homes of people who have lived in the rainforest for thousands of years.
Learn more