The fact that Earth and humans are greatly dependent on rainforests for their wellness remains unquestioned. Here are a few reasons why.
Primarily, these ecosystems represent a rich plethora of living and renewable natural resources. They are home to more than half of the world’s total estimated 10 million species of insects, plants, and animals, not to mention its 3000 and more varieties of fruits too! Do you know that the Amazon rainforest alone has more fish species than what is found in the entire Atlantic Ocean?
As for humans, rainforests offer a bountiful supply of essential resources such as basic food supplies, fuel, shelter, industrial raw materials, medicines, spices, etc. making it significantly conducive for everyday survival.
Rainforests are super storehouses of medicinal plants too. For instance, out of the 3000 plants that have been identified by the U.S. National Cancer Institute to be effective against cancer cells, about 70 per cent have been found to grow within these rainforests!
The sheer size of these natural wonders is so huge and unfathomable, that scientists have been able to study only under one per cent of the millions of species found here. Hence, conservation and wise management of these rainforests is the need of the hour if the never ending demands of the world are to be satisfied.
Picture Credit : Google
