Rainforest Facts

Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover 6%.

More than half of the world's estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests.

It is estimated that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.

Tigers have stripes to help them hide in the rainforest undergrowth.

Rainforests are being destroyed because the value of rainforest land is perceived as only the value of its timber.

Half of the world's species of plants and animals will be destroyed over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.

The Amazon Rainforest covers over a billion acres, encompassing areas in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and the Eastern Andean region of Ecuador and Peru.

137 plant, animal and insect species are being lost every single day due to rainforest deforestation.

One hectare of lowland rainforest in South America can contain as many frog species as in all of North America.

The biggest rainforest in the world is in South America, along the banks of the Amazon River.

The howler monkey is the loudest animal living in the rainforests of South America.

One and one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second.

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