Rainforest Facts: Race for a Cure

November 5th, 2007

Rainforests are home to two-thirds of our world’s animal and plant life. It was once estimated that hundreds of millions of wildlife species are still undiscovered in the rainforest. Rainforests only remain to cover 6% of Earth’s surface when the used to once cover 14%.

Experts estimate that we are losing 137 species of plant, animal and insect species due to deforestation. Not only do we lose certain wildlife forever, we are losing potential cures that could come from these plants. Scientists have only test less than 1% of all plant species for possible disease curing properties. The U.S. National Cancer Institute recognizes 3000 plants that are active against deadly cancer cells.

Rainforests are vital in other ways as well. The Amazon Rainforest provides 20% of the world’s oxygen. The world’s rainforests are vital for our longterm survival.

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