People find different escapes from their busy lives.
For some, it’s a walk in the park. For others, it’s a quiet moment with trees rustling overhead, birds calling in the distance, and the earthy scent of soil after rain. A calm environment with nothing but nature, fresh air, and the rhythm of birdsong has a way of slowing everything down.
This is exactly what rainforests offer — not just to people nearby, but to the entire planet.
A green world so vast it stretches across continents. Where towering trees form leafy umbrellas, sunlight filters through layers of vines, and life hums in every direction — from frogs and flowers to jaguars and giant mushrooms. Rainforests aren’t just beautiful escapes — they are Earth’s life-support system.
Why it matters
So, why do people call rainforests the “lungs of the Earth”?
Because they breathe for the planet. Just like our lungs take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide, rainforests do the opposite — they absorb carbon dioxide and give us back clean oxygen. This helps keep the air we breathe fresh and the Earth cool.
But that’s not all. Rainforests also store huge amounts of freshwater and are home to more than half of all the plant and animal species found on Rainforests are thick, green forests that get a lot of rain and are packed with plants and animals. Without rainforests, our planet would be hotter, drier, and far less alive.
Types and where they’re found
Not all rainforests look the same — some are hot and steamy, others are cool and misty. Rainforests are mainly of two types:
1. Tropical Rainforests
These grow near the equator, where it’s warm and rains almost every day. These are the greenest and most biodiverse places on Earth.
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Amazon Rainforest in South America – the largest rainforest in the world.
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Congo Basin in Africa – home to gorillas, elephants, and ancient trees.
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Southeast Asia – rich with orangutans, giant flowers, and thick tree canopies.
And in India?
The Western Ghats and Northeast India, especially places like Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, have patches of tropical rainforest too! They are full of unique animals like the lion-tailed macaque and the hoolock gibbon.
2. Temperate Rainforests
These grow in cooler places where it still rains a lot, but the temperatures are lower.
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Pacific Northwest in the USA
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Chile in South America
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New Zealand – with mossy forests that look like they’re from a fairy tale
Rainforests are spread out across the world — but their importance connects us all.
Location of tropical and temperate/subtropical rainforests in the world.
How it affects us all
You may live far from a rainforest, but what happens there still affects you.
When we lose rainforests:
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More carbon dioxide stays in the air — making the Earth hotter and speeding up climate change.
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Fewer medicines can be discovered — many lifesaving drugs come from rainforest plants we haven’t even studied yet!
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Unique animals and plants disappear — some may go extinct before we even get to know them.
So whether you’re in a busy city or a quiet village, the health of the rainforest matters. Protecting it means protecting our future too.
Rainforest Superpowers!
Rainforests are full of surprises — not just animals and trees, but strange and amazing facts that sound almost magical!
One tree in the Amazon can “drink” up to 1,000 litres of water a day! That’s enough to fill 10 bathtubs — and it helps cool the air around us!
Sloths grow algae on their fur! Yes, they move so slowly that green algae grows on them — creating a tiny home for insects and even giving sloths a bit of camouflage. It’s like a walking garden!
It’s dark down there: The rainforest floor gets so little sunlight that plants have to stretch, climb, and even grow on other trees just to catch a few rays. It’s a real jungle race for light!
Trouble in paradise
Rainforests may seem wild and endless, but they’re in serious danger. Every day, huge parts of these green wonderlands are being destroyed — and fast.
Logging: Trees are cut down for timber, furniture, and paper. But when too many trees are removed, the forest can’t grow back the same way.
Farming and Plantations: To grow palm oil, soy, or to make space for cattle, large chunks of forest are cleared. This takes away homes from animals and pollutes the land.
Climate Change: Rising temperatures and shifting rain patterns make it harder for rainforests to survive. Droughts dry them out and weaken their trees.
Fires: Many rainforest fires are started by humans — to clear land. But these fires often get out of control and destroy more than intended.
From the study “Carbon and Beyond: The Biogeochemistry of Climate in a Rapidly Changing Amazon”
A real wake-up call: Brazil’s historic drought
A drone view shows the dry bed of the Taruma Acu River, a tributary of Rio Negro during the worst-ever recorded drought near Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil, October 16, 2024.
Just last year, Brazil — home to the largest stretch of the Amazon rainforest — faced one of its worst droughts in over 70 years. Rivers dried up, animals struggled to survive, and massive wildfires scorched over 30 million hectares of land — that’s bigger than the whole of Italy! Even boats carrying supplies to forest communities got stuck as water levels dropped, and scientists warned this drought was linked to climate change and forest destruction. The message is loud and clear: when we harm the rainforest, it comes back to hurt everyone — from the tiniest frog in the Amazon to children in cities far away.
What can we do?
Rainforests may be far away, but you can still help protect them — starting today!
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Say no to products with unsustainable palm oil. Saying no to products with unsustainable palm oil is crucial because vast forests are cleared for its plantations, directly destroying the natural habitat of animals like orangutans, pushing them towards extinction.
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Check the label or ask an adult — palm oil is in snacks, soaps, and even shampoo. Choose brands that protect forests.
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Use recycled paper
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Every sheet saved means fewer trees cut down. Try to use both sides of your notebook!
Activists dressed as orangutan hold posters during a protest in Jakarta, Indonesia.
| Photo Credit:
Dita Alangkara
Small steps can lead to big changes — and it can start with you.
A final thought
Rainforests don’t just belong to Brazil, Congo, or Indonesia — they belong to all of us.
Every tree, every drop of rain, every breath of fresh air they give is a gift to the whole planet. When we protect rainforests, we’re not just saving plants and animals — we’re protecting the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the future we dream of.
Published – June 24, 2025 12:46 pm IST
