The Amazon rainforest, also known as Amazonia or the Amazon jungle, is a vast, moist broadleaf tropical rainforest in the Amazon basin of South America. It spans approximately 2.3 million square miles (6 million square kilometers) across nine countries: Brazil (containing the majority, around 60%), Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The Amazon is the world's largest rainforest, comprising over half of the planet's remaining rainforests.
Known for its unparalleled biodiversity, the Amazon is home to an estimated 10% of the world's known species. This includes millions of species of plants, insects, birds, and other forms of life, many of which remain unrecorded by science. It plays a vital role in global climate regulation by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. The Amazon River, the world's largest in terms of discharge, and its basin are central to the rainforest's ecosystem, featuring a complex network of over 1,100 tributaries. The region is also home to over 30 million people, including hundreds of Indigenous and ethnic groups.
Despite its ecological importance, the Amazon faces severe threats from deforestation, driven by agriculture, cattle ranching, illegal logging, mining, and infrastructure development. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon saw a decrease of almost 50% in the first 10 months of 2023 compared to 2022. However, deforestation continues to cause habitat loss, endanger species, and exacerbate climate change. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect this landscape, including sustainable practices, Indigenous activism, and international policies.
