The Amazon holds one in ten of Earth's known species

Nature · Published 28 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning eight countries, the Amazon is not just a forest; it is a global life-support system. From regulating world weather to storing billions of tons of carbon, its health dictates the stability of our planet's climate and water cycles.

The Amazon biome covers approximately 2.7 million square miles, representing about 40% of South America—an area roughly two-thirds the size of the United States. This vast landscape is shared by Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, and Suriname, as well as French Guiana. Within this expanse, the forest serves as a critical reservoir for biodiversity, housing nearly 50,000 plant species and millions of animal species, many of which have yet to be described by science.

The ecological mechanisms of the rainforest are profound. The Amazon contains an estimated 150 billion to 200 billion tons of carbon, which helps stabilize global temperatures. Furthermore, it holds about 20% of the world's liquid freshwater and plays a vital role in regulating water cycles by creating clouds that influence weather patterns globally. However, this system is under severe pressure; approximately 17% of the total forest in the biome has been deforested, while one-third of what remains has been degraded by extreme drought and human activity.

The consequences of these losses are systemic. Deforestation releases significant carbon into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming and creating a feedback loop of longer dry seasons and reduced precipitation. This makes the remaining forest increasingly vulnerable to fires. Conservation efforts now focus on protecting key refuges for iconic wildlife like jaguars, harpy eagles, and pink river dolphins, while also preserving plants that may hold the keys to modern medicine.

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