Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon produces between 16% and 20% of the planet's freshwater, contains 25% of terrestrial biodiversity, more fish species than any other river system, 6,000 animal species, and at least 40,000 plant species. However, the biome is disappearing. The most visible symptom is the rapid deforestation mainly caused by the expansion of agricultural frontiers in southeastern Brazil. However, the diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are being affected in all countries sharing the biome. The intensification of climate change, in turn, contributes to the cumulative loss of forests, and a reduction in resilience would alter the hydrological cycle, causing irreversible changes in the functioning of the Amazon.