Worst fires in two decades
The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest rainforest, spanning across 9 South American countries. It is witnessing the worst wildfires since 2005.
Largest ecosystem
It is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth and is home to 3 million species of animals, birds and insects, and 2,500 tree species.
Forest ablaze
Until August 2024, more than 13.4 million acres of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest had been burned, an area bigger than Denmark.
Image: instagram/junglekeepers
Wildfire hotspots
Data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research shows there were over 65,000 fire hotspots by the end of August 2024, with 38,000 reported in August alone.
Source: Rainforest Foundation US
Main causes
Climate change, drought, deforestation, slash-and-burn farming and illegal land grabbing are some of the reasons for the wildfires in the Amazon.
Source: Rainforest Foundation US
Carbon sinks
Areas of the Amazon rainforest managed by the indigenous communities are net carbon sinks. Between 2001-2021, they were responsible for removing 340 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
Image: instagram/junglekeepers
Impact
The current wildfires have billowed toxic clouds of smoke across an area of 10 million km² in South America, an area larger than the United States.
Source: Live Science report
Cost to human life
Exposure to wildfire smoke is not only responsible for causing respiratory issues but also leads to premature deaths, causing 12,000 deaths across South America.
Source: Times of India
Economic cost
Ecologists estimate the economic losses from the forest fires to be anywhere between $957 billion and $3.5 trillion over the next 30 years.
Source: Business Insider report
Tipping point
As climate change accelerates, the Amazon rainforest is nearing its “tipping point”, a state where a small disturbance can cause an abrupt shift in the state of the ecosystem.
Call to action
As temperatures rise and wildfires become more frequent, the Amazon rainforest faces increasing risks. It’s crucial for people around the world to work together before we lose one of our largest ecosystems.
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