World Rainforest Day. Can you do something to save them?

June 22 marks World Rainforest Day – an opportunity to take another look at ecosystems that shelter thousands of species and yet still fall victim to the axe and fire. According to data from the World Resources Institute, in 2024, a portion of forest the size of 18 football fields disappeared from the map every minute. Let’s take a closer look at where the largest swaths of tropical greenery stretch today — and what we actually lose when they vanish.

The beautiful, burning Amazon

The largest rainforest on Earth is, of course, the Amazon. Covering more than 6 million square kilometers, it is home to at least 10 percent of all known plant species, including many rare and endemic ones like the golden lion tamarin and the bald uakari. This dense, humid, and incredibly fertile forest also plays a key role in shaping the Earth’s climate and provides local communities with food, water, medicinal plants, and sources of income.

Unfortunately, between 2002 and 2019, the Amazon rainforest lost 30 million hectares due to the expansion of agriculture, particularly cattle grazing. But deforestation hasn’t stopped. According to the World Resources Institute, 2024 was a record-breaking year for rainforest loss in the Amazon, with fires accounting for 60 percent of the destruction – mostly started by humans clearing more land for crops and livestock.

The Congo Rainforest – the lungs of the world

The second-largest rainforest in the world is located in the Congo Basin, spanning over 3 million square kilometers, of which at least two-thirds are covered by dense jungle. It is estimated that more than 60 million people directly depend on the natural wealth of this largest African hotspot of biodiversity. It’s also the world’s largest natural carbon sink, with a capacity greater than that of the Amazon. According to the World Bank, the Congo rainforest absorbs 1.5 billion tons of CO₂ every year.

Until 2010, the Congo’s rainforests were relatively underexploited – ironically protected by human struggles: prolonged armed conflicts, poverty, and underdeveloped infrastructure. In recent years, however, with the rapid population growth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deforestation has accelerated. The main drivers are agricultural expansion, firewood collection, and mining development.

Over the last two decades, the Congo’s primary forests have shrunk by 6 million hectares. That’s very bad news for the iconic species of the Congolese jungle: forest elephants, okapis, gorillas, and chimpanzees.

The virgin jungle of New Guinea

New Guinea is the second-largest island in the world (786,000 km²), divided roughly in half between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Around 65 percent of its surface is covered by lush rainforests, home to such fascinating creatures as the long-beaked echidna, tree kangaroo, and the flying fox, also known as the fruit bat. This untouched forest is also inhabited by a stunning mosaic of communities speaking as many as 800 different languages.

Despite extensive deforestation in Indonesia, New Guinea long remained the wild heart of Southeast Asia. However, the past two decades have brought negative changes, mainly due to logging for palm oil plantations and the development of the timber industry – especially for the production of pulp used in popular viscose. The Indonesian government is attempting to counter these trends by investing in sustainable farming practices, but the battle is far from won.

What do rainforests and your shopping basket have in common?

World Rainforest Day may well be a moment to criticize the short-sighted policies and lack of respect for natural resources in developing countries. But it’s also worth looking at the problem from another angle – namely, our everyday consumer choices.

You don’t need to take dramatic action to harm nature. Simply reaching for products that contain ingredients linked to deforestation is enough. For example, palm oil – found in hundreds of food products – has for years contributed to the destruction of tropical ecosystems. The same is true for cocoa, coconuts, or avocados. These foods are trendy and considered healthy, but their production comes at a high environmental cost. So instead of choosing what’s cheapest or looks best on the shelf, it’s worth taking a moment to read the label. Certifications like Rainforest Alliance or Forest Stewardship Council aren’t perfect, but they often represent the lesser evil.