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Amazon
World’s largest tropical rain forest and river basin
One of the Amazon's many rivers, Rio Pinquen meanders through Manu National Park.
© WWF-Canon / André BÄRTSCHI
The Amazon is a region of superlatives. It spans the borders of eight countries and one overseas territory, is the world's largest river basin and the source of one-fifth of all free-flowing fresh water on Earth. Its rain forests are the planet's largest and most luxuriant, and home to - amazingly - one in ten known species on Earth.
In the last decades, scientific research has established a clear link between the health of the Amazon and the integrity of the global environment, but still only a fraction of its biological richness has been revealed. Today, rapid deforestation threatens the Amazon. At current rates, 55 percent of its rain forests could be gone by 2030—a looming disaster not only for the region’s plants and animals, but for the world.
The immensity of the Amazon's challenge, like the scale of its landscape, requires a long-term conservation vision backed by strong scientific expertise. WWF has been at the forefront in protecting the Amazon for more than 40 years. Our approach is succeeding because we engage local communities and partner with governments to identify mutual solutions that can bridge the needs of economic development and conservation.
WWF's vision: Conserve the Amazon through local and national action in priority landscapes and aquatic systems; region-wide efforts in planning, leadership and coordination; and global influence of market forces.
The place. The region’s high levels of rainfall, diverse topography and meandering rivers sustain its amazing variety and abundance of life. The Amazon contains vast stores of carbon—its rain forests are key to stabilizing local and global climate.
The species. Containing nearly 40,000 plant species, the Amazon sustains the world’s richest diversity of birds, freshwater fish and butterflies. One of the world’s last refuges for jaguars, harpy eagles and pink dolphins, its thousands of tree species are home to southern two-toed sloths, pygmy marmosets, saddleback and emperor tamarins and Goeldi’s monkeys.
The people. More than 350 indigenous and ethnic groups have lived in the Amazon for thousands of years, tapping nature for agriculture, clothing and traditional medicines. Today, more than 30 million people live in the region. Although most live in large urban centers, all residents remain dependent on the Amazon’s ecosystem services for food, shelter and livelihoods.
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