Ancient Forests

The world's ancient forests are truly diverse. They include boreal, temperate and tropical forests; coniferous and broad leaf forests; rainforests, dry forests and mangroves. Together, they maintain environmental systems that are essential for life on Earth.

They influence weather by controlling rainfall and evaporation of water from the soil. They help to stabilise the world's climate by storing large amounts of carbon that would otherwise contribute to global warming.

The forests are home to millions of forest people who depend on them for their survival, both physically and spiritually. These forests also house around two-thirds of the world's terrestrial species of plants and animals. That's hundreds of thousands of different plants and animals, and literally millions of insects, whose futures depend on the ancient forests.

These magnificent ancient forests are in crisis.

More than 87 human cultures have been lost in Brazil alone. In the next 10 to 20 years, the world looks set to lose thousands of species of plants and animals. We have to act to save them before it's too late.

Find out more about the world's ancient forests.