But their survival is under threat. Why the forests are worth protecting Supporting biodiversity. It is estimated that ancient forests are home to up to 90 per cent of the world's land-based species, particularly plant and animal species from orchids to owls, from beetles to bears, and many yet unknown to science. One thing is clear though, these species would simply not survive the ongoing plunder of their ancient forest habitat. A stable climate.
Ancient forests play a critical role in the world's climate.
When destroyed, forests release very high amounts of carbon. This carbon heats up the earth's atmosphere which accelerates harmful climate change. Latest figures reveal that the current rate of rainforest destruction is contributing over 20 per cent of global carbon emissions. The forest fires in Indonesia in 1997-98 emitted as much carbon into the atmosphere as all the coal, oil and gas burned the same year in the whole of Western Europe. Once again the principal contributing factor to these fires was the logging industry.