The Amazon forest contains 30 percent of the world s remaining forest. Snyder-Leiby, the director of the Marist greenhouse, said the destruction to the forest will have lasting affects on global warming. Trees store carbon and are essential for removing carbon gasses from the atmosphere. Schlessman, curator of Vassar College s herbarium, also stressed the biodiversity within the rainforest. Over half of all species live in the rainforest.
Brazil ranks first in the world for numbers of species of primate, amphibians and plants.
Third for bird species, and fourth for species of butterflies and reptiles. The Amazon is also home to ancient Indian tribes that have felt the impact of the blaze. The stone-age Yanomami Indian tribe, who make the forest their home, are not used to the smoke and pollution caused by the fire and other destruction. Schlessman, who specializes in plant ecology, said even human culture is being destroyed. Garo Batmanian, head of the World Wildlife Fund in Brazil, said that Brazil s participation has a symbolic significance.