They are home to some 50 to 70 percent of all life forms on our planet.
Rainforests are the most productive and most complex ecosystems on Earth.
In1992, less than 200,000 remain. Species Extinction Distinguished scientists estimate an average of 137 species of life forms are driven into extinction every day, or 50,000 each year. The rainforest is the earth's natural laboratory, from where one quarter of today's pharmaceuticals are derived. One seemingly insignificant plant, the rosy periwinkle, gave us medicines which revolutionized the treatment of leukemia in children. As rainforests are being destroyed, at least three species are extinguished every day .