There is a constant war that is being fought in the rainforests of South America. The death toll is one that far surpasses any other war in history. Vietnam and World War II had minimal loss of life compared to this never ending battle. It is predicted that by the year 2020, the casualties will reach 150 per day. This total does not ever include the loss of human life due to the lack of oxygen and the unsuitable living conditions. This horrible scenario would be the result of mankind's failure to cooperate and live in the destruction of the rainforests will mean the destruction of mankind.
The rainforest plays a very important role in the lives of humans. A lot of people have no clue of how important it is. As a matter of fact, because of the rainforests, many people have lived. One-fourth of existing medicines are derived from tropical plants whose homes are in the rainforests of South America . For every acre that is lost in the burning season, there is one acre less that we have for possible life saving medicines. About seventy percent of plants used in anti-cancer drugs come from the rain forest. We are slowly destroying ourselves and the environment. Whether we realize it or not, the world could quickly come to an ecological halt. Every day 144,000 acres of the rainforests are cut down, slashed and or put up in flames. .
It is very devastating to hear of the destruction the rainforests face every day and over the years. In 1974, Brazil started a forest fire of 20.6 million square feet (3,900 square miles). The fire ragged out of control and was later marked the largest forest fire in Brazilian history. This 1974 fire is now considered small to others in the recent years. On average the burning season lasts up to four months out of the whole year. During this period of time, it is not uncommon for the majority of South America to be covered in a thick blanket of smoke. The bulk of these fires, when combined, are equivalent to the great inferno of 1988 at Yellow Stone National Park.
