Question

Amazon forests are known as the “Lungs of the World”. Give a reason.

Answer 1

• They absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, helping reduce greenhouse gases.
• They produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, contributing to atmospheric O₂.
• Their enormous area and dense tree biomass act as one of the world’s largest carbon sinks, storing carbon in vegetation and soil.
• The rainforest’s multilayered vegetation (emergent layer, canopy, understorey, forest floor) supports very high primary productivity and continuous gas exchange.
• For these reasons, the Amazon forests are commonly called the “Lungs of the World.”