Celebrating our Coral Reefs on Land

Since Plantish was built on saving our oceans, the team and I are always dedicated to learning as much as we can about not just the marine ecosystem, but the biodiversity of our planet and its role in climate change mitigation. 

Today on June 22nd, ‘World Rainforest Day’, we’d like to recognize the paramount role that the rainforest plays for our planet and human wellbeing, and to motivate a global movement towards protection and restoration.

Although rainforests only cover 3% of the Earth’s land surface, these green powerhouses have a very important and practical role in our overall ecosystem:

1. Biodiversity

Around 50% of all terrestrial biodiversity is located in the world’s rainforests. Similarly to the phenomenon with coral reefs, as a result of this incredible biodiversity, it is thought that we might be able to discover a whole spectrum of new medicines and therapies within the rainforest.

2. Climate change mitigation 

Rainforests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to stabilize the climate. In addition, the forests contribute to the cycle of rainfall (reducing drought), act as water filters and even protect local communities from climate-driven extreme weather events.

3. Culture and tradition

Rainforests are considered basins of Indigenous knowledge and tradition. For example, there are as many as 350 Indigenous and ethnic groups living in the Amazon!  In protecting our planet and restoring a sustainable balance, the wisdom of these local rainforest communities will be invaluable 

Why are rainforests threatened?

Unfortunately, human activity is the leading driver of rainforest destruction. Even worse, over 60% of the world’s rainforests have been destroyed since pre-industrial times. There are a whole range of causes behind deforestation including agriculture, the wood industry, palm oil industry, road construction and extraction of minerals.  

What can we do?

At Plantish we are committed to sourcing our ingredients responsibly, and to using ingredients that are sustainably grown and do threaten the health of our ecosystem. 

While we can appreciate the diverse range of products afforded to us by the rainforests, some of these products are directly linked to deforestation and forest degradation. I’d encourage everyone to do some research on which products are most strongly linked so you can try to eliminate deforestation from your diet and choose more sustainable options for both use and consumption.