10 Most Threatened Forests In The World (PHOTOS)

The UN has deemed 2011 the International Year of Forests. While the world embraces these natural wonders of the earth, they are disappearing before our eyes.

Conservation International (CI) is working to increase protection of these forests by raising awareness of their importance in our world -- not just their intrinsic worth, but also our human dependence on these forests for climate stabilization and economic development. 80% of the world's land biodiversity rests in the forests that cover just 30% of the world's surface.

The nonprofit organization has highlighted the ten forests that are most at-risk in the world today. These forests have all lost 90% or more of their original habitat, and yet each forest is home to over 1500 plant species found nowhere else in the world. Combined, the ten most threatened forests store over 25 gigatons of carbon, while deforestation contributes to 15% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

As CI's Olivier Langrand warns, "Forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate to give room to pastures, agricultural land, mineral exploitation and sprawling urban areas, but by doing so we are destroying our own capacity to survive."

The theme of the U.S. campaign for the International Year of Forests is "Celebrate Forests. Celebrate Life." According to the U.S. Forest Service, millions of Americans have access to clean drinking water and cleaner air thanks to forests. Human livelihood and forest survival go hand in hand. It's time to start recognizing the connection.

All captions and photos courtesy of Conservation International:

1. Indo-Burma

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The rivers and floodplain wetlands of this hotspot are tremendously important for the local people and the conservation of species, including some of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. Aquatic ecosystems are under intense pressure in many areas of this hotspot. Only 5% of the original habitat of this hotspot remains.

1. Indo-Burma

The rivers and floodplain wetlands of this hotspot are tremendously important for the local people and the conservation of species, including some of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. Aquatic ecosystems are under intense pressure in many areas of this hotspot. Only 5% of the original habitat of this hotspot remains.

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1. Indo-Burma

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Comments

[Michael Chadd]

09:48 AM on 02/10/2011

The botanicals growing in the Amazon have properties that can supply us with the anti oxidant and nutritional immune system support the human body needs. There are extremely effective and beneficial nutritional supplements available that are whole foods formulated, dried, in capsules, in beverages and other forms from the Amazon’s edible plants, trees and fruits.
Even though most of us don’t live anywhere near the Amazon, what happens in the Amazon is directly in our interest. How the amazon is managed is of concern to all of our well being. Learn more about Amazon rainforest plants at www.amazonrainforestplants.com

[redapes]

02:46 PM on 02/09/2011

Orangutans are critically endangered in the wild because of rapid deforestation and the expansion of palm oil plantations in Borneo & Sumatra. If nothing is done to protect these majestic creatures, they could be extinct in just a few years. Visit the Orangutan Outreach website to learn more and make a difference!

http://redapes.org
Reach out and save the orangutans!
Adopt an orangutan today!

[MrJoyboy]

11:21 AM on 02/09/2011

Too many people
Too many people
Too many people

[mggwa]

09:18 PM on 02/08/2011

The photo of a Phillippine Monkey Eating Eagle, which I think is also known as a Harpy, is absolutely incredible. They are deep forest birds, huge, and difficult to photograph so I salute whoever made this one.

[Rodrigo Garcia Rocha]

12:35 PM on 02/09/2011

No the Harpy Eagle is a different eagle that lives in central and south america.

[z23]

08:33 PM on 02/08/2011

think of how much our bodies put back into the earth as we breakdown. now just think of how many trees man cuts down and how many years it takes for a tree to grow. we clearly are damaging earth an a catostrophic scale but it seems too late.

[mggwa]

09:20 PM on 02/08/2011

"now just think of how many trees man cuts down"

I would be happy to do that if you would tell me the number. Then I will think on it.

I have also thought on how long it takes a tree to grow. Answer: continually. I think they do not stop growing.

[z23]

11:52 PM on 02/09/2011

have you heard of extinction??? what if people cut them all down. guess what they stop growing. mggwa you probably think the earth is just fine and dandy and that man's action has no consequence. its called climate change get used to it becuase now its just about irreversable.

[Giraffesarmyfriends]

07:09 PM on 02/08/2011

Some forests have to go extinct to make way for new landscape. its evolution baby. You can not stop Darwinism baby.

[Matthew Harrold]

08:11 PM on 02/08/2011

Evolution is natural selection, not man made deforestation. So unless you expect the trees to grow arms, legs and have the ability to fire automatic weapons to defend themselves with, I'd probably re-frame your point.

The difference is evolution hasn't got an intelligence behind it to guide it. We know exactly what we're doing, and why we're doing it. We're intelligent enough to know the end results will slowly be a planet unable to support our civilizations, and a mass extinction event not seen the age of the dinosaurs.

In the end the only thing that's facing Darwinism is our own intelligence, coupled with our inability to control our base impulses.

[Giraffesarmyfriends]

08:40 PM on 02/08/2011

"Evolution is natural selection, not man made deforestat ion."

Man is part of nature. This is a false dichotomy. When a cow eats grass is that unnatural?

"coupled with our inability to control our base impulses."

As opposed to animals that can? All living populations grow exponentially until they reach their environments carrying capacity. Are we supposed to be different? Are we special? Its nature baby, deal with it.

[z23]

08:53 PM on 02/08/2011

what matthew said!!!!! Humans are only consumers and we contribute an insiginficant portion back to the earth.

[Matthew Harrold]

04:02 PM on 02/08/2011

New Caledonia is a subject close to my heart, seeming I keep a New Caledonian Crested Gecko, and it's lost a lot of it's primary rain forest to logging and farming. Not to mention the foreign invasive species like the fire ants, which are devastating the local wildlife. Still I'm not sure how long it'll be before the geckos, and many species like them, end up solely being raised in captivity.

It's a sad, sad state of affairs.

[z23]

12:07 AM on 02/10/2011

matthew i wish i could someday be as smart and quick witted as you are.

[Matthew Harrold]

12:42 AM on 02/10/2011

I've been trying to think of how to respond to this without seeming big headed, arrogant or rejecting the compliment. Instead I shall say thank you and try not to blush.

[marcosweb]

03:30 PM on 02/08/2011

plant a tree in the rainforest for free:
http://www.plant10000trees.com

[RTFirefli]

03:18 PM on 02/08/2011

don't forget Forrest Gump, simpleton's are often unfairly picked on.

[bobbythompson3333]

02:56 PM on 02/08/2011

I heard they all taste like chicken ;)

[adamben]

02:54 PM on 02/08/2011

nice comment from red panda (i think that's what it is) #2.

[wowme]

02:50 PM on 02/08/2011

You know human beings are not responsible enough when it comes to the environment, whether you're on left or right, everyone should care about our only livable planet

[Rodrigo Garcia Rocha]

01:19 PM on 02/08/2011

I read the Atlantic forest in Brazil has the highest biodiversity per hectare of any forest. It would be a great loss if it disappeared.

[Cindy Jeffers]

01:20 PM on 02/08/2011

a great loss indeed

[mggwa]

09:26 PM on 02/08/2011

"It would be a great loss if it disappeare­d. "

While I agree with you emotionally; would you actually, truly, NOTICE if the Atlantic forest in Brazil vanished? Unless you live there, probably not. And if you don't notice, then how much of a loss can it actually be?

I'll have to trust you on the Atlantic Forest thing as I've never heard of it so maybe it isn't all that big a deal anyway.

[Rodrigo Garcia Rocha]

01:53 PM on 02/09/2011

Well it's not just the beauty that these places have, its also the amount of species that these places hold. Countless plants and microorganisms which we have not even discovered yet (let alone studied) . These forests can be seen like pharmaceutical archives that could hold the cures for many illnesses.
I believe that the true value of these places is something that one day will be greatly understood and appreciated and whatever remains of these places will be protected like the true treasures they are.

[Coinyer101]

01:16 PM on 02/08/2011

kewl pics.

[Dan Stewart]

12:47 PM on 02/08/2011

Where are the Atlantic forests?

[marcosweb]

03:31 PM on 02/08/2011

central america