Amazon Rainforest trees are some of the most important of all for planet Earth – and for more reasons than you might have thought.
Known for its incredible biodiversity and exotic animal species, the Amazon has become both an important region for scientific research, as well as for ecotourism deep within the jungle basin. However, while its trees are paid less attention than its wild fauna, they are just as important – if not more so for the many reasons in how they help both humans and our planet.
In this guide we’ll explore everything you need to know about Amazon Rainforest trees, and the importance they serve for helping to both regulate our planet and how they help humans advance in medicinal and dietary areas. As well as looking at some of the most striking and important tree species, we’ll also answer your most frequently asked questions in our FAQ section.
The Importance Of Amazon Rainforest Trees For Our Planet
Covering a massive size of 5.5 million square kilometres (which is almost double the size of India), the Amazon Rainforest is home to roughly 390 billion trees. That’s almost 48 trees for every one person on the planet – and that’s just within this region of South America alone!
Serving as a macro regulator of carbon emissions, the trees of the Amazon Rainforest help to provide new oxygen and keep our circulation systems operating at their most healthy levels, while storing carbon emissions in their wood and soils. This is more important now than ever as humans continue to develop at extraordinary rates and produce more carbon emissions – which is one of the main reasons why the Amazon is so important.
It’s thought that at this current moment, around 150-200 billion metric tonnes of carbon are currently stored within the entire Amazon Basin. For perspective on just how much that is – if this was released all at once into our atmosphere, it would be the same as what humans would release in 140 years of all greenhouse gases from human activities.
5 Incredible Amazon Rainforest Trees Species
The Cacao Tree
Arguably the most important tree for those with a sweet-tooth, the Cacao Tree is harvested for its Cacao – which is then turned into a variety of chocolate products ranging from dark chocolate to berry-infused types (which depends on the fruit plants that grew close to the tree). It’s believed that indigenous cultures consumed Cacao for dietary and spiritual purposes from these trees for centuries before it gained worldwide attention.
The Angelim Vermelho Tree
The tallest tree in the entire Amazon Rainforest region of South America – the Angelim Vermelho often dwarfs other trees as it shoots above the usual canopy line. They often grow between 50-60 meters in height (the tallest recorded was 88.5 meters), and are also known for having quite an unsavoury interior odor – which helps them to stay protected from most wood-boring bugs and insects.
The Shihuahuaco Tree
This iconic Amazonian tree is often known as “The Tree of the Ancestors”, given they commonly live for over a thousand years. Known for their ultra-dense hardwood, they are found all over the Amazon in countries like Peru, Brazil, Colombia and Bolivia – and are one of the most important trees of the region given they store massive amounts of carbon emissions within their thick trunks.
The Camu Camu Tree
One of the most popular jungle fruits in countries like Peru and Ecuador, the Camu Camu is a prized and highly nutritional fruit for both humans and animals such as the different types of Monkeys found in this jungle. This bushy tree grows close to rivers and Amazon tributaries, and often grows completely submerged underwater. Camu Camu’s are reported to have the highest concentration of Vitamin C of any fruit on the planet – boasting over 60 times of that which is found in an Orange!
The Pink Poui Tree
Like many other Amazon trees that are famous for their medicinal properties, the Pink Poui is also just as useful for numerous reasons. Native groups regularly use the bark for treating a range of bacterial infections and reducing inflammation in patients, while the tree itself is known for its vibrant and bursting pinks and purples that easily set it apart from the rest of the trees within the canopy.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Amazon Rainforest Trees
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about Amazon Rainforest trees, as well as anything else you need to know.
What Kind Of Trees Are In The Amazon Rainforest?
There are over 16,000 different types of Amazon Rainforest trees, however some of these are more iconic and recognisable than others. This includes the Cacao tree which is used to create chocolate, the Shihuahuaco tree which lives past 1000 years and stores lots of carbon reserves, as well as the Sandbox Tree which explodes its seed pods with such force that they get flung over as far as 150 feet away from their original spot.
What Is The Largest Tree In The Amazon Forest?
The largest species of Amazon Rainforest tree are the Angelim Vermelhos, which are concentrated mostly within the northern and remote regions of Pará and Amapá in Brazil. Average heights are usually between 50-60 meters, however the largest ever discovered was a whopping 88.5 meters with a base circumference of 10 meters – which is roughly the height of a 25-story building!
What Plants Are Only Found In The Amazon?
It’s estimated that of the 80,000 plant species found in the Amazon, between 10,000-15,000 are native just to this rainforest region. Given the Amazon is massive and varies wildly by area, many unique plants can be found here such as the Giant Water Lily which can grow up to 3 meters in length, the Monkey Brush Vine which produces striking red and yellow flowers, as well as the fruit-bearing Açai Palm.
Overview Of The Incredible Amazon Rainforest Trees
And that’s all for this guide on the vitally important and strikingly wonderful Amazon Rainforest trees.
With over 16,000 tree species and over 80,000 plant species, the Amazon Jungle is one of the most biodiverse areas for flora on planet Earth. Many of these plants are endemic just to this region and serve important functions such as the Shihuahuaco tree which stores massive amounts of carbon – while the Monkey Brush Vine is known for its striking red and yellow flowers that spread across forests and canopy.
Want to explore the most incredible trees and exotic animals of the Peruvian Amazon? Here at Tronco Tambopata, we take our guests on an exciting adventure through the Tambopata Jungle with Our 3 Day Jungle Expedition – with all meals, rainforest lodges and excursions with experienced private guides all included in your tour.