Brazil contains the majority of the Amazon rainforest.
The Amazon rainforest covers much of the Amazon Basin in South America and extends across several countries. Brazil contains roughly 60 percent of the forest, with major additional areas in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The exact area varies by scientific definition of the Amazon biome.
The forest is centred on the Amazon River and its vast network of tributaries. It contains extraordinary biodiversity, including millions of insect species and thousands of plant and vertebrate species. Indigenous peoples have lived throughout the region for thousands of years, using detailed environmental knowledge and diverse languages.
Deforestation has been driven by activities including cattle ranching, agriculture, logging, mining, and infrastructure construction. Brazil’s Amazon region therefore plays a major role in global discussions about biodiversity, carbon storage, Indigenous rights, and climate change.