10 largest rainforests in the world 

Rainforests are among the most important natural systems on the planet. They act as the Earth’s green lungs by absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, stabilising global temperatures and supporting more than half of all plant and animal species in the world.

Sadly, many rainforests are shrinking as a result of logging, mining, agriculture and rapid development.  Against the continuous depletion of Nigeria’s original forest cover, ecology and environment experts  have continued to warn against the imminent climate crisis if the massive deforestation activities going on in the country.

In this article, Tribune Online explores the 10 largest rainforests in the world 

1. Amazon Rainforest — South America

The world’s largest rainforest, covering about 6.7 million km², spans Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and several other countries. It contains an estimated 10% of all known species, including jaguars and pink dolphins. It’s also one of the planet’s biggest carbon sinks.

2. Congo Basin Rainforest — Central Africa

The Congo Basin is so huge that it is known as the ‘Lungs of Africa’, and is split over nine countries in the centre of the continent.

The basin has two main rainy seasons, and this rainfall helps to support the ecosystem. Extending across 1.6 million km², the Congo Basin is the second-largest rainforest on Earth. It stores massive amounts of carbon and is home to gorillas, bonobos, and the okapi.

3. New Guinea Rainforest — Indonesia & Papua New Guinea

Covering around 786,000 km², this rainforest is one of the richest  in biodiversity. Species like tree kangaroos and many undiscovered plants live here.

4. Borneo Lowland Rainforests — Southeast Asia

Across 428,438 km², Borneo’s rainforests host thousands of orchids, hornbills, slow lorises, and the iconic orangutan.

The Borneo Lowland rainforest is home to well over 10,000 species of plants, including over 2,000 types of orchids. 

5.Valdivian Temperate Rainforest in Chile and Argentina

Rainforests in Chile and Argentina stretch across about  248,100 km².  This is not a tropical jungle but a cooler, temperate rainforest full of ferns, evergreen trees, and animals like the pudú (a tiny deer) and the Kodkod wildcat.  Logging and replacing native trees with fast-growing pines is a big conservation issue here. 

6. Eastern AustraliaTemperate Rainforests 

The rainforests cover about 222,100 km².  These forests are rich in mosses, tree ferns, and ancient trees, and they play a key role in Australia’s water cycle. Climate change and bushfires are major threats.

7. The Pacific Temperate Rainforest

The Pacific Temperate Rainforest, along the west coast of North America (Alaska, Canada, and the U.S.), covers roughly 60,346 km².  Dominated by giant conifers, this forest also supports diverse undergrowth of mosses and ferns.  It’s relatively well-protected in parts like in Alaska, though logging remains a concern.

8. Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra

On the Indonesian island of Sumatra lies the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra, roughly 25,000 km² in size.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of three national parks, and is home to critically endangered species like Sumatran tigers, orangutans, and rhinoceroses. But deforestation for palm oil is an existential threat.

9. Bosawás Biosphere Reserve 

The Bosawás Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua is about 20,000 km² and makes up around 15% of Nicaragua’s land.  It is remarkably biodiverse, with jaguars, pumas, and many amphibians.

 10. Westland Temperate Rainforest

Westland Temperate Rainforest sits on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island, covering  about 11,880 km².  This rainforest gets about 3,000 mm of rain yearly and shelters birds like the kea and kaka parrot.  While around half the area is protected, climate change and fire risk are growing concerns.