Forests are like Earth’s lungs because they are vital for the planet’s health. They cover around 31% of the land, which is a big part. The United Nations stated that due to climate change and human interference, the forests have fallen under endangered status. Forests are like nature’s neighbourhoods, full of trees, animals and plants that cover an area of 2.2 million sq. miles. In this article, we will get to know about the largest forests in the world.
Largest Forests in the World
Amazon Rainforest holds the title of World’s largest forest mainly located in South America and covers an area of about 5,500,000 sq. km.
Here is the list of Top-10 Biggest Forests in the World:
| S. No. | Name | Area (in sq. km) | Location |
| 1. | Amazon Rainforest | 5,500,000 | Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Suriname, Venezuela |
| 2. | Congo Rainforest | 2,000,000 | Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon |
| 3. | Valdivian Temperate Forest | 248,100 | West coast of Southern America, in Chile and Argentina |
| 4. | Taiga/ Boreal Forest | 17million | Scandinavia, Canada and Russia |
| 5. | Tropical Andes | 1.8 million | South America |
| 6. | Sundarbans | 10,000 | Bangladesh |
| 7. | Siberian Taiga | 13 million | Russia |
| 8. | Atlantic Forest | 1.5 million | Brazil |
| 9. | Daintree Rainforest | 1,200 | Australia |
| 10. | Great Bear Rainforest | 64,000 | British Columbia, Canada |
1. Largest Forest in the World: Amazon Rainforest
Area: 5,500,000 sq. km (2,100,000 sq. mi)
The Amazon Rainforest is the world’s biggest forest and most renowned tropical rainforests, spans 628 million hectares of tree cover, including 526 million hectares of primary forest. It holds over 40,000 plant species, 3000 fish, 1,300 bird species and more. The Amazon River plays a vital role in providing rainfall to the forest. It spans across nine countries and includes many indigenous territories. The majority of the forest is in Brazil, followed by Peru, Colombia and other. Over 30 million people, including the indigenous groups, live there, but large-scale deforestation poses problems.
2. Second Largest Forest in the World: The Congo Rainforest
Area: 2,000,000 sq. km (1,400,000 sq. mi)
The Congo Rainforest, sprawling across the Congo River basin and its tributaries, is the second largest forest in the world which covers over 500 million acres across six countries including Cameroon, Gabon, Republic Congo of the Congo and more. It shelters over 10,000 plant and animal species, including the endangered species of western lowland gorilla. The rainforest’s conversation is threatened by the activities like logging, mining and deforestation, but their unique biodiversity remains a vital focus for preservation efforts.
3. Third largest forest in the World: Valdivian Rainforest
Area: 248,100 (95,800 sq. mi)
The Valdivian temperate forests stretches across 95,800 sq. mi in South America. These forests are special because they have 90% of species that are found only there. These forests are found in Chile and Argentina and have a cool climate. They are famous for having more animal-assisted pollination that any other cool forest in the world. They are rich in plants like bamboos and ferns, with evergreen trees and some that lose their leaves.
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