MMA launches the International Year of Forests in Brazil

The Minister of the Environment, Izabella Teixeira, launches today (March 22) the International Year of Forests in Brazil. The ceremony will be held at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens, at 7pm.

The International Year aims to raise awareness in society about the importance of preserving forests for a sustainable life on Earth. The date was set by the United Nations.

Brazil is the country with the largest area of tropical forests in the world. The Amazon accounts for about 26% of the world's remaining tropical forests. Some of the world's richest biomes are found in Brazil, which holds more than 20% of the total number of species on the planet.