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South American Indians have a legend that says trees hold up the sky and if they are cut down there will be a catastrophe. In that modern world the myths and legends seems to be ridiculous but they are closer to reality than we would think it. The rainforests are in danger for which mostly the people are responsible. Rainforests cover 7% of the Earth's surface which is a significant territory containing 50-90% of all plant and animal species. Forest fire is regarded by many people as the cause of the most terrible damages but the truth is that it is just a little part of the damages caused by man.

The first and most important thing that we obtain from the rainforests is oxygen and without the photosynthesis of the plants the living creatures of the Earth could get much less of it. In addition rainforests check and hold back the greenhouse effect. Still the clearing of the forests go on year by year. Species from the rainforests earn millions of pounds a year in world trade. Wickerwork furniture and other famous products are worth billions of pounds. These facts show that although we need wood still the most important thing that dominates is money.

Large parts of the rainforests are wasted by the building of new roads and highways, which we need, but we tend to forget that still undiscovered animal and plant species disappear by that process not to mention the indigenous people for whom the forests provide food and shelter as well. Most of the countries which possess rainforests are not on the advanced stage of development to solve the organized protection of them though the replantation of trees could reduce the damages. Also large parts of the forests are fallen because of the need for agricultural lands although the soil of the rainforests is poor in humus and it can not provide fertile land more than two or three years.

One of the world's Cancer Institutes in America identified more than 2000 tropical rainforest plants with the potential of fighting against cancer. Four children out of every five in 1960 who got leukemia died. Now four out of every five survive owing to these plants. One of them is an insignificant-looking plant called rosy periwinkle which tribal healers also used as a medicine. This is just one of the rainforest plants which can cure disease. The interesting thing about it is the fact that these kind of plants were used by tribes, shamans and it took years for the modern scientists to discover their significance. We use products from the rainforests every day such as rubber, of which indigenous people used to make toys for their children, and of course tea and coffee as well. Scientists discovered a plant which they say produces a substence 300 times sweeter than sugar moreover it is calorie-free.

The rainforests are huge libraries full of knowledge waiting for exploitation. Yes, the South American Indians might be right there will be a catastrophe if people keep destroying what gives life to them.