The Amazon rainforest has been burning for weeks now in Brazil, Venezuela and Bolivia.

The Amazon is known as the “lungs of the world” and is home to about three million species of plants and animals. What can we do to help?

Spread the word about what is happening, and how we can all help. This is impacting all of us, let’s make sure everyone is aware!

Plant trees: you can sponsor a tree, use Ecosia browser (they plant trees with the revenue they generate), buy products from companies that offer to plant trees for every sale they make.

Avoid palm oil: it is used to manufacture a lot of products that we use (among many others lipstick, pizza dough, instant noodles, shampoo, detergent, margarine, chocolate, cookies, soap, packaged bread, ice cream…) The high demand for palm oil is a cause for deforestation in the rainforest.

Vote: politics matter. It is important to make your voice heard. In Brazil, president Bolsonaro has adopted measures against the Amazon and the environment. But you don’t need to live there to have an impact. For example, France has threatened to veto a large trade deal between the EU and South America unless more was done to tackle the fires. You can also sign a petition from Greenpeace.

Eat less meat: fires are highly suspected to have been deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for settlement and cattle ranching. Remember the meat industry is one of the most polluting in the world, and by reducing the amount of meat we eat we can help reduce deforestation.

Donate: there a some organizations who fight to protect the rainforest. Consider supporting the @rainforestactionnetwork , @rainforesttrust , @rainforestalliance , @wwf , @earthalliance , @amazonwatch , or @amazonconservation .