The Amazon rainforest is definitely an important ecosystem as it has 10% of all species in the world and is referred to as the lungs of the planet as it produces 20% of the worlds air. The Amazon is home to 1300 of the worlds birds species, around 80 000 of the worlds plant species and approximately 2.5 million insect species. There are 10 million (give or take a few) species of animals, plants or insects known to man and around half of them can only be found in the Amazon. Did you know over 3000 edible fruits grow in the amazon. Many plants around the world have medicinal qualities. Of the plants known to have anti-cancer properties, 70% of them are found in the rain forests and the amazon is the largest rainforest. Amazon natives use rainforest plants regularly but 90% of the ones they use have not been studied by modern science.