Amazon Rainforest Day
September 5
About Amazon Rainforest Day
Amazon Rainforest Day takes place every year on 5 September, dedicated to raising awareness of the world’s largest tropical rainforest and the urgent need to protect it. The day highlights the Amazon’s role in regulating the global climate, sustaining extraordinary biodiversity, and supporting the Indigenous peoples who call it home.
What is Amazon Rainforest Day?
Amazon Rainforest Day is an annual observance that focuses global attention on the Amazon biome, which spans nine countries across South America. The day encourages individuals, organisations, governments, and businesses to learn about the forest’s significance and to take practical steps towards its conservation. It is championed by environmental organisations including WWF, alongside conservation groups, Indigenous communities, and educators. The aim is straightforward: to protect a forest that the entire planet depends upon.
When is Amazon Rainforest Day?
Amazon Rainforest Day falls on Saturday, 5 September 2026. The date is fixed and observed on the same day every year. It was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of 5 September 1850, when the Brazilian Province of Amazonas was created, an event that connects the modern observance to the long history of the region.
Why Amazon Rainforest Day Matters
The Amazon is a cornerstone of life on Earth. It covers roughly 6.9 million square kilometres and accounts for nearly half of the planet’s remaining tropical forest. It is home to about 10% of all known species, stores an estimated 150 to 200 billion tonnes of carbon, and helps stabilise rainfall patterns far beyond South America. Yet the forest is under severe pressure. Deforestation across the Amazon basin exceeded 1.7 million hectares in 2024, a 34% rise on the previous year and the fifth highest figure recorded since 2002. Between 2001 and 2020 the forest lost more than 54 million hectares, an area roughly the size of France. Amazon Rainforest Day exists to confront these losses and to remind the world what is at stake.
How to Get Involved in Amazon Rainforest Day
There are many meaningful ways to mark the day, whether you act alone or with your community.
- Learn and share the facts – Read about the Amazon’s biodiversity and the threats it faces, then share what you discover with friends and on social media to widen the conversation.
- Support conservation charities – Donate to or volunteer with organisations such as WWF, Rainforest Foundation, or Amazon Conservation, which fund frontline protection and Indigenous land rights.
- Reduce demand for forest-clearing products – Check labels for sustainably sourced beef, soy, palm oil, and timber, since agriculture and logging drive much of the deforestation.
- Choose certified products – Look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Rainforest Alliance certifications when buying wood, paper, coffee, and chocolate.
- Amplify Indigenous voices – Around one million Indigenous people live in the Amazon and are its most effective guardians. Follow and support Indigenous-led campaigns.
- Plant trees or fund reforestation – Contribute to verified reforestation projects that restore degraded land within and around the basin.
- Lobby for stronger policy – Write to elected representatives urging support for anti-deforestation legislation and international forest protection agreements.
- Educate the next generation – Teachers and parents can use the day to introduce children to rainforest ecology and why protecting it matters for everyone.
History of Amazon Rainforest Day
Amazon Rainforest Day has its roots in Brazil, where 5 September has long been recognised as Amazonia Day. The date commemorates 5 September 1850, when Emperor Dom Pedro II signed the decree that created the Province of Amazonas, the forerunner of the present-day Brazilian state of the same name. The anniversary became a moment to celebrate the region’s identity and its natural heritage.
The observance was formalised in Brazilian law through federal legislation passed in 2007, with the day marked nationally from 2008 onwards. Over time the focus shifted from a regional commemoration towards an international call to protect the forest, as scientists and campaigners drew attention to the Amazon’s global importance for climate stability and biodiversity.
Today Amazon Rainforest Day is recognised well beyond Brazil’s borders. Conservation organisations, schools, and individuals around the world use it to push for stronger protection, sustainable land use, and respect for the rights of the Indigenous communities who have stewarded the forest for millennia. If you care about the planet’s wild places, you may also wish to mark World Rainforest Day in June, which celebrates rainforests across the globe.
Noteworthy Facts About the Amazon Rainforest
- The Amazon produces a significant share of the oxygen generated by the world’s forests and is often called the “lungs of the planet”, though much of its oxygen is reabsorbed within the ecosystem.
- The forest is home to about three million species of plants and animals, including roughly 9% of the world’s mammals and 14% of its birds.
- The Amazon River discharges more water than the next seven largest rivers combined, shaping rainfall across South America.
- Around one million Indigenous people from hundreds of distinct groups live within the Amazon basin.
- Scientists warn that if deforestation continues unchecked, parts of the Amazon could shift from rainforest to dry savannah, releasing vast amounts of stored carbon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Amazon Rainforest Day?
Amazon Rainforest Day is an annual observance held on 5 September to raise awareness of the Amazon rainforest, its biodiversity, and the need to protect it from deforestation and climate change.
When is Amazon Rainforest Day in 2026?
Amazon Rainforest Day falls on Saturday, 5 September 2026. The date is fixed and is observed on the same day every year.
Why was 5 September chosen?
The date marks the anniversary of 5 September 1850, when the Brazilian Province of Amazonas was created. It has been observed as Amazonia Day in Brazil and was formalised in Brazilian law in 2007.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Amazon Rainforest Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #AmazonRainforestDay and #AmazonRainforestDay2026 on social media. The more people who understand what the Amazon does for the planet, the greater the pressure to protect it.
Related Awareness Days
- World Rainforest Day – Celebrated on 22 June, this day champions rainforests around the world and the wildlife they shelter.
- International Jaguar Day – Marks the plight of the jaguar, an iconic Amazon predator whose survival depends on intact forest.
- World Biodiversity Day – Highlights the importance of protecting the variety of life on Earth, of which the Amazon is a vital stronghold.
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