The cataclysmic destruction of the Amazon rainforest feels like a world away.
But for the roughly 20 million indigenous people who call it home, deforestation, mining, and drought threaten their very way of life.
These photos illuminate the natural splendor of the Amazon — and reveal what's at stake.
The Amazon rainforest is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
It covers roughly 40% of South America, and contains more than one billion acres of dense forests.
Source: World Wildlife Fund
The Amazon's rich vegetation produces some 20% of oxygen in the world, giving the forest the nickname "lungs of the planet."
Source: National Geographic
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