Question

Explain why protecting surviving rainforests from deforestation is important to fighting cancer.

Answer 1

Some 120 prescription drugs sold worldwide today are derived directly from rainforest plants. And according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, more than two-thirds of all medicines found to have cancer-fighting properties come from rainforest plants. Examples abound. Ingredients obtained and synthesized from a now-extinct periwinkle plant found only in Madagascar (until deforestation wiped it out) have increased the chances of survival for children with leukemia from 20 percent to 80 percent.

Answer 2

Rainforests have many species useful to pharmecuetical purposes, such as curing diseases and illnesses. Current rainforests could still potentially have the cure, or a preventitive, to cancer. Already many resources from the rainforests are used in cancer fighting products. These forests can help by providing resources to continue the research.