Protected areas in the Amazon rainforest absorb thousands of tonnes of air pollution each year. This saves HK$15 billion annually in healthcare costs for treating respiratory diseases, according to a study published last week.
The study looked at the health impacts of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon. The fires release huge amounts of particles into the atmosphere. These particles of air pollution can travel hundreds of kilometres, damaging the air quality in distant cities.
By protecting their lands against such fires, and instead saving pollution-absorbing trees, the Amazon's indigenous people help prevent thousands of cases of deadly diseases every year.
