We need rainforests to help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and rainforests need… elephants? Turns out that the critically endangered African Forest Elephant plays a key role in the survival of the African rainforests.
Living in the West Africa and Congo basin, which are the second largest rainforests in the world, these elephants help to sequester carbon. They prefer to munch on the faster growing, less carbon dense trees which gives the slower growing, higher carbon dense trees more resources to grow.
Through their love of fruit, the forest elephants help to disperse seeds of the fruit trees which increases the diversity of the forest.
Protecting these elephants can help protect the African rainforests and in turn, the environment.