The Equatorial forests of the Amazon basin is generally referred to as the

The Equatorial forests of the Amazon basin are generally referred to as the "selvas." The term "selvas" is Spanish for "jungles" or "forests," and it is used to describe the dense tropical rainforests that cover much of the Amazon basin. These forests are characterized by their high levels of biodiversity, with millions of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. The Amazon rainforest is also known as the "lungs of the earth" because it produces approximately 20% of the world's oxygen. The Amazon basin spans nine countries in South America, with the largest portion in Brazil.