What benefits do people get from the ecosystem?

People benefit greatly from tropical rain forests because they provide:

• Oxygen
• Rain forests are major producers of oxygen because of its large range of vegetation. The oxygen of all rain forests combined makes up 28% of the world's oxygen. 
• Absorption of carbon dioxide
• Rain forests serve as carbon sinks. They remove carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into its solid form. This is especially useful due to environmental concerns; thus rain forests help mitigate global warming. 
• Prevention of soil erosion
• Soil erosion occurs when soils are washed away with the rain into streams and rivers. The trees provide an anchor for the soil to prevent this from happening.
• Plants used in medicines
• "Tropical rain forests are called the “world's largest pharmacy” because of the large amount of natural medicines discovered there. Many of the medicines that humans use come from the rain forests." (25)
• In addition, research shows that there are numerous plants found in the rain forests that are active agains cancer cells. 
• Prevention of natural disasters (flooding, landslides, etc.)
• Since the trees provide an anchor for the soil, it prevents landslides due to loose soil. In addition, the trees absorb much water and thus prevents flooding. 
• Recycles water
• Tropical rain forests are essential to the water cycle. It is part of the transpiration process, in which leaves release water that, then, evaporate into clouds. The water is then released back into the rainforest keeping the ecosystem moist and alive.