I can't remember the exact prediction but in the 90s they were telling us that an insane amount of South American rain forests were being cut down. I remember at the time listening to Rush Limbaugh do the math on it and the number was so absurd it wasn't possible it could be true.

Usually there is a kernel of truth in these things. The forests were being leveled. I believe that. Its that the warning are purposely exaggerated to get our attention. Problem is, that only works for so long. But apparently for a large number of the population it works for decades though.