The impact of deforestation on the world ecology and measures to save them. Environmental problems of forest zones Causes of deforestation

23.04.2020

Environmental problems

Actual problems of the natural environment and modern world varied. They represent a danger to the planet, both for its present and for the future of all mankind, and can only be resolved with the participation and cooperation of all countries and peoples of the world. The global solution to these problems depends on the material well-being and spiritual progress of mankind in a healthy environment.

Irrational human activity has caused great damage to natural ecosystems and has led to: depletion of soils and resources fresh water, to the reduction of forest area, to the disappearance of animal and plant species, to global environmental pollution and the greenhouse effect, which in turn caused global warming, the formation of acid rain, ozone holes, desertification, etc. The aggravation of these global problems signals a serious environmental crisis. Human influence on the entire planet has exceeded the self-healing capabilities of ecosystems. Habitat changes under human influence became more noticeable in terms of distribution in the second half of the 20th century due to accelerated development Agriculture and industry, increasing transport and expanding trade. The degradation of the natural environment also affects human health. There are already a significant number of cities where the effects of air pollution are being felt, among them: Detroit, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Calcutta, Los Angeles, New York, etc. In these and other cities, the number of diseases respiratory system in the population, including lung cancer, is high. Pollution of the atmosphere with lead, copper and aluminum leads to diseases of the nervous system.

To provide healthy lifestyle the life of all mankind and the development of a sustainable economy require joint efforts. No country alone can stabilize the impact on the climate and protect the fish resources of the oceans. These goals can only be achieved through global cooperation and interaction between countries.

Currently, the listed problems are being considered within the framework of international programs: the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program, the International Program for Global Environmental Change, the Strategic Initiative for Natural Disaster Reduction, the World Climate Program. These projects will enable professionals in various countries to find ways to address the challenges of environmental change around the world.

deforestation

Forests are the most important ecosystems on our planet. They cover approximately 30% (about 4 billion hectares) of the land surface, forming the planet's forest fund. In the geographical environment, forests perform many functions:

climate function. Forests are the main supplier of oxygen (1 square kilometer of tropical forests produces about 11 tons of oxygen per day), weaken the influence of various climatic phenomena and serve to maintain climatic balance: lower air temperature, increase humidity, reduce wind speed, etc.;

hydrological function. Forests reduce the intensity of surface runoff after heavy rains, slow down the penetration of water into the soil, keep the flow of spring water practically constant, prevent mudflows, landslides, protect human habitation, agricultural land, and transport routes from turbulent flows;

soil function. Organic matter accumulated by forests is involved in the formation of soils; - economic function. Timber and other forest resources play an important role in human history;

social function. Leisure opportunities, tourism, satisfaction of aesthetic and spiritual needs;

health function. Forests create a calm atmosphere with moderate air temperatures and a low content of harmful substances and impurities.

The reasons for the reduction of forest land around the world are the widespread use of wood in industry, the expansion of agricultural land, pastures, the construction of communication lines, etc. The exploitation of forests for a long time was of an extensive nature, exceeding its natural regenerative capacity. In the period 1980-1985 alone, about 280 million hectares were deforested, which is almost 15 million hectares per year. High rates of deforestation were carried out in Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.

In the Mediterranean region, where natural broad-leaved forests have disappeared completely, only shrubs and other, less valuable species which are of little economic importance. Reportedly various sources, over the past three centuries, the world's forest fund has halved or even more.

Unfortunately, this process continues today due to the influence of the following factors:

Natural disasters (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, snow avalanches, etc.) have a negative impact on forests. Thousands of hectares of forest have been destroyed by natural disasters. They can reduce the area of forests to a critical limit. Only the earthquake of May 31, 1970 in Peru destroyed forests with an area of about 70 thousand square kilometers;

Forest fires. A decrease in the area of the forest fund as a result of natural fires that occur during a severe drought occurs in vast areas of Central Siberia, Australia, Canada, California, Indonesia and other regions. In Indonesia in 1983, 3.7 million hectares of forest burned down. In Brazil, during a great fire in 1963, 5 million hectares of forest died. This confirms that even wet equatorial forests not protected from fire. Most often, fires in the natural environment occur from lightning. In the state of Nebraska (USA), 30 forest fires caused by lightning occurred in one day, five of which covered vast territories, causing millions of dollars in damage. Some fires happen because of the negligence of people. In densely populated areas, the most common cause of forest fires are human activities and technologies created by them. With the development of tourism, the number of fires caused by unextinguished cigarettes, bonfires and the carelessness of children is growing.

Deforestation - wood is used as fuel, building material and for recycling (furniture, lumber, pulp, paper, etc.). In some regions of the world (Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia), firewood is still the main type of fuel. Deforestation for industrial purposes has become excessive. From 3.2 to 3.5 billion m3 of wood is harvested annually, which far exceeds the natural regenerative capacity of the forest. Deforestation has taken place in vast areas in the basins of the Amazon, Congo, and other rivers, and forests have been replaced by soil erosion processes, etc. on these lands. Considering that forests are climatic and hydrological regulators, deforestation in the equatorial regions of the Earth can lead to radical climate change. In this regard, there is a need to protect not just some forest areas or typical forests, but the entire forest fund of the planet, all logging must certainly be accompanied by reforestation.

desertification

Desertification is a global phenomenon and has a huge impact on climatic conditions and increasing anthropogenic impact on the environment. About half of the planet's territories suffer from droughts and desertification, both in arid zones and in irrigated and other areas. Desertification is a complex phenomenon of land degradation in deserts and semi-deserts, in arid regions of the Earth. The causes of desertification are a reduction in the amount of precipitation and a change in their regime, a warming climate, an increase in winds and an increase in the intensity of evaporation, as well as economic activity person. Anthropogenic causes are represented by: overpopulation, irrational land use (deforestation, desertification, pollution). Prolonged droughts lead to a significant reduction in water reserves in the soil, underground aquifers, hydrographic network, which gives rise to processes leading to desertification. Dry, salt crust forms on soils. From the deserts, dunes gradually move to adjacent territories.

The phenomenon of desertification has intensified in last years 20th century in many arid regions, especially in the southern Sahara, where xerophilous vegetation ecosystems have been destroyed by overgrazing and farming in the south of the Sahara.

Dry periods in recent decades have exacerbated and expanded the process of desertification in different regions of the world and caused the most serious consequences. At the end of the 20th century, there was an excessive reduction in pastures in the savannah zone. North Africa on the border with the Sahara desert. The phenomenon of desertification currently covers approximately 25% of the land surface - this is more than 110 countries with a population of almost one billion inhabitants. The areas most affected by desertification are found in Africa, South Asia, North America, Australia, Europe.

The fight against desertification is a global problem caused by climate change and the increasing pressure of human society on the environment. Considering all this, in 1994 the UN Convention to Combat Desertification was adopted, which provides for cooperation between the countries of the world to reduce this phenomenon.

global climate change

One of the pressing global problems arising from human activities is the change in the Earth's climate, both in terms of warming and exacerbation of natural disasters of a climatic nature. Meteorologists and climatologists engaged in research in this area are divided in acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, some consider it the result of anthropogenic activities, while others attribute slow global changes climate to normal cyclic phenomena.

Priority attention to this problem is due to following conditions: even the slightest changes in climate have a certain impact on human activities, primarily on agriculture; climate change can turn into natural disasters (eg periods of maximum and minimum temperatures (heat-waves and severe frosts), droughts, heavy rains with floods).

A deeper understanding of the mechanism of climate change requires a thorough study of the climate system, including the relationship between the following components: atmosphere, earth's crust, ionosphere, biosphere, taking into account the anthropogenic factor. In fact, this is the purpose of climate monitoring. The main human activities that affect the climate system are:

Direct impact on the atmosphere in the form of thermal effects, changes in air humidity, etc.;

Impact on physical and Chemical properties atmosphere, in particular, electrical and radiation characteristics. This factor can cause an increase in the concentration of CO2, NO2, freon, methane, etc. in the troposphere;

The impact on the upper layers of the atmosphere affects, first of all, the ozone layer;

The impact on the underlying surface changes the albedo and the processes of gas exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere.

Some activities may be assigned to more than one impact category at the same time. For example, forest fires lead to direct heating of the atmosphere, an increase in the amount of aerosols, CO2 and other gases that change the albedo of the affected underlying surface. In fact, these phenomena have a multilateral impact on natural landscapes, change them appearance and also affect human health. Over the past century, the temperature of the Earth has been constantly rising, this phenomenon became more noticeable after the 70s of the last century.

Board of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, composed of distinguished scientists, as well as participants in recent international conferences. It is argued that if the use of fossil fuels continues to grow, then by 2050 the average annual temperature on the planet will increase to +19 degrees. A very rapid increase poses a serious problem, as it will lead to extreme climate events, including massive floods, droughts and increased hurricanes. According to statistics, almost half of the natural disasters occurring on the planet are associated with atmospheric processes.

The stabilization of the climate on Earth means, first of all, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by almost 60%. And this requires the participation of all governments and awareness of possible danger at all levels.

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Radiation exposure - a consequence of the death of the forest

The death of forests due to strong exposure throughout history since the beginning of the atomic era (about 50 years) was noted on the traces of radioactive fallout from the Kyshtym and Chernobyl radiation accidents and occurred from the impact high levels exposure in the first 1-2 years after the accident.

In total, the area of completely dead forest plantations amounted to no more than 10 km2. The proportion of forests that died from radiation damage in the entire history of the nuclear industry is 0.3-0.4% of the annual forest loss in the country (2-3 thousand km2).

Death and deforestation

One of the reasons for the death of forests in many regions of the world is acid rain, the main culprits of which are power plants. Sulfur dioxide emissions and long-range transport cause these rains to fall far from emission sources. In Austria, eastern Canada, the Netherlands and Sweden, more than 60% of the sulfur deposited on their territory comes from external sources, and in Norway even 75%.

Other examples of long-range transport of acids are acid rainfall on such remote islands in Atlantic Ocean like Bermuda, and acid snow in the Arctic.

Over the past 20 years (1970 - 1990), the world has lost almost 200 million hectares of forests, which is equal to the US area east of the Mississippi.

A particularly great environmental threat is the depletion of tropical forests - the "lungs of the planet" and the main source of biodiversity planets. Approximately 200,000 square kilometers are cut down or burned there every year, which means that 100,000 species of plants and animals disappear. This process is especially fast in the regions richest in tropical forests - the Amazon and Indonesia.

British ecologist N. Meyers concluded that ten small areas in the tropics contain at least 27% of all species composition this class of plant formations, later this list was expanded to 15 "hot spots" of tropical forests, which must be preserved at all costs.

In developed countries, acid rain caused damage to a significant part of the forest: in Czechoslovakia - 71%, in Greece and Great Britain - 64%, in Germany - 52%.

The current situation with forests is very different across the continents. If in Europe and Asia the forested areas for 1974 - 1989 increased slightly, then in Australia they decreased by 2.6% in one year. Even greater forest degradation is taking place in individual countries: in Côte d'Ivoire, forest areas decreased by 5.4% over the year, in Thailand - by 4.3%, in Paraguay - by 3.4%.

Forest and tourism

Since ancient times, the forest has always attracted a large number of hunters, pickers of berries and mushrooms, and those who just want to relax. With the development of mass tourism in our country, the number of forest visitors has increased so much that it has become a factor that cannot be taken into account when protecting the forest. Millions of people in the summer, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, go to the suburban forests to spend their weekends or holidays in the bosom of nature. Thousands of tourists make trips along the same routes. In suburban forests, you can often find entire tent cities with a large population. Visitors to the forest make major changes in his life. To set up tents, undergrowth is cut, removed, broken and ruined by young growth. Young trees die not only under fires, but also under axes, or even just under the feet of numerous visitors. Forests frequented by tourists are so thoroughly littered with tin cans, bottles, rags, paper, etc., they bear traces of large and small wounds that this negatively affects natural reforestation. They carry and carry bouquets of flowers, branches of greenery, trees, shrubs. The question is, what will happen if each of those who come to the forest picks only one branch, one flower? And it is no coincidence that after a number of years of poaching attitude to nature in our, especially suburban, forests, many once abundant plants, shrubs and trees have disappeared. In the spring, tens of thousands of citizens rush to the forests for bird cherry and lilac. Not satisfied with modest bouquets. Armfuls, brooms, often on the roofs of cars. How can one not envy the delicate taste of the Japanese, who believe that the bouquet is spoiled if it contains more than three flowers.

Not the last place in damage is the custom of decoration. Christmas trees. If we accept that one festive tree falls on 10-15 inhabitants, then it becomes clear to everyone that, for example, this cozy tradition costs a big city every year several tens or even hundreds of thousands of young trees. Particularly affected areas are sparsely forested. The presence of even one person does not pass without a trace for the forest. Picking mushrooms, flowers and berries undermines the self-renewal of a number of plant species. A bonfire completely disables a piece of land on which it was laid out for 5-7 years. Noise scares off various birds and mammals, prevents them from raising their offspring normally. Breaking of branches, notches on trunks and other mechanical damage to trees contribute to their infection with insect pests.

It should be reminded once again: the forest is our friend, disinterested and powerful. But he, like a man whose soul is wide open, requires both attention and care from a negligent, thoughtless attitude towards him. Life without a forest is unthinkable, and we are all responsible for its well-being, responsible today, always responsible. Recreational loads are divided into safe, including both low and maximum permissible loads, dangerous and critical and catastrophic. A load can be considered safe if there are no irreversible changes in the natural complex. The impact of such loads leads the natural complex to stage II or III of digression. The load corresponding to stage II is conditionally called “low”, since the natural complex is able to withstand a large load without losing its restorative power. The maximum allowable recreational load leads the natural complex to the III stage of digression. If the natural complex passes from III to IV stage of digression, i.e., "oversteps" the stability boundary, recreational loads are considered dangerous. Critical loads correspond to stage IV of phytocenosis digression. Catastrophic loads lead the natural complex to stage V of digression, in which the bonds are broken, both between natural components and between their constituent parts. Different types of natural complexes, which have different structures and relationships between morphological units, react differently to any external influence , including recreational loads. Therefore, the load is safe for one type natural complex, can become dangerous or even critical for another type. The main task of forest management in green areas is the preservation and improvement of health and protective properties forests, and the creation of favorable recreational conditions for mass recreation of the population.

Forest fires

Important abiotic factors that affect the nature of the communities formed in the ecosystem should be attributed to fires. The fact is that some areas are regularly and periodically exposed to fires. In coniferous forests growing in the southeastern United States, and treeless shrouds, as well as in the steppe zone, fires are a very common occurrence. In forests where fires occur regularly, trees usually have thick bark, which makes them more resistant to fire. The cones of some pines, such as Banks pine, release their seeds best when heated to a certain temperature. Thus, the seeds are sown at a time when other plants are burning. The number of forest fires in one of the regions of Siberia over two centuries: In some cases, the soil after fires is enriched with biogenic elements such as phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium. As a result, animals grazing in areas subject to periodic fires receive more complete nutrition. Man, preventing natural fires, thereby causes changes in ecosystems, the maintenance of which requires periodic burnouts of vegetation. At present, fires have become a very common means of controlling the development of forest areas, although the public consciousness is having difficulty getting used to this idea. Protection of forests from fires. The forests of the Earth suffer severely from fires. Forest fires destroy 2 million tons of organic matter annually. They cause great harm to forestry: the growth of trees is reduced, the composition of forests is deteriorating, windbreaks are intensifying, soil conditions and windbreaks are deteriorating, soil conditions are deteriorating. Forest fires promote the spread of harmful insects and wood-destroying fungi. World statistics claims that 97% of forest fires are caused by human faults and only 3% by lightning, mainly ball lightning. The flames of forest fires destroy both flora and fauna in their path. In Russia, great attention is paid to the protection of forests from fires. As a result of the measures taken in recent years to strengthen preventive fire-fighting measures and the implementation of a set of works for the timely detection and extinguishing of forest fires by aviation and ground-based forest fire units, the forest areas covered by fire, especially in the European part of Russia, have significantly decreased.

However, the number of forest fires is still high. Fires occur due to careless handling of fire, due to a deep violation of fire safety rules during agricultural work. The increased danger of fires is created by the clutter of forest areas. (4)

The forest is not just a cluster of trees, but a complex ecosystem that combines plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms and affects the climate, state drinking water, clean air.

Millennia ago, a huge part of the Earth's surface was covered with forests. They spread to North America, occupied a significant share Western Europe. The vast territories of Africa, South America and Asia were dense forests.

But with the growth in the number of people, their active development of land for economic needs, the process of deforestation began.

People take a lot from the forest: building materials, food, medicine, raw materials for the paper industry. Wood, needles and tree bark are raw materials for many branches of the chemical industry. About half of the extracted wood goes to fuel needs, and a third goes to construction. A quarter of all medicines used are derived from rainforest plants.

Through photosynthesis, forests give us oxygen to breathe while absorbing carbon dioxide. Trees protect the air from poisonous gases, soot and other pollution, noise. Phytoncides produced by most coniferous plants destroy pathogens.

Forests are habitats for many animals, they are real storehouses of biological diversity. They are involved in creating a microclimate favorable for agricultural plants.

Forest areas protect the soil from erosion processes by preventing surface runoff of precipitation. The forest is like a sponge that first accumulates and then releases water to streams and rivers, regulates the flow of water from the mountains to the plains, and prevents floods. , the forests included in its basin are considered the lungs of the Earth.

Damage to the planet caused by deforestation

Despite the fact that forests are a renewable resource, the rate of their deforestation is too high and is not covered by the rate of reproduction. Millions of hectares of deciduous and coniferous forests are destroyed every year.

Rainforests, in which more than 50% of the species that exist on Earth live, used to cover 14% of the planet, and now only 6%. India's forested areas have shrunk from 22% to 10% in the last half century. Coniferous forests of the central regions of Russia are being destroyed, forests on Far East and in Siberia, and swamps appear on the site of clearings. Valuable pine and cedar forests are cut down.

The disappearance of forests is . The deforestation of the planet leads to sharp temperature changes, changes in the amount of precipitation and wind speeds.

Burning forests causes carbon monoxide pollution in the air, more carbon monoxide is emitted than is absorbed. Also, when forests are cleared, carbon is released into the air, which accumulates in the soil under the trees. This contributes about a quarter of the process of creating a greenhouse effect on Earth.

Many areas left without forest as a result of deforestation or fires become deserts, as the loss of trees leads to the fact that a thin fertile layer of soil is easily washed away by precipitation. Desertification causes a huge number of ecological refugees - ethnic groups for whom the forest was the main or only source of existence.

Many inhabitants of the forest territories disappear along with their home. Entire ecosystems are being destroyed, plants of irreplaceable species used to obtain medicines, and many biological resources valuable to mankind are being destroyed. More than a million biological species living in tropical forests are under threat of extinction.

Soil erosion that develops after logging leads to floods, since nothing can stop the flow of water. Floods are caused by a violation of the level of groundwater, as the roots of trees that feed on them die. For example, as a result of extensive deforestation at the foot of the Himalayas, Bangladesh began to suffer from large floods every four years. Previously, floods occurred no more than twice every hundred years.

Punching methods

Forests are cut down for the sake of mining, obtaining timber, clearing the area for pastures, and obtaining agricultural land.

Forests are divided into three groups. The first one is forest areas forbidden for cutting down, which play an important ecological role and are nature reserves.

The second group includes forests of limited exploitation, located in densely populated areas, their timely restoration is strictly controlled.

The third group is the so-called production forests. They are cut down completely and then re-sown.

There are several types of felling in forestry:

Main felling

Clearings of this type are the harvesting of the so-called ripe forest for timber. They can be selective, gradual and continuous. Clear cuts destroy all trees except seedlings. With gradual cutting process is carried out in several stages. With a selective type, only individual trees are removed according to a certain principle, and in general the territory remains covered with forest.

Plant care cutting

This species includes cutting down plants that are not practical to leave. They destroy plants of inferior quality, while at the same time thinning and clearing the forest, improving its lighting and providing nutrients to the remaining more valuable trees. This allows you to increase the productivity of the forest, its water-regulating properties and aesthetic qualities. Wood from such cuttings is used as a technological raw material.

Integrated

These are reshaping fellings, reforestation and reconstructive fellings. They are carried out in cases of loss of forest useful properties in order to restore them, the negative impact on the environment with this type of felling is excluded. Cutting favorably affects the clarification of the territory and eliminates root competition for more valuable tree species.

Sanitary

Such felling is carried out to improve the health of the forest, increase its biological stability. This type includes landscape felling, carried out in order to create forest-park landscapes, and felling to create fire breaks.

The strongest intervention is produced by clear cuttings.. Overcutting of trees has negative consequences when more trees are destroyed than grows in a year, which causes the depletion of forest resources.

In turn, undercutting can cause forest aging and disease of old trees. During clear felling, in addition to the destruction of trees, branches are burned, which leads to the appearance of numerous fires.

Trunks are pulled away by machinery, destroying many ground cover plants along the way, exposing the soil. The young are almost completely destroyed. The surviving shade-loving plants die from excessive sunlight and strong winds. The ecosystem is completely destroyed and the landscape is changing.

Without harm to the environment, cutting can be carried out if the principle of continuous forest management is observed, based on the balance of cutting and reforestation. Selective logging is characterized by the least environmental damage.
It is preferable to cut down the forest in winter, when the snow cover protects the soil and young growth from damage.

Measures to eliminate the damage caused by deforestation

In order to stop the process of deforestation, it is necessary to develop norms for the reasonable use of forest resources. The following directions must be followed:

conservation of forest landscapes and its biological diversity;
conducting uniform forest management without depletion of forest resources;
training the population in the skills of caring for the forest;
strengthening at the state level of control over the conservation and use of forest resources;
creation of forest accounting and monitoring systems;
improvement of forest legislation,

Replanting trees often does not cover the damage caused by logging. AT South America, South Africa and Southeast Asia, forest areas continue to shrink inexorably.

In order to reduce the damage from felling, it is necessary:

Increase areas for planting new forests
Expand already existing and create new protected areas, forest reserves.
Deploy effective measures to prevent forest fires.
Conduct measures, including preventive measures, to combat diseases and pests.
Conduct selection of tree species that are resistant to environmental stress.
Guard forests from the activities of enterprises engaged in the extraction of minerals.
Realize fight against poachers.
Use effective and least harmful logging techniques. Minimize wood waste and develop ways to use them.
Deploy ways of secondary processing of wood.
Encourage ecological tourism.

What can people do to save forests:

rational and economical use paper products;
buy recycled products, including paper. It is marked with the recycled sign;
landscaping the area around your home;
replace trees cut down for firewood with new seedlings;
draw public attention to the problem of deforestation.

Man cannot exist outside of nature, he is part of it. And at the same time, it is difficult to imagine our civilization without the products that the forest provides. In addition to the material component, there is also a spiritual relationship between the forest and man. Under the influence of the forest, the formation of culture, customs of many ethnic groups takes place, it also serves as a source of livelihood for them.
The forest is one of the cheapest sources of natural wealth, 20 hectares of forest areas are destroyed every minute. And humanity should already now think about replenishing these natural resources, learn to competently manage forest management and the miraculous ability of forests to self-renew.

Introduction

The value of the forest in human life

Fight against deforestation

Conclusion

Introduction

a century not only - a century of discoveries and development, but also of huge environmental problems. One of them is the problem of deforestation on the planet.

Forests are climax communities in a large part of the planet and not so long ago covered a third of the land. Now forest area temperate zone decreases slightly, but these are only the remains of their continuous prehistoric massifs, cut down by man. Even before the active offensive of man on nature, forests occupied almost the entire territory of Europe. At present, they are preserved on one third of its area. The most populated European state is Finland, where 70% of the territory is covered with forests. The poorest in this respect is Great Britain - less than 6% of the country's area is covered by forests. As before, vast forest tracts remain in Asia - in the Siberian lowlands and on mountain slopes, as well as in tropical and subtropical regions in the southeast of the continent. Forests cover about two-thirds of the area of North and South America: in the north - coniferous taiga, in the subtropics - coniferous and deciduous forests and palm trees, in the equatorial zone - evergreen rain forests, or humid tropical forests. In addition, forests remain the dominant biome in a quarter of Africa and about a fifth of Australia.

Today, more than 13 million hectares of forest are cut down each year, and the areas freed from the forest are used for agriculture, road construction and growing cities. Of the cut areas, 6 million hectares are virgin forests, i.e. no man has ever set foot in these forests. Therefore, this topic is currently particularly relevant.

The purpose of the work: to study the problems and possible measures to combat the destruction of forests.

To do this, it is necessary to solve the following tasks:

characterize the role and importance of the forest in human life;

outline the main measures to combat deforestation.

1. The value of the forest in human life

Many scientists call the forest the "lungs" of our planet, as plants enrich our atmosphere with oxygen. But, despite this, the deforestation of our planet is happening with great speed.

Deforestation is a serious global environmental problem. Deforestation is mainly the result of human activities associated with deforestation. Wood is used as fuel, raw material for pulp and paper mills, building material, etc. In addition, forests are cut down in clearing areas for pastures, in slash-and-burn operations, and in mining sites.

Developed countries experienced massive deforestation before and during the Industrial Revolution, which led to severe consequences for them, for example, the decline in the fertility of many lands. However, industrialized countries have generally recognized this problem and are now reforesting at a rate at least equal to that of deforestation.

Since the beginning of this century, the area under African forests has almost halved, and in some countries by 5-10 times. So, in Ethiopia at the beginning of the century, forests were located on 40% of the territory. Now only 3.5% remains under forests. In India, 40 years ago, forests covered 22% of the territory, now they barely account for 10%.

In developing countries, for two-thirds of the population (about 2.5 billion people), the era of modern energy has not yet arrived. Firewood is still needed for heating and cooking. Even in the cities, many people use charcoal produced in the countryside by cutting and burning wood. Approximately 60% of these people are cutting down forests faster than they are growing. In some countries, clearing is five times faster than reforestation.

Forests play an important role in the global carbon and oxygen cycles. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. When trees are cut down and burned, the carbon they contain is released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. Deforestation also oxidizes and releases carbon that has accumulated in the soil under the trees into the air.

Forests provide a natural habitat for more wild plant and animal species than in any other ecosystem. This makes them the largest repository of biodiversity on our planet. In addition, forests absorb noise, many air pollutants and have a beneficial effect on people's mood, providing their need for privacy and beauty.

Forests also play an important role in the conservation of soil and water, maintaining a healthy atmosphere. The water cycle in nature is disturbed, as trees feed on groundwater with the help of roots. The destruction of the forest causes an increase in the level of groundwater, which leads to floods.

The damage caused and the extinction of forests lead to soil erosion, degradation of river basins. Forests are often found on uplands and watersheds and intercept much of the rainwater. The forest canopy mitigates the impact of intense tropical rainfall on the environment in various ways. It returns a large amount of water to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration, while minimizing surface runoff, i.e. allowing water to seep into the soil (infiltration). This leads to the formation of a stable aquifer at a depth that evenly feeds streams and rivers. If the forest canopy is destroyed, then surface runoff will increase sharply, which will lead to the drying up of watershed areas and sharp drops in water levels in lowland rivers. For example, the unprecedented flooding in Bangladesh in the summer of 1988, which affected much of the country, is attributed mainly to the deforestation of mountains in northern India and Nepal. And increased surface runoff leads to soil erosion. Its fertile layer can be completely eroded, so that the exposed soil becomes unsuitable not only for agricultural use, but also for the restoration of the original forest stand. Simultaneously, siltation of reservoirs, estuaries and harbors will occur, which will require their regular dredging. There will be a threat of landslides and mudflows.

In the process of photosynthesis, forests absorb a huge amount of carbon dioxide, so their destruction can lead to an increase in its concentration in the atmosphere, which, as many scientists believe, will increase in the 21st century. will contribute to global warming due to the so-called. greenhouse effect.

Of particular concern is the destruction of tropical forests, the average annual percentage of loss of which reaches 1% of their area. Tropical forests are the source of half of the world's hardwood. According to T. Miller's book Life in the Environment, over 50 years of life, the average tree in a tropical forest provides an "ecological income" from oxygen production, air pollution reduction, erosion and soil fertility control, water regime regulation, habitat provision for wildlife and protein industries in the amount of $196,250. Sold as timber, it will fetch only about $590. Rainforests in places like Indonesia, the Congo and the Amazon are especially vulnerable and at risk. At this rate of deforestation, tropical rainforests will be gone in less than 100 years. West Africa has lost about 90% of its coastal rainforests, similar rates in South Asia. In South America, 40% of tropical forests have disappeared, new areas have been developed for pastures. Madagascar has lost 90% of its eastern rainforests. Several countries have declared catastrophic deforestation of their territories.

Among the foodstuffs obtained in tropical forests are coffee, cocoa, spices, nuts, and fruits. The raw materials for a quarter of all the medicines we use come from plants that grow in the rainforest. Aspirin is made from a substance extracted from the leaves of tropical willow trees. About 70% of promising cancer drugs can be obtained from tropical rainforest plants.

The consequences of deforestation are the extinction of species, soil degradation, a decrease in runoff on watersheds and an increase in the accumulation of precipitation in water bodies, a decrease in the buffer role of forest swamps, a decrease in carbon stocks in terrestrial biomass, an increase in CO 2in the atmosphere, decreasing precipitation. In addition, scientists have calculated that 80% of all species of flora and fauna live in tropical forests.

Deforestation destroys ecosystems and leads to the extinction of many species of animals and plants, some plants are irreplaceable species from which medications. Their destruction will lead to the extinction of little-studied forms of life, i.e., a decrease in the genetic reserves of the planet and a reduction in potential useful to man bioresources. The rainforests have already given us antimalarial and anticancer drugs, and scientists are intensively researching the plants of these forests in search of cures for AIDS and many other diseases.

Forests are dying not only in the tropics. Mass disease and death of forests due to pollution of the atmosphere, water and soil occurs in Europe and North America. As a result of intensive logging, the coniferous forests of Central Russia have been practically destroyed, and the most valuable and accessible forest massifs in Siberia in the Far East are steadily being cut down.

The forests of Siberia are disappearing at a dangerous pace. Here, more than half a million hectares of forests are cut down annually, while new plantings are carried out on only one third of the clearings. Scientists record changes in the Siberian landscape. In most cases, swamping of the area begins at the site of clearings. Since, first of all, pine, and even cedar, the most valuable forests, are cut down, depletion of forest cover is observed everywhere. Cedar is called the miracle of Siberia, the pearl of the taiga, breadfruit. The kernel of its nut contains up to 60% fat, 20% protein, 12% starch, 4% fiber, as well as a whole complex of vitamins that improve blood composition and have a beneficial effect on skin tissue. Pine nut oil is not inferior in calories chicken eggs, it good remedy in the treatment of pulmonary and renal diseases.

So, under the onslaught of man, forests recede on all continents, in almost all countries, but especially massive destruction of forest cover occurs in the tropical zone. On the one hand, being one of the main components of the human environment, the forest affects the climate, the availability of clean water, clean air, protects agricultural land, provides places for comfortable living and recreation of people, preserves the diversity of wildlife, which is the environment-forming, or ecological role of the forest. On the other hand, the forest is a source of many material resources that humanity cannot do without and is unlikely to be able to do in the foreseeable future - wood for construction, paper and furniture production, firewood, food and medicinal plants, and others - this is an economic, or resource the role of the forest. On the third hand, the forest is part of the cultural and historical environment, under the influence of which the culture and customs of entire nations are formed, the source of work, independence and material well-being of a significant part of the population, especially those who live in forest villages and towns - this is the social role the woods. For humanity as a whole, all three roles of the forest are equally important: ecological, economic and social.

In conclusion of the chapter, we note that forests have a remarkable feature - the feature of renewal. Therefore, we need to learn how to manage forest management in accordance with environmental requirements, learn how to deal with deforestation in all corners of the globe.

2. Fight against deforestation

Forests are one of those natural resources, the use and protection of which are generally governed by national law. In the 21st century In our country and in the world, there is a reassessment of the importance of the forest in people's lives: now the forest is perceived, first of all, as a socio-cultural value, a guarantee of the sustainable development of mankind in connection with the fulfillment of global ecological functions. Therefore, the problem of combating deforestation is one of the areas of environmental protection and goes beyond the boundaries of one country, acquiring international significance.

Urgent and effective measures are needed to prevent the complete destruction of forests. Industrialized countries have generally recognized this problem and are now reforesting at a rate equal to or greater than that of deforestation. Work is intensifying all over the world on the formation of a coordinated forest policy, the main goal of which is to actively promote the scientifically based, integrated use of forests, their protection, protection and reproduction, based on the following principles:

constancy, inexhaustibility and relative uniformity of forest management;

conservation of biological, genetic, species and landscape diversity of forests, improvement of their ecological and resource potential;

education of people in the spirit of caring for the forest as an important component of the national wealth of the country;

strengthening economic and social role forestry.

establishment of the order of ownership, use and withdrawal of forests;

management of the unified state forest fund;

establishment of the procedure for assigning forests to groups and categories of protection;

establishment of the procedure for the use, reproduction, conservation and protection of forests;

establishment of uniform for the country systems of forest management, forest inventory, procedures for maintaining the state forest cadastre and forest monitoring;

implementation state control for the condition and use of forests, compliance with the requirements of forest legislation.

In recent decades, many programs have been carried out to protect and restore the forest. The UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) adopted the Statement on Conservation of Forests, which enshrined agreed forest principles aimed at achieving a global consensus on the rational use, conservation and development of forests of all kinds. This document emphasizes that the management of forest lands should be based on the principles of equal and non-exhaustive use of resources, taking into account the need to meet the social, economic and spiritual needs of present and future generations.

An essential part of the forest principles is the recognition of the leading role of forests of all kinds in maintaining ecological processes, meeting energy needs, various types industrial raw materials and consumer products, a favorable impact on the sustainable development of agriculture. The document focuses on the need to eliminate the factors that hinder the rational, sustainable use of forests. It is necessary to refuse, on the one hand, from unreasonable restrictions on the development of timber, on the other hand, from unrestrained felling of forests. To this end, the international trade in timber should be strictly regulated, and for states where reforestation is effectively carried out, certain advantages in trade can be established.

In December 2010 at the UN climate conference, more than 200 countries agreed to work together to help indigenous peoples and promote the sustainable use of wood.

The policy of an integrated approach to the protection of forests has international union Forest Research Organizations (FSIO), which includes consumer education, as well as measures such as assistance to indigenous people dependent on healthy forests. The report published by the ISLIO states that the problem of deforestation cannot be solved by increasing the area of forest plantations alone, it is necessary to solve the problems that lead to the destruction of the forest. The survival of forests depends on whether we can recognize and preserve their ecological, climate-protective, social and economic value. Among the promising measures is the Lacey Act in the US, which prohibits the importation of timber from stolen trees into the country. And Brazil, for example, is constantly introducing more and more new programs to reduce the level of deforestation in the Amazon.

In addition to promoting sustainable forest management, countries should establish or expand protected area systems: public nature reserves, National parks, natural monuments, dendrological parks and botanical gardens, health-improving areas and resorts. These forests are essential for the conservation of ecological systems, biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife habitats. When using scaffolding, it must be preserved favorable environment for the natural inhabitants of the forest.

Among forest protection measures, fire fighting is of great importance. The fire completely or partially destroys the forest biocenosis. Fires cause great damage, destroying plants, game animals, other forest products: mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants. A different type of vegetation develops in the forest fires, and the animal population changes completely. Up to 97% of forest fires are caused by humans. Therefore, among the measures to combat fires, an important place should be occupied by fire propaganda among the population. A great danger for the occurrence of fires is agricultural burning, fire cleaning of cutting areas, flames and sparks from exhaust pipes tractors and cars, diesel locomotive pipes. In the forests, it is necessary to create fire-fighting cutting areas, strips, ditches, pave fire-fighting roads, clean cutting areas and sanitary cuttings. A watchdog service is organized in forest areas to detect fires.

Diseases and pests cause great harm to forests. Mass outbreaks of pests (for example, the Siberian silkworm) cover vast areas. It is also necessary to carry out preventive actions to combat forest pests (Siberian silkworm, pine iodine, etc.). The economic damage caused to the forest by diseases and pests often exceeds the damage from forest fires. In years with favorable conditions for the reproduction of pests, the scale of damage caused by them sharply increases. In order to prevent the spread of pests, it is important to timely identify the centers of their reproduction and carry out the fight by all known methods, taking into account the biological characteristics of the species.

These measures are just a few of those envisaged to restore and protect the planet's forest cover. Governments need to work with scientists, inventors, indigenous peoples, local authorities and the public to develop long-term forest conservation and management policies for each forest area. These steps will help:

to increase the planting of new forests, reducing the load on the main forest funds and old forests. Plant areas between trees with useful crops to further increase the value of used forests;

to bring out, tree species are more productive and more resistant to environmental stress;

protect forests from fires, pests, poachers, mining enterprises; reduce the amount of pollutants affecting forests, including transboundary air pollution;

limit and stop destructive shifting tillage by addressing underlying social and environmental causes;

use environmentally correct, more efficient and less polluting logging techniques and expand the production of the woodworking industry in the forest area;

minimize wood waste and find uses for tree species that are currently considered worthless or unused;

increase added value through the process of secondary processing of forest products in order to increase employment and income from each harvested tree;

develop urban forestry to green all human habitats;

expand the use of forest products such as medicinal plants, dyes, fibers, natural rubber and rubber, fodder, rattan leaves, bamboo, and stimulate the work of local craftsmen and craftsmen;

encourage those uses of the forest that cause minimal damage, such as eco-tourism and the regulated supply of genetic materials used in the manufacture of medicines;

reduce the damage caused to forests by promoting the rational management of areas adjacent to forests.

Many of the problems listed above are also relevant for Russia, despite its richness in forest resources. Therefore, Russia is taking measures for rational forest management and reproduction of forest resources.

The forest legislation of the country is aimed at ensuring the rational use of forests, increasing their ecological and resource potential, protecting and reproducing forest ecosystems, satisfying society in forest resources based on scientifically based multi-purpose forest management. The tasks of protecting and protecting forests are the development and implementation of a set of organizational, legal and other measures that ensure rational use forest fund, its preservation from destruction, damage, pollution, clogging and other harmful effects. Decisions were adopted on mandatory reforestation of felled areas, regulation of natural reforestation (Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation dated July 16, 2007 No. 183 “On Approval of the Rules for Reforestation”).

It is necessary to take into account the significant loss of forest plantations, primarily due to forest fires.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a law amending the Forest Code, which provides for increased fire safety measures and responsibility for the destruction of forests. In addition to strengthening fire safety measures, the law obliges state authorities and local governments to limit or prohibit the stay of citizens in forests during periods of increased fire danger.

Public authorities are also required to develop plans to extinguish forest fires.

The law also introduces amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. They provide for increased criminal and administrative liability for violation of fire safety rules in forests.

Significantly increased penalties for careless handling of fire in forest areas. For the intentional destruction or damage of forest plantations - arson - the punishment is in the form of imprisonment for up to ten years.

forest clearing landscape ecosystem

Conclusion

So, the forest plays a special role in the life of man and humanity. In terms of the volume and diversity of their ecological functions, forests stand out among all natural complexes.

Most common cause deforestation - deforestation without sufficient planting of new trees. In addition, forests can be destroyed due to natural causes such as fire, hurricane or flooding, as well as other anthropogenic factors such as acid rain.

Deforestation leads to a decrease in biodiversity, wood reserves for industrial use and quality of life, as well as an increase in the greenhouse effect due to a decrease in photosynthesis.

This problem is a serious problem, not only because the forest is a natural resource of extreme importance for humans, which cannot be restored in one day. Deforestation has a huge amount side effects, it is the main cause of such environmental problems as, for example, desertification, soil degradation, flooding, the formation of mudflows, silting of watercourses, the destruction of habitats of wild animals, the extinction of animal and plant species, the most powerful means of enriching the atmosphere with oxygen and cleaning the air from pollution , global climate formation facts.

Bibliography

1.forest code Russian Federation dated December 4, 2006 No. 200-FZ (as amended on July 18, 2011).

.Gladky Yu.N. Give the planet a chance! / Yu.N.Gladkiy, S.B.Lavrov. - M.: Enlightenment, 1995. - 207 p.

.Forest. - Encyclopedia "Circumnavigation". - [Electronic resource]. - Access mode: #"justify">. Medvedev toughened responsibility for the destruction of forests // Economics in Russia. - 2011. - No. 1.

.Miller T. Life in the environment / T. Miller. - M.: Progress-Pangeya, 1993, vol. 1 - 253 p.

.Panin V.F. Ecology. Part 1: Tutorial/ V.F. Panin, A.I. Sechin, V.D. Fedosova. - Tomsk: ed. TPU, 2006. - 132 p.

.Stepanovskikh A.S. Environmental Protection / A.S. Stepanovskikh. - M.: Unity, 2000. - S.560.

.Yanshin A.L. Lessons of ecological miscalculations / A.L. Yanshin, A.I. Melua. - M.: Thought, 1991. - 430 p.

.Yaroshenko A.Yu. The value of the forest in human life / A.Yu.Yaroshenko // Greenpeace Russia Forest Forum. - 2008. - No. 8.

Forests are among those natural resources, the use and protection of which, as a rule, are regulated by national legislation. In the 21st century In our country and in the world, there is a reassessment of the importance of the forest in people's lives: now the forest is perceived, first of all, as a socio-cultural value, a guarantee of the sustainable development of mankind in connection with the fulfillment of global ecological functions. Therefore, the problem of combating deforestation is one of the areas of environmental protection and goes beyond the boundaries of one country, acquiring international significance.

Constancy, inexhaustibility and relative uniformity of forest management;

Preservation of the biological, genetic, species and landscape diversity of forests, increasing their ecological and resource potential;

Education of people in the spirit of caring for the forest as an important component of the national wealth of the country;

Strengthening the economic and social role of forestry.

Practice in many countries around the world state regulation in the field of use, reproduction and protection of forests indicates a general trend of a gradual transition from government controlled forestry to state forest management, from direct control industry to its indirect economic regulation. The most important functions of state forest management are as follows:

Establishment of the order of ownership, use and withdrawal of forests;

Disposition of the unified state forest fund;

Establishment of the procedure for assigning forests to groups and categories of protection;

Establishment of the procedure for the use, reproduction, conservation and protection of forests;

Establishment of unified systems for the country of forest inventory, forest accounting, the procedure for maintaining the state forest cadastre and forest monitoring;

Implementation of state control over the state and use of forests, compliance with the requirements of forest legislation.

An essential part of the forest principles is the recognition of the leading role of forests of all kinds in supporting ecological processes, meeting the demand for energy, various types of industrial raw materials and consumer products, and a favorable impact on the sustainable development of agriculture. The document focuses on the need to eliminate the factors that hinder the rational, sustainable use of forests. On the one hand, unreasonable restrictions on the development of timber should be abandoned, on the other hand, unrestrained felling of forests. To this end, the international trade in timber should be strictly regulated, and for states where reforestation is effectively carried out, certain advantages in trade can be established.

In December 2010 at the UN climate conference, more than 200 countries agreed to work together to help indigenous peoples and promote the sustainable use of wood.

The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IFRIO) has a comprehensive forest protection policy that includes consumer education, and also provides for measures such as assistance to indigenous people dependent on healthy forests. The report published by the ISLIO states that the problem of deforestation cannot be solved by increasing the area of forest plantations alone, it is necessary to solve the problems that lead to the destruction of the forest. The survival of forests depends on whether we can recognize and preserve their ecological, climate-protective, social and economic value. Among the promising measures is the Lacey Act in the US, which prohibits the importation of timber from stolen trees into the country. And Brazil, for example, is constantly introducing more and more new programs to reduce the level of deforestation in the Amazon.

In addition to promoting sustainable forest management, countries should create or expand systems of protected areas: state nature reserves, national parks, natural monuments, dendrological parks and botanical gardens, health resorts and resorts. These forests are essential for the conservation of ecological systems, biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife habitats. When using forests, a favorable environment for the natural inhabitants of the forest must be preserved.

Among forest protection measures, fire fighting is of great importance. The fire completely or partially destroys the forest biocenosis. Fires cause great damage, destroying plants, game animals, other forest products: mushrooms, berries, medicinal plants. A different type of vegetation develops in the forest fires, and the animal population changes completely. Up to 97% of forest fires are caused by humans. Therefore, among the measures to combat fires, an important place should be occupied by fire propaganda among the population. Agricultural burnings, fire cleaning of cutting areas, flames and sparks from the exhaust pipes of tractors and motor vehicles, pipes of diesel locomotives are a great danger for the occurrence of fires. In the forests, it is necessary to create fire-fighting cutting areas, strips, ditches, pave fire-fighting roads, clean cutting areas and sanitary cuttings. A watchdog service is organized in forest areas to detect fires.

Increase the planting of new forests, reducing the burden on the main forest funds and old forests. Plant areas between trees with useful crops to further increase the value of used forests;

Breed, tree species are more productive and more resistant to environmental stress;

Protect forests from fires, pests, poachers, mining enterprises; reduce the amount of pollutants affecting forests, including transboundary air pollution;

Limit and stop destructive shifting by addressing underlying social and environmental causes;

Use environmentally correct, more efficient and less polluting logging techniques and expand the production of the woodworking industry in the forest area;

Minimize wood waste and find uses for tree species that are currently considered worthless or unused;

Promote the development of small enterprises that use forest products and support the development of rural areas and local private entrepreneurship;

To increase added value through the process of secondary processing of forest products in order to increase employment and income from each harvested tree;

Develop urban forestry to green all human habitats;

Expand the use of forest products such as medicinal plants, dyes, fibers, natural rubber and rubber, fodder, rattan leaf, bamboo, and stimulate the work of local craftsmen and craftsmen;

Encourage those uses of the forest that cause minimal damage, such as eco-tourism and the regulated supply of genetic materials used in the manufacture of medicines;

Reduce damage to forests by promoting the sound management of areas adjacent to forests.

The forest legislation of the country is aimed at ensuring the rational use of forests, increasing their ecological and resource potential, protecting and reproducing forest ecosystems, satisfying society in forest resources based on scientifically based multi-purpose forest management. The tasks of protecting and protecting forests are the development and implementation of a set of organizational, legal and other measures that ensure the rational use of the forest fund, its preservation from destruction, damage, pollution, clogging and other harmful effects. Decisions were adopted on mandatory reforestation of felled areas, regulation of natural reforestation (Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation dated July 16, 2007 No. 183 “On Approval of the Rules for Reforestation”).

It is necessary to take into account the significant loss of forest plantations, primarily due to forest fires.

Public authorities are also required to develop plans to extinguish forest fires.

Significantly increased penalties for careless handling of fire in forest areas. For the intentional destruction or damage of forest plantations - arson - is punishable by imprisonment for up to ten years.

forest clearing landscape ecosystem