The entire forest was cut down. Ecological problems of forest areas

Forest destruction is accelerating. The green lungs of the planet are being cut down to seize land for other purposes. According to some estimates, we lose 7.3 million hectares of forest every year, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama.

INjust some facts

• About half have already been lost tropical forests peace

• Forests currently cover about 30% of the world's land mass

• Deforestation increases annual global carbon dioxide emissions by 6-12%

• Every minute a forest the size of 36 football fields disappears on Earth.

Where are we losing forests?

Deforestation occurs all over the world, but those most affected are rainforests. NASA predicts that if the current rate of deforestation continues, tropical forests could disappear completely within 100 years. Countries affected include Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, Congo and other parts of Africa, and some areas of Eastern Europe. The most great danger threatens Indonesia. Since the last century, the state has lost at least 15.79 million hectares of forest land, according to the University of Maryland and the World Resources Institute.

And although deforestation has increased over the past 50 years, the problems go back deep into history. For example, 90% of the native forests of the continental United States have been destroyed since the 1600s. The World Resources Institute notes that indigenous forests remain to a greater extent in Canada, Alaska, Russia and the Northwest Amazon.

Causes of forest disappearance

There are many such reasons. As stated in the WWF report, half of the trees illegally removed from the forest are used as fuel.

Other reasons:

• To free up land for housing and urbanization

• Extraction of wood for processing into products such as paper, furniture and building materials

• To highlight marketable ingredients such as palm oil

• To free up space for raising livestock

In most cases, forests are burned or cut down. These methods lead to the land remaining barren.

Forestry experts call clear-cutting an "ecological trauma unmatched in nature except, perhaps, by a large volcanic eruption."

Forest burning can be done using fast or slow techniques. The ashes of burnt trees provide food for plants for some time. When the soil becomes depleted and the vegetation disappears, farmers simply move to another plot and the process begins again.

Deforestation and climate change

Deforestation is recognized as one of the factors contributing to global warming. Problem #1: Losing forests impacts the global carbon cycle. Gas molecules that absorb thermal infrared radiation are called greenhouse gases. The accumulation of large amounts of greenhouse gases causes climate change. Unfortunately, oxygen, being the second most abundant gas in our atmosphere, does not absorb thermal infrared radiation as well as greenhouse gases. On the one hand, green spaces help combat greenhouse gases. On the other hand, according to Greenpeace, 300 billion tons of carbon are released into the environment every year precisely because of the burning of wood as fuel.

Carbon is not the only greenhouse gas associated with deforestation. water vapor also falls into this category. The impact of deforestation on the exchange of water vapor and carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and earth's surface is the biggest problem in the climate system today.

Deforestation has reduced global steam flows from the ground by 4%, according to a study published by the US National Academy of Sciences. Even this small change in steam flows can disrupt natural weather and change existing models climate.

Some more consequences of deforestation

A forest is a complex ecosystem that affects almost every species of life on the planet. Removing forests from this chain is tantamount to destroying the ecological balance both in the region and throughout the world.

INspecies extinction: National Geographic says that 70% of the world's plants and animals live in forests, and cutting them down leads to habitat loss. The local population, which collects wild plants, also experiences negative consequences. plant food and hunting.

Water cycle: The trees are playing important role in the water cycle. They absorb precipitation and release water vapor into the atmosphere. According to North Carolina State University, trees reduce pollution by trapping polluting runoff. In the Amazon, more than half of the water in the ecosystem comes through plants, reports the National Geographic Society.

E Rosa soil: Tree roots are like an anchor. Without forests, soil is easily washed away or blown away, which negatively affects vegetation. Scientists estimate that a third of the world's arable land has been lost to deforestation since 1960. Crops such as coffee, soybeans and palm trees are being planted in place of former forests. Planting these species leads to further soil erosion due to the small root systems of these crops. The situation with Haiti is clear and Dominican Republic. Both countries share the same island, but Haiti has much less forest cover. As a result, Haiti is experiencing problems such as soil erosion, floods and landslides.

Anti-deforestation

Many people think that to solve the problem you need to plant more trees. Planting can mitigate the damage caused by deforestation, but it will not completely solve the situation.

In addition to reforestation, other tactics are being used. This is the transition of humanity to nutrition on plant based, which will reduce the need for land that is cleared for livestock farming.

Ecology of life. Planet: Deforestation is one of the most important environmental problems. With the destruction of trees, many species of plants and animals die. The ecological balance in nature is disrupted. After all, a forest is not only trees. This is a well-coordinated ecosystem based on the interaction of many representatives of flora and fauna.

When the forest disappears, so does life.

By killing nature, we thereby deprive the lives of millions of living beings. In essence, we are sawing off the branch on which we are sitting. Thankfully he's thick enough! But this doesn't last forever.

Deforestation is one of the most important environmental problems. With the destruction of trees, many species of plants and animals die. The ecological balance in nature is disrupted. After all, a forest is not only trees. This is a well-coordinated ecosystem based on the interaction of many representatives of flora and fauna.

Deforestation leads to many negative consequences for the Earth and man:

• The forest ecosystem is being destroyed, many representatives of flora and fauna are disappearing.
• Reducing the amount of wood and plant diversity leads to a deterioration in the quality of life for most people.
• The amount of carbon dioxide increases, which leads to the formation of the greenhouse effect.
• Trees no longer protect the soil (washing out the top layer leads to the formation of ravines, and lowering the level groundwater is the cause of deserts).
• Soil moisture increases, causing swamps to form.
• Scientists believe that the disappearance of trees on mountain slopes leads to the rapid melting of glaciers.

Tropical forests occupy more than half of the total green area. Scientists have calculated that they serve as a habitat for 90% of all species of animals and plants on earth, which without the usual ecosystem could die. However, tropical deforestation is now accelerating.

Forests are being cut down to make way for plantations and pastures.

Look at the statistics:

• 164,000 square kilometers of tropical forests are destroyed per year.
• In Costa Rica, 71% of cleared forests became grassland. Over the past 20 years, Nepal has lost almost half of its forest, mostly to support livestock.
• 1 hectare of even new pasture can feed only one cow.
• Latin America exported almost 8 million tons of soybeans in 1991, mainly for livestock feed.
• From 40 to 50% of all grains are eaten not by people, but by livestock. For soybeans this is 75%. Half of the world's wheat crop is used as livestock feed to support meat and milk consumption.
• It takes 7-14 kg of grain, particularly corn and soybeans, to produce 1 kg of beef. We are talking about hundreds and thousands of hectares of grain crops, mainly in areas of cleared forests, only for meat production. This is not the most effective method production of protein foods. published

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The Russian economy is a raw material economy. One of the main resources that our country supplies abroad is wood. In addition to export, wood is also actively used domestically as building material, fuel, raw materials for furniture factories. Mass clearing Forestry in Russia has been going on for several centuries. The growth of new trees does not compensate for the decrease forest areas. All this leads to both environmental and economic problems. We will pay special attention to this when buying boards made of larch (larch-doska.rf), or from any other tree, remember - the forest, like all living things, must be protected, and the companies that cut down the forest and sell lumber must be controlled!

How does deforestation happen?

A chainsaw is used to cut down a tree. After the trunk falls to the ground, only the stump remains. Small branches are usually burned. The tree trunk is transported by dragging. Small vegetation in the path of the tractor is destroyed. Young trees that could grow in the future at the felling site break and die. The areas where deforestation took place can no longer recover on their own. Human intervention is required so that a tree can grow here again.

Impact of deforestation on the atmosphere

Trees are capable of absorbing carbon dioxide, the production of which is growing rapidly due to industrial development big cities and increasing the number of transport. According to scientists, the CO2 content in the atmosphere in the next 10 years will be almost 2 times higher than today. This is a very serious number.

The CO2 released tends to create a greenhouse effect that could melt glaciers in the future. Coastal regions will be flooded within the next 50 years if carbon dioxide emissions do not change. In addition, the average air temperature is increasing. In the next decade it will increase by about 2 degrees. This will seriously affect the health of the country's residents, especially those suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

With growth average temperature air, the range of its fluctuations increases during the day. This leads to heat during the day and frosts at night, which also then leads to the death of plants and a deterioration in people's well-being.

Impact of deforestation on soil conditions

Deforestation has a serious impact on the development of processes such as soil erosion. In places where trees used to grow, the soil was strengthened by their root system. There was a constant exchange of substances between the trees and the soil. The soil in treeless areas does not receive nutrients, which means it loses its fertile properties.

The development of erosion leads to the following consequences:

• Reduced yields, which leads to higher food prices and negatively affects the country’s economy;
• Silting of rivers, and consequently the extinction of fish;
• Siltation of artificial water reservoirs, which disrupts the operation of hydroelectric power stations.

Increase in the number of infectious and viral diseases

The main carriers of infections are insects whose habitat is the tier forest area. After deforestation, trees can no longer hold back the precipitation, insects begin to descend to the ground in search of moisture in standing puddles.

Spread of desertification

Desertification is the process of “dying away” of nature, the absence of the possibility of the existence of living organisms and plants. Dead soil, lack of irrigation, dry air that is impossible to breathe - all this global problems, which are among the most discussed in the world today.

Residents of many forest regions will be forced to change their place of residence after deforestation, but such places will become fewer and fewer. The current state of affairs can lead to a decrease in the country's population density and even gradual extinction.

Fight against deforestation

The Russian government, together with environmentalists, is pursuing a policy aimed at reducing the rate of deforestation and limiting the timber trade. The following projects are being developed:

• Refusal from paper in favor of electronic media. For paper production, waste paper is collected;
• Development of forestry, the purpose of which is to grow and care for trees;
• Increasing fines for deforestation in prohibited areas;
• An increase in duties on wood exports, which will make such a business unattractive.

Deforestation may be invisible to a city resident, but its consequences are not. Should be protected natural resources. Otherwise, nature will respond by stopping taking care of people.

Unfortunately, for a very large number of people, the forest is only a source of wood. We can change this situation only by providing information about the importance of the forest and the consequences of its destruction. Forests provide economic benefits and at the same time provide basic human needs. Lack of development in some regions has led to misuse of forest resources. Population growth has increased the demand for new land to farm Agriculture, for settlements and structures, which affected the condition of forests.

Earth Summit

In 1992, the UN organized the Earth Summit, at which the world community was warned about the dangers associated with deforestation. As a result, governments around the world have begun to make efforts to prevent disaster by implementing conservation and sustainable development forests At the Earth Summit, an Intergovernmental Commission on Forests was established to oversee the implementation of the Forest Policy program. All countries should take part in greening the world by planting trees. Forestry must be managed in such a way that it meets the social, economic, environmental, cultural and spiritual needs of present and future generations.

International financial assistance developing countries so that they can protect their forest resources. Forest conservation policies should support the identity, culture and rights of indigenous peoples through sustainable forest management programs designed to guidelines on environmental protection. Such programs should be developed by national governments, non-governmental organizations, as well as private enterprises in cooperation with all stakeholders.

Functions of the forest

Environmental:

The forest serves as a habitat for most animals and natural environment for plants.
The forest creates and preserves soil for agriculture.
The forest participates in the formation of climatic conditions.
The forest regulates the water cycle and ensures a constant supply of water.

Economic:

The forest is a source of wood.
The forest creates conditions for farming.
The forest is a source of components for the production of medicines/medicines.
The forest is involved in the development of ecotourism.
The forest provides work for foresters, scientists, and other categories of workers.
Despite all these important functions, forests are becoming increasingly scarce as a result of highway and dam construction, mining, industrial logging, settlement construction, wildfires, pollution and agriculture.

Consequences of forest destruction:

Droughts, floods, soil erosion and desertification.
Climate changes causing global warming.
The disappearance of some species of plants and animals (reduction of biological diversity).
Hunger and poverty.
Loss of jobs.
Conflicts over fertile lands.
What can be done to save the forest?

You can reduce your paper and wood consumption. Use paper made from paper waste or from non-wood materials. Choose paper that is not made with chlorine. Always write to back side sheet whenever possible.

Manage your business responsibly. Business owners need to know that they are accountable to the public for actions that cause harm environment. If you feel that a company's actions are harmful, please send the company a letter expressing your concerns.

Practice reusing or recycling. Now almost any thing can be recycled. Return hangers to the dry cleaner and use cardboard milk cartons as planting pots.

Choose products with minimal packaging. Do you really need separate juice packs when you can use a thermos instead? Almost 50% of waste is packaging.

Plant trees. The UN has launched a tree planting campaign. Contact your school or club to get involved in the campaign and take part in planting trees.

Spread the word. How more people learn about the death of tropical rainforests, the more actively they will fight to stop this process.

Interesting facts about forests

Every second, a part of the tropical rainforest disappears, with an area equal to a football field. Forests Central Africa are the natural habitat for more than 8,000 various types plants. More than 5,000 different things are made from wood, such as houses, furniture, pencils, kitchenware, fences, books, newspapers, movie tickets, toothpaste and even clothes.

The oldest tree on Earth, which is already 4,700 years old, grows in the USA. This tree, which is the most ancient “inhabitant” of the Earth, grew when the Egyptians built the pyramids.

Most tropical rainforests are being cut down due to valuable wood. The liberated areas are used for agriculture, as pastures, and are also used by companies to locate their production facilities.

The nature and solution to the problem of deforestation
The forest expanses only seem limitless. In the process of human activity, most of the planet's vegetation is destroyed, and deforestation is becoming widespread and widespread. The depletion of resources leads to the decline of the forest fund even in the taiga zone. Together with the forest fund, flora and fauna are destroyed, and the air becomes dirtier.

The main reason for deforestation is their use as construction material. Massifs are also cut down to make way for buildings, farms or agriculture.
With the advent of technological progress, the work of deforestation was automated, cutting productivity increased many times, and the volume of logging increased.
Another motive for such actions is the creation of pasture for livestock. Grazing one cow requires about a hectare of space, for which hundreds of trees are cut down.

Consequences

Forests are good not only for their aesthetic component. This is a whole ecosystem, home to many plants and animals, insects, birds. With the destruction of this massif, the balance in the entire biosystem is disrupted.

Uncontrolled destruction of forest lands leads to the following consequences:
disappearance of certain species of fauna and flora;
species diversity decreases;
the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases;
soil erosion appears with the formation of deserts;
areas with high groundwater levels become swampy.

Moreover, more than 50% of the forest area is occupied by tropical forests. And it is their cutting down that is most dangerous for ecological situation, as they contain about 85% of all known fauna and flora.
Deforestation statistics

Forest loss is a worldwide problem. It is relevant not only in the CIS countries, but throughout Europe and America. According to statistics, 200 thousand square kilometers of plantings are cut down annually. This entails the disappearance of hundreds of plant species and thousands of animals.

In Russia, 4 thousand hectares are cut down annually, in Canada - 2.5 thousand hectares, the least is in Indonesia, where 1.5 thousand hectares are destroyed annually. The problem is least pronounced in China, Malaysia, and Argentina. According to average data, approximately twenty hectares are destroyed in the world per minute, especially in the tropics.

In Russia, especially a lot is destroyed coniferous species. In the Urals and Siberia it formed a large number of wetlands. This phenomenon is difficult to control, since most logging is carried out illegally.

Ways to solve the problem

One way to solve the problem is to restore the used volume of trees, at least partially. This approach will not help to fully compensate for losses. Comprehensive measures must be taken.

These include:
forest management planning;
strengthening resource protection and control;
improvement of environmental legislation;
development of a system for recording and monitoring the background of plantings.

Additionally, it is necessary to increase the area of ​​new plantings, create territories with protected flora and a strict regime for the use of resources. It is necessary to prevent massive forest fires and popularize recycling wood.