One of the main topics of our time is the problem of disruption of the natural functioning ecological system of our planet and, as a result, an ecological catastrophe that we cannot stop. There are many problems that put humanity on this slippery slope. And one of the main ones is deforestation. In Russia, this phenomenon has become rampant in recent decades. After all, the territory has huge resources. And if earlier we were worried about the loss of tropical forests, today the massive deforestation in Russia has brought our country to a leading position in the world.

Why do we need forests

We all remember from school - only green plants, thanks to the unique process of photosynthesis, replenish our atmosphere with oxygen. Not many people remember that as a result of this process, plants take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - a product of our breathing and burning fuel. It is the presence of an excess of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that we owe to the greenhouse effect and climate change on the planet. According to some estimates, it is deforestation in Russia and around the world that we owe to the formation of about 20% of all greenhouse gases in the planet's atmosphere.

Forests are part drainage system our planet. As in the human body, disturbances in the work of blood circulation lead to stagnation and various kinds of tissue damage, so in the ecosystem of the planet, forests filter groundwater and provide the hydrological regime of rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Forests prevent their drainage, the onset of sand, erosion and soil washout, floods and landslides. Global floods, which used to occur on the planet on average once every 50 years, today in some areas “please” people every 4 years.

And that is not all

And far from the last argument of the vital necessity of forests is the conservation of biodiversity on our planet. In ecology, the stability of an ecosystem is determined by the number of species of living organisms living in it. According to some reports, our planet has already entered the era of the fifth global extinction. The Red Books of the regions are constantly replenished with species that are threatened with extinction from the face of the Earth. The well-known "butterfly effect", when the disappearance of one species of moth for 100 years led to changes in the topography of the Amazon floodplain, is not a fairy tale or a blockbuster topic. This is our harsh reality.

The forest is considered a renewable natural resource. This may indicate that, no matter how much we take, nature will restore its quantity. But the current rate of logging does not allow forest ecosystems to self-repair. And humanity is losing forests, bringing the planet into a phase of ecological crisis.

Ecological problem

Deforestation in Russia and in the world leads to such negative consequences for the ecology of the entire planet:

  • Disappearance and reduction in the number of representatives of flora and fauna.
  • Impoverishment of species biodiversity.
  • An increase in the share of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  • Lithospheric changes - soil erosion, desertification, swamping.

This is not a complete, but significant, list of problems that are directly related to the deforestation of our planet.

A global problem

Deforestation in Russia is only part of a global process, as a result of which the planet loses up to 200,000 hectares of forest annually.

The latest data from the World Resources Institute and the Maryland Institute, together with Google, based on the analysis of satellite images, showed that Russia is in the lead in deforestation. We are followed by Canada, together with which we are responsible for 34% of all forest loss on the planet.

Statistics show the loss of 20 hectares of forest on the planet in 1 minute. At the same time, 13 million hectares of the world's forests annually disappear forever. Assess the scale.

Why do we cut wood

Of course, the reason is obvious - it is to ensure our livelihoods and technical progress.

Wood is a valuable resource for many industries, an essential component of progress.

But, main reason- this is our existence on the planet. Our biological species, which, due to certain evolutionary advantages, turned out to be successful on this planet, as evidenced by the growth in the number of individuals and the general expansion of territories. There is not a single biological species whose habitat is absolutely the entire territory of the planet. Our number has already exceeded 7 billion and continues to grow.

With the advent of agriculture, we have destroyed half of the world's forests. Just look at the distribution maps natural areas on our continent and it becomes obvious. Zone coniferous forests there is in Europe, but where did you see a forest similar to Siberian? And we continue to increase the area of ​​agricultural land.

Everything in nature is interconnected. Climate change, which was caused by the deforestation of the planet, among other things, led to more frequent natural fires. Even without our help, they reduce the area of ​​forests and replenish the atmosphere with carbon dioxide.

And yet we need to cut down the forest, another thing is how.

The forest is different

Forests in Russia and in the world are cut down for the sake of mining, timber, and clearing agricultural land. All forests on the planet are divided into three categories:


You can cut in different ways

In this regard, there are several types of cutting:

  • Final fellings (selective, continuous, gradual). Their purpose is to harvest timber.
  • Cuttings for plant care. This is the thinning of the forest with the destruction of plants of poor quality. As a result, wood of technological production is also obtained.
  • Integrated reforestation felling. The goal is the reconstruction of forest tracts to restore the useful properties of the forest.
  • Sanitary - these are cuttings for creating landscapes and firebreaks.

It is clear from what has been said that the problems of deforestation in Russia are connected with final fellings, especially clear cuts. Here the concepts of "undercut" and "overcut" appear, which are equally bad for the forest. But that's all if the felling is legal.

Certificate for the forest - a solution to the problem

Since the mid-1990s, the world community has adopted the concept of sustainable development. Part of which was the concept of sustainable forest management. In accordance with it, deforestation must meet certain requirements, which must ensure a reasonable and controlled consumption of this resource - the forest. The introduction of special technologies will create a balance between the need for wood and the ecological functions of the forest. It will also take into account the interests of future generations of people.

Today, FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificates are obtained by legal logging companies, which are issued quotas for deforestation. Our country is the second in the world, after Canada, in terms of the number of certified forest areas (38 million hectares). Certificates were issued to 189 subjects of forest management, and there are about 565 thousand subjects of forest management in our country. And it is they who receive state quotas for deforestation volumes in Russia and are required to label rare wood species when exporting (for now).

This is what legal logging looks like. But this is the tip of the iceberg, and the main turnover of the forest is there, under water.

For your information. In the Irkutsk region, which according to some estimates accounts for 50% of all illegal logging in Russia, in the summer of 2017 a pilot project Lesregister was launched, which involves marking all harvested wood in order to track its turnover.

"Black" lumberjacks

The statistics of illegal deforestation in Russia is striking in its scale. According to the World Foundation wildlife(World Wildlife Fund), the country is losing about $1 billion due to illegal deforestation. In 2017, 359 illegal logging was recorded in the Arkhangelsk region alone, resulting in losses of $12 million. Facts about deforestation in Russia are recorded in the northwestern part of the country and the Far East. This causes concern for environmentalists and ordinary residents.

Statistics on deforestation in Russia from the International Agency for Environmental Research (Environmental Investigation Agency) says that 80% of valuable forest species (linden, oak, cedar, ash) in the Far East are cut down illegally.

The public is concerned

A wave of indignation swept through the media about the illegal deforestation in Russia by the Chinese. Over the past 20 years, when restrictions on timber harvesting were introduced in China, in the border areas (Lake Baikal and Far East) appeared a lot of lumberjacks from China. According to the estimates of the International Non-Governmental Organization "Environmental Investigation Agency", 50-80% of the forest exported from Russia to China was obtained bypassing official quotas through illegal logging on leased lands.

The public and environmentalists, foresters and officials are making certain attempts to stop the uncontrolled destruction of the forest.

But even legal logging sometimes leads to completely opposite results. For example, in Ust-Ilimsk, a criminal case was initiated against the head of the forestry, who, under the guise of sanitary cutting, destroyed healthy trees on total area in 83 hectares. Damage - 170 million rubles.

Massive fight against deforestation

The solution to the problem of deforestation in Russia should be carried out at all levels: international, state, regional and personal.

The main measures should be:

  • Formation of a balanced legislative base for the management of forest resources at the federal and international level.
  • Implementation of a strict system of accounting and control of cuttings. Improving wood marking systems.
  • Tougher penalties for illegal logging and use of non-certified timber.
  • Measures to increase the area of ​​forests and the creation of zones with special conservation status.
  • Improvement of fire fighting activities.
  • Activation of the secondary processing of wood and a decrease in the use of this resource in the industrial sector.
  • Extension social programs and awareness of the population about the careful attitude to this natural resource. environmental education and education for all segments of the population, starting with preschoolers.

Certain steps have already been taken at many levels. Latest appeals of the public of the Irkutsk region to the President Russian Federation Vladimir Putin was led to a revision of quotas for deforestation, which include valuable breeds trees (in particular - cedars). Labeling of wood and its turnover within the country is finding more and more supporters.

And then what?

It is high time for us to think about the state of the ecosystem of our beautiful home. Otherwise, we risk being left without it. And everyone needs to start - with himself. respect for nature, separate collection garbage, economical use of natural resources, planting trees, buying products from recycled materials (it is labeled "recycled") - this is a very small list of what everyone can do to preserve Russia's unique forests.

Do not forget about the spiritual component of the forest. For millennia, it has shaped the culture and customs of many ethnic groups. We cannot exist without nature. But on the other hand, civilization is impossible without forest resources.

Ecologists say that we need 100 years to fully restore the forest area of ​​our country, which makes up 20% of the world's forest area. And this despite the fact that the cutting will stop. Of course, these are utopian dreams. But there is something we can do to ensure that our children and grandchildren recognize the smell of coniferous forest not from air fresheners in hygienic rooms.

Scientists have long been talking about the harmful effects of technological progress on nature. Climate change, the melting of ice, the decline in the quality of drinking water have a very negative impact on people's lives. Ecologists around the world have long sounded the alarm about pollution and the destruction of nature. One of the most important is deforestation. Forest problems are visible especially in civilized states. Environmentalists believe that deforestation leads to many negative consequences for the Earth and humans. Without forests, there will be no life on Earth, this must be understood by those on whom their preservation depends. However, wood has long been a commodity that is expensive. And that is why the problem of deforestation is solved with such difficulty. Perhaps people just do not think that their whole life depends on this ecosystem. Although since ancient times everyone has revered the forest, giving it often magical functions. He was the breadwinner and personified the life-giving force of nature. He was loved, the trees were treated with care, and they responded to our ancestors in the same way.

Forests of the planet

In all countries, in every corner of the world, massive deforestation is taking place. The problems of the forest are that with the destruction of trees, many more species of plants and animals die. broken in nature. After all, the forest is not only trees. This is a well-coordinated ecosystem based on the interaction of many representatives of flora and fauna. In addition to trees, shrubs are of great importance in its existence, herbaceous plants, lichens, insects, animals and even microorganisms. Despite massive deforestation, forests still occupy about 30% of the land area. This is more than 4 billion hectares of land. More than half of them are rainforests. However, the northern ones, especially coniferous massifs, also play a great role in the ecology of the planet. The greenest countries in the world are Finland and Canada. In Russia, there are about 25% of the world's forest reserves. The least number of trees left in Europe. Now forests occupy only a third of its territory, although in ancient times it was completely covered with trees. And, for example, in England there are almost none left, only 6% of the land is given over to parks and forest plantations.

Rainforests

They occupy more than half of the entire territory of green spaces. Scientists have calculated that about 80% of animal species live there, which, without the usual ecosystem, can die. However, cutting rainforest is now moving at an accelerated pace. In some regions, such as West Africa or Madagascar, about 90% of the forest has already disappeared. A catastrophic situation has also developed in the countries of South America, where more than 40% of the trees have been cut down. The problems of tropical forests are not only the business of the countries in which they are located. The destruction of such a huge massif will lead to an ecological catastrophe. After all, it is difficult to assess the role that forests play in the life of mankind. Therefore, scientists around the world are sounding the alarm.

The meaning of the forest


Use of forests for the benefit of people

Green spaces are important for humans not only because they regulate the water cycle and provide all living things with oxygen. About a hundred fruit and berry trees and shrubs, as well as nuts, more than 200 species of edible and medicinal herbs and mushrooms grow in the forest. Many animals are hunted there, such as sable, marten, squirrel or black grouse. But most of all, a person needs wood. This is what causes deforestation. The problem with the forest is that without trees, the entire ecosystem dies. So why does a person need wood?


Deforestation

Forest problems arise when this happens uncontrollably, often illegally. After all, forests have been cut down for a long time. And for 10 thousand years of human existence, about two-thirds of all trees have already disappeared from the face of the Earth. Especially a lot began to cut down the forest in the Middle Ages, when everything was required more space for construction and farmland. And now every year about 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed and almost half of them are places where no human has ever set foot before. Why is the forest cut down?

  • to make room for construction (after all, the growing population of the Earth needs to build new cities);
  • as in ancient times, the forest is cut down with slash-and-burn agriculture, freeing up space for arable land;
  • the development of animal husbandry requires more and more space for pastures;
  • forests often interfere with mining, so needed by mankind for technical progress;
  • and finally, wood is now a very valuable commodity used in many industries.

What kind of forest can be cut down

For a long time, the disappearance of forests has attracted the attention of scientists. Different states are trying to somehow regulate this process. All forest areas were divided into three groups:

Types of deforestation

In most states, forest problems are of concern to many scientists and government officials. Therefore, at the legislative level, felling is limited there. However, the fact is that it is often carried out illegally. And although it is considered poaching and is punishable by heavy fines or imprisonment, mass destruction of forests for profit is on the rise. For example, almost 80% of deforestation in Russia is carried out illegally. Moreover, wood is mainly sold abroad. And what are the official types of felling?

What damage does deforestation cause?

The ecological problem of the disappearance of the so-called "lungs" of the planet is already worrying many. Most people believe that this threatens to reduce oxygen stores. This is true, but this is not the main problem. The extent to which deforestation has now taken on is striking. A satellite photo of the former woodland helps to visualize the situation. What can this lead to:

  • the ecosystem of the forest is being destroyed, many representatives of flora and fauna are disappearing;
  • the decrease in the amount of wood and the diversity of plants leads to a deterioration in the quality of life of most people;
  • the amount of carbon dioxide increases, which leads to the formation of the greenhouse effect;
  • trees cease to protect the soil (washing out of the upper layer leads to the formation of ravines, and the lowering of the groundwater level causes the appearance of deserts);
  • soil moisture increases, due to which swamps are formed;
  • scientists believe that the disappearance of trees on the slopes of the mountains leads to the rapid melting of glaciers.

According to researchers, deforestation causes damage to the world economy in the amount of up to 5 trillion dollars a year.

How are forests harvested?

How is deforestation done? The photo of the area where the felling has recently taken place is an unsightly view: bare terrain, almost devoid of vegetation, stumps, patches of fires and strips of bare soil. How does it work? The name "cutting down" has been preserved since the time when trees were felled with an axe. Now chainsaws are used for this. After the tree has fallen to the ground, the branches are cut off and burned. The bare trunk is taken away almost immediately. And they move it to the place of transportation by dragging, hitching it to a tractor. Therefore, there remains a strip of bare land with torn vegetation and destroyed undergrowth. Thus, young shoots are destroyed, which could revive the forest. At this place, the ecological balance is completely violated and other conditions for vegetation are created.

What happens after cutting

In open space, completely different conditions are created. Therefore grows new forest only where the cutting area is not very large. What prevents young plants from getting stronger:

  • The light level changes. Those undergrowth plants that are accustomed to living in the shade die.
  • Another temperature regime. Without tree protection, there is a sharper temperature fluctuation, frequent night frosts. This also leads to the death of many plants.
  • An increase in soil moisture can lead to waterlogging. And the wind blowing moisture from the leaves of young shoots does not allow them to develop normally.
  • The death of the roots and the decomposition of the forest floor release many nitrogenous compounds that enrich the soil. However, those plants that need just such minerals feel better on it. Raspberries or Ivan-tea grow most quickly in clearings, birch or willow shoots develop well. Therefore, the restoration of hardwood scaffolding is coming quickly if a person does not interfere in this process. And here coniferous trees after felling, they grow very poorly, since they reproduce by seeds for which there are no normal development conditions. Deforestation has such negative consequences. The solution to the problem - what is it?

Solving deforestation

Ecologists offer many ways to save forests. Here are just a few of them:

  • transition from paper media to electronic, waste paper collection and separate waste collection will reduce the use of wood for paper production;
  • creation of forest farms where those with the shortest maturation periods will be grown;
  • a ban on felling in nature protection zones and tougher penalties for this;
  • raising the state duty on the export of timber abroad to make it unprofitable.

The disappearance of forests does not bother yet ordinary person. However, many problems are associated with this. When all people understand that it is forests that provide them with a normal existence, maybe they will treat trees more carefully. Each person can contribute to the revival of the planet's forests by planting at least one tree.

Deforestation is the process of destroying trees, vines or shrubs. It is mainly produced in order to obtain a large amount of wood, and in some cases - to renew and improve the forest, as well as to increase its productivity. Uncontrolled deforestation is becoming a frequent cause of deforestation, that is, the process of gradual transformation of the area occupied by the forest into land such as wastelands or pastures. There are several types of deforestation: complete, sanitary, maintenance and general use.

Is it possible to determine real speed deforestation?

This is quite difficult to do. These data are compiled by the United Nations Agricultural and Food Company, which is usually based on official data received from the relevant ministries of the countries. Another organization, the World Bank in Peru, testifies that in Bolivia, eighty percent of harvesting is illegal, and in Colombia - about forty-two. Deforestation in Brazil and the Amazon is happening much faster than scientists thought. The cutting speed is highly dependent on the region. Now it is highest in developing countries that are in the tropical zone (Nigeria, Brazilian state of Rondonia, Mexico, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Guinea, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Laos, Ghana and others).

How does deforestation affect the atmosphere?

Gradual deforestation contributes to the formation of more warm climate. Deforestation, which are located in the tropical zone, is responsible for about twenty percent of greenhouse gases. In the course of their life, plants (trees, shrubs, grass) remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Burning and rotting trees release stored carbon into the atmosphere. To avoid this process, wood must be made into durable products and forests must be replanted.

How does deforestation affect the water cycle?

Trees feed on groundwater through their roots. In this case, the water rises to the leaves and evaporates. Deforestation makes this process impossible, resulting in a drier climate. Deforestation, among other things, negatively affects the ability of the soil to retain precipitation, as well as the penetration of moisture deep into the continents.

How does deforestation affect the soil?

Gradual deforestation reduces soil adhesion. This, in turn, can lead to landslides and flooding.

How does deforestation affect wildlife?

The main negative effect of logging is to reduce the diversity of the animal and flora. In this case, the greatest damage is done to tropical forests.

Deforestation problem

Deforestation is an urgent and urgent problem that exists in many countries. Uncontrolled deforestation affects climatic, ecological and socio-economic characteristics, and also significantly reduces the quality of life. Gradual deforestation leads to a decrease in timber stocks and to a decrease in biodiversity. Many scientists believe that the most ominous consequences of deforestation are increased

Forests play a very important role in the life of our planet. Without them, life would be almost impossible. But what exactly are the functions of green arrays? What happens if the forests die?

Plot for Hollywood

A happy American family living in a small cozy house with a garden somewhere near east coast USA, suddenly discovers that it has become unusually hot during the day, and unusually cold at night.

The garden is slowly being invaded by ever-increasing hordes of insects.

Finally, one morning at clear sky And warm weather the nearest river suddenly overflows its banks, and soon the entire area is flooded with water.

Fortunately, the complete sudden disappearance of forests does not threaten us, but extremely unfavorable phenomena, up to catastrophic ones, will occur even if a small part of them die. And the process has already started. To understand what is happening, we must remember what is the role of the forest in the Earth's ecosystem.

hungry years

Deforestation occurs both naturally and as a result of economic activity person. For Russia, this problem is not yet very relevant - our forests have a greater potential for restoration than, say, tropical ones, therefore, in place of the reduced massifs, if you do not build up and plow up the bare areas, new ones most often grow.

The plowing and development of forests in Russia is now also not the most widespread phenomenon, although the threat of cutting down a significant amount of natural plantations for the purpose of development has become more tangible in recent years "thanks" to the new forest legislation.

What happened before? Historians are well aware of the fact that in 1891 an unprecedented famine broke out in Russia, literally shaking the empire. The reason was a crop failure caused by a severe drought, which primarily affected the forest-steppe and steppe regions. And throughout 19th century there were many such hungry years in our country. Nevertheless, it was the famine of 1891 that served as the impetus for events in the most diverse spheres of public life.

The catastrophe of 1891 confronted the Russian government with the need to find out what were the causes of these phenomena. The answer given by the young talented geologist V.V. Dokuchaev was revolutionary for those times: devastating droughts result from environmental degradation caused by deforestation and environmentally hazardous agricultural practices. The same opinion was shared by the largest climatologist of that time A.I. Voeikov.

As a result, there was a familiar to almost everyone forest belt system in the sparsely forested regions of Russia. Unfortunately, in some regions there are still not enough of them, and in the forest zone there are many open unused places where forests once grew. They should be planted again.

Regulation of temperature and hydrological regimes

Back in the 20s of the last century, L.S. Berg remarked:

“A lot has been written on the question of the influence of forests on climate ... Undoubtedly, vast forests should also have a certain effect on the temperature of the surrounding areas ... just as the forest affects the precipitation that has already fallen. Inside the forest itself, the amount of rain that reaches the soil is less than in the field, because a significant part of the precipitation remains on the leaves, branches and trunks, and also evaporates. According to observations in Austria, in dense spruce forest only 61% of precipitation reaches the soil, in beech 65%. Observations in the Buzuluk pine forest of the Samara province showed that 77% of all precipitation reaches the soil ... The value of the forest for the course of snow melting is enormous. Its action is threefold: firstly, the forest prevents the blowing of snow and thus is the custodian of its reserves; then, by shading the soil, the trees prevent the snow from melting quickly. Secondly, by delaying the movement of air, the forest slows down the exchange of air over the snow. And the latest observations show that snow melts not so much as a result of absorption of the radiant energy of the sun, but due to contact with significant masses of warm air rushing over the snow. Keeping the snow cover for a long time, the forest regulates the flow of water in the rivers in spring and early summer. Of particular importance is the forest in countries with long and snowy winters, for example, in Russia.

Thus, already at the beginning of the twentieth century it was well known essential role green massif as a regulator of temperature and hydrological regimes.

The forest significantly influences the distribution and accumulation of summer and especially winter precipitation. On the one hand, it maintains the groundwater level, reduces surface water runoff, and on the other hand, it enhances the processes of plant transpiration, condenses more water vapor, which increases the frequency of summer precipitation.

That is, the role of the forest in the water and soil regime of the area is diverse and depends on species composition woody plants, their biological features, geographical distribution.

dust storms

The death of forests can cause the strongest erosion processes, which have also been known for a long time and can be talked about for a long time. The same Dokuchaev considered deforestation to be one of the causes of dust storms. And this is how he described one of the cases dust storm in Ukraine in 1892:

“Not only was a thin snow cover completely torn off and carried away from the fields, but also loose soil, bare from snow and dry as ash, was thrown up in whirlwinds at 18 degrees below zero. Clouds of dark earthen dust filled the frosty air, covering the roads, bringing gardens - in some places the trees were brought to a height of 1.5 meters - laid down shafts and mounds on the streets of the villages and made it very difficult to move on the railways: it was even necessary to tear off the railway stations from the snowdrifts of black dust mixed with snow.

During a dust storm in 1928 in the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Ukraine (where a significant part of the forests had also been destroyed by that time, and the steppes had been plowed up), the wind raised more than 15 million tons of black soil into the air. Chernozem dust was carried by the wind to the west and settled on an area of ​​6 million km2 in the Carpathians, Romania and Poland. The thickness of the chernozem layer in the steppe regions of Ukraine after this storm decreased by 10–15 cm.

Dust storm in southern Australia

History knows many such examples, and they occur in the most different regions- in the USA, North Africa (where, according to some, forests also once grew on the site of the Sahara), on the Arabian Peninsula, in Central Asia and etc.

Biodiversity

By the beginning of our century, the wording in the description global significance forests have changed a bit, although the essence remains the same, and new items have also been added. For example, the concept of "biodiversity" has arisen. “Biological diversity”, according to the international convention, “means the variability of living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this concept includes diversity within species, between species, and ecosystem diversity.”

This convention was adopted the international community in 1992 as a response to the catastrophic reduction of biodiversity on the planet, and above all - in tropical forests.

About 70% of all types of living organisms live in forests. Other estimates put 50 to 90% in tropical rainforests, including 90% of species of our closest relatives, the primates. 50 million species of living beings have no other place to live, except for the rainforest.

Why do we need to conserve biodiversity? There is a purely pragmatic answer to this question. A huge mass of biological species, including small ones (insects, mosses, worms) and especially in tropical forests, has been studied very little or has not yet been described by scientists at all. Genetically, each species is unique, and each of the species may be the carrier of some properties that have not yet been discovered useful for mankind, for example, food or medicinal. Thus, more than 25% of all known currently medicinal products were obtained from tropical plants such as taxol. And how many of them are not yet known to science and how many can be lost forever along with the species that carry them?

Thus, the extinction of any species can lead to an irreplaceable loss of an important resource. In addition, each species is of interest to science - it can be an important link in the evolutionary chain, and its loss will make it difficult to understand evolutionary patterns. That is, any kind of living organisms is an information resource, perhaps not yet used.

Greenhouse effect

The forest cover of the Earth is its main productive force, the energy base of the biosphere, the connecting link of all its components and the most important factor in its sustainability.

It is important to know

The forest is one of the planetary accumulators of living matter, holding a series of chemical elements and water, which actively interacts with the troposphere and determines the level of oxygen and carbon balance. About 90% of all terrestrial phytomass is concentrated in forests and only 10% - in other ecosystems, moss, grass, shrubs. The total leaf surface of the forests of the world is almost 4 times the surface of our entire planet.

Hence the high absorption rates solar radiation and carbon dioxide, oxygen release, transpiration, and other processes that affect the formation of the natural environment. When destroying green arrays on large area the biological cycle of a number of chemical elements is accelerating, including carbon, which enters the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. There is a greenhouse effect.

live filter

Forests are able to actively transform chemical and atmospheric pollution, especially gaseous, moreover, coniferous plantations, as well as some types of deciduous trees (lindens, willows, birches) have the greatest oxidizing ability. In addition, the forest has the ability to absorb individual components of industrial pollution.

The quality of drinking water stored in reservoirs largely depends on the forest cover and the state of plantings. drainage basin. This is especially important if pesticides and fertilizers are used in large quantities on agricultural land located near water sources. Pollutants dissolved in water can be partially retained by forest soils.

The example of the city of New York is known, in the vicinity of which, in the mid-1990s, deforestation, development, intensification of agriculture and the development of the road network led to sharp decline drinking water quality. The city authorities were faced with a choice: to build new treatment facilities worth $2–6 billion and spend up to $300 million annually to maintain them, or to invest in improving the protective functions of forests and other ecosystems in water protection zones. The choice was made in favor of the second option, including for economic reasons. Significant funds were used to buy land along rivers and streams to prevent further development, as well as to pay farmers and forest owners for their use of environmentally responsible management practices in water protection zones. This example demonstrates that sound forest ecosystem management can be much more cost-effective than purely technical solutions.

The forests are dying

It would seem that we have more than enough reasons for "the whole world" to stand up for every patch of forest. But the lessons of past centuries and this century have not yet been learned.

Every year, the area of ​​green areas decreases by about 13 million hectares. Now natural plantations occupy only about 30% of the land area, despite the fact that in the past they were distributed over a much larger area. Before there was Agriculture And industrial production, the area of ​​forests was more than 6 billion hectares. Since prehistoric times, the area under forests, on average across all continents, has decreased by about half.

Most of the massifs have been cut down to create agricultural land, the other, smaller part is occupied by rapidly growing settlements, industrial complexes, roads and other infrastructure. Over the past 40 years, forest area per capita has decreased by more than 50%, from 1.2 ha to 0.6 ha per person. Currently, according to the FAO (Food and Agronomy Organization at the United Nations), about 3.7 billion hectares are covered with forest.

most affected by active human activity European forests. In Europe, there are practically no primary (virgin) forests by now. They have been replaced by fields, orchards and artificial forest plantations.

In China, 3/4 of all arrays have been destroyed.

The USA has lost 1/3 of all its forests and 85% of its primary stands. In particular, in the eastern United States, only a tenth of the plantations that existed there in the 16th-17th centuries have survived.

Only in some places (Siberia, Canada) do forests still prevail over treeless spaces, and only here there are still large tracts of relatively untouched northern forests.

What to do?

We have already passed half of the way to the complete destruction of forests. Will we get off it? What to do? The most common answer is to plant forests. Many have heard about the principle "how much you cut down - so much and plant." This is not entirely true.

  • It is necessary to plant forests, first of all, in those regions where deforestation processes are intensively going on, and in those places where a forest can grow, but for some reason has disappeared and will not recover on its own in the foreseeable future.
  • It is necessary not only to plant trees to replace those that have been cut down, but also to cut them in such a way that the natural potential for reforestation is preserved. Simply put, almost every industrially cleared forest has viable undergrowth - young trees of the same species that make up the forest canopy. And it is required to cut so as not to destroy them and preserve the conditions for their life. This is quite possible with modern technologies. Most The best way felling - with the preservation of natural forest dynamics. In this case, the forest generally almost “does not notice” that it is being cut down, and a minimum of measures and costs for reforestation is required. Unfortunately, the experience of such logging both in Russia and in the world is not great.

The answer to many questions is sustainable forest management, without crises, disasters and other shocks.

Sustainable development (as well as sustainable forest management) is a development that meets the needs of life current generation people without depriving future generations of such opportunities.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in its work pays much attention to the implementation of sustainable forest management both in Russia and in the world.

But this is a topic for a separate article. We only note that at present, sustainable forest management is best international systems voluntary forest certification, which are already quite widespread in Russia.

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In conclusion, let's try to answer the question: what can I personally do to prevent forests from disappearing? And here's what:

1. Save paper.

2. In no case do not allow arson in the forest: first of all, do not set fire to dry grass and do not let others do it; if you find grass burns, either try to eliminate them yourself, or, if this is not possible, call the fire department.

3. Buy products from responsibly managed forests. In Russia, this is, first of all, certified products.

4. And finally, just go to the forest more often to learn to understand and love it more.

We'd better never know what will happen if the forests disappear!

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For reference:

Taxol (Taxol) - an anticancer drug; previously it was obtained only from the bark of the Pacific yew tree, but now they have learned how to get it synthetically; in addition, it can be obtained by biotechnological methods.

Phytomass - the total mass of living matter of all plants.

See: Ponomarenko S.V., Ponomarenko E.V. How can the ecological degradation of Russian landscapes be stopped? M.: SoES, 1994. 24 p.

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Tree names are often very interesting story origin. Often they are formed from the surname or name of a famous person.


Not only the tree itself is symbolic, but also its parts - branches, trunk, roots, shoots. We invite you on an exciting journey into the mythological past of the tree.

The forest expanses of Russia seem almost limitless. But even on such a scale, a person in the process of economic activity manages to inflict damage on them. Felling for the purpose of harvesting timber in some places is becoming widespread. Such intensive and unreasonable use gradually leads to the fact that the forest fund begins to be depleted. This is noticeable even in the taiga zone.

The rapid destruction of forests leads to the disappearance of unique flora and fauna, as well as to the deterioration of the ecological situation. This is especially true for the composition of the air.

Main causes of deforestation

Among the main reasons for deforestation, first of all, it is worth noting the possibility of its use as a building material. Also, very often, forests are cut down for the purpose of building or using land for agricultural land.

This problem became especially acute at the beginning of the 19th century. With the development of science and technology, most of the felling work began to be done by machines. This made it possible to significantly increase productivity, and, accordingly, the number of cut down trees.

Another reason for the massive logging is the creation of pastures for farm animals. This problem is especially relevant in tropical forests. On average, grazing one cow will require 1 ha of pasture, which is several hundred trees.

Why should forest areas be conserved? What causes deforestation

The forest area is not only trees and shrubs and herbs, it is also hundreds of different living beings. Deforestation is one of the most common environmental problems. With the destruction of trees in the biogeocenosis system, the ecological balance is disturbed.

Uncontrolled destruction of forests leads to the following negative consequences:

  1. Some species of flora and fauna are disappearing.
  2. Species diversity is decreasing.
  3. The amount of carbon dioxide begins to increase in the atmosphere ().
  4. Soil erosion occurs, which leads to the formation of deserts.
  5. In places with a high level of groundwater, waterlogging begins.

Interesting! More than half of all forest areas are tropical forests. At the same time, about 90% of all known animals and plants live in them.

Statistics on deforestation in the world and in Russia

Deforestation is a global problem. It is relevant not only not for Russia, but also for a number of other countries. According to deforestation statistics, about 200 thousand km 2 of forests are cut down worldwide every year. This leads to the death of tens of thousands of animals.

If we consider the data in thousand hectares for individual countries, they will look like this:

  1. Russia - 4.139;
  2. Canada - 2.45;
  3. Brazil - 2.15;
  4. USA - 1.73;
  5. Indonesia - 1.6.

The problem of deforestation is least affected by China, Argentina and Malaysia. On average, about 20 hectares of forest plantations are destroyed in one minute on the planet. This problem is especially acute for tropical zone. For example, in India, over 50 years, the area covered with forests has decreased by more than 2 times.

In Brazil, large areas of forest have been cleared for development purposes. Because of this, the populations of some animal species have been greatly reduced. Africa accounts for approximately 17% of the world's forest stock. In terms of ha, this is about 767 million. According to the latest data, about 3 million hectares are cut down here annually. Over 70% of Africa's forests have been destroyed in recent centuries.

The logging statistics in Russia are also disappointing. Especially a lot of coniferous trees are destroyed in our country. Mass cutting in Siberia and the Urals contributed to the formation of a large number of wetlands. It should be noted that most of the cuttings are illegal.

Forest groups

All forests on the territory of Russia in terms of their conservation and economic importance can be classified into 3 groups:

  1. This group includes plantings that have a water protection and protective function. For example, these can be forest belts along the banks of water bodies or wooded areas on mountain slopes. This group also includes forests that perform a sanitary-hygienic and health-improving function, national reserves and parks, natural monuments. The forests of the first group account for 17% of the total forest area.
  2. The second group includes plantings in areas with a high population density and a well-developed transport network. This also includes forests with an insufficient forest resource base. The second group accounts for about 7%.
  3. The most numerous group accounts for 75% of its share in the forest fund. This category includes plantings for operational purposes. Due to them, the needs for wood are satisfied.

The division of forests into groups is described in more detail in the Fundamentals of Forest Legislation.

Clearing types

Wood harvesting can be carried out in all forest groups without exception. In this case, all cuttings are divided into 2 types:

  • main use;
  • care.

Main fellings

Final fellings are carried out only in plantations that have reached the ripening period. They are divided into the following types:

  1. Solid. With this type of felling, everything is cut down except for the undergrowth. They are carried out in one go. The restriction on their implementation is imposed in forests of environmental and ecological importance, as well as in reserves and parks.
  2. Gradual. With this type of felling, the forest stand is removed in several stages. At the same time, first of all, trees are cut down that interfere with the further development of young growth, damaged and diseased. Usually 6 to 9 years pass between the stages of this felling. In the first step, about 35% of the total forest stand is removed. At the same time, overmature trees make up the bulk.
  3. Selective. Their main purpose is the formation of highly productive plantations. During them, diseased, dead, windbreak and other inferior trees are cut down. All care cuttings are divided into the following types: clarification, cleaning, thinning and passing. Depending on the condition of the forest, thinning may be continuous.

Legal and illegal logging

All deforestation works are strictly regulated Russian legislation. At the same time, the most important document is the "Cutting ticket". The following documents will be required for its registration:

  1. A statement stating the reason for the cutting.
  2. Plan of the area with the allocation of the area allocated for felling.
  3. Taxation description of cut down plantings.

A felling ticket will also be required when exporting already harvested wood. Its price is proportional to the cost of compensation for use natural resources. Cutting down trees without proper documentation is classified as illegal logging.

Responsibility for it is provided for by Article 260 Part 1. It is applicable only in cases where the amount of damage exceeds 5000 rubles. For minor violations, administrative liability is applicable. It involves imposing a fine of 3,000 to 3,500 rubles on citizens and 20,000 to 30,000 on officials.

The consequences of deforestation

The effects of deforestation are a far-reaching problem. Deforestation affects the entire ecosystem. This is especially true for the problem of purification and saturation of air with oxygen.

Also, according to recent studies, it has been found that mass felling contributes to global warming. This is due to the carbon cycle occurring on the surface of the Earth. At the same time, one should not forget about the water cycle in nature. Trees take an active part in it. By absorbing moisture with their roots, they evaporate it into the atmosphere.

Erosion of soil layers is another problem that accompanies the problem of deforestation. Tree roots prevent erosion and weathering of the upper fertile soil layers. In the absence of a tree stand, winds and precipitation begin to destroy the upper humus layer, thereby turning fertile lands into a lifeless desert.

The problem of deforestation and ways to solve it

Tree planting is one way to solve the problem of deforestation. But she cannot fully compensate for the damage done. The approach to this problem must be comprehensive. To do this, you must adhere to the following directions:

  1. Plan forest management.
  2. Strengthen the protection and control over the use of natural resources.
  3. Develop a system for monitoring and accounting for the forest fund.
  4. Improve forest legislation.

In most cases, planting trees does not cover the damage. For example, in South America and Africa, despite all the measures taken, the forest area continues to decline inexorably. Therefore, in order to reduce negative consequences felling, it is necessary to take a whole range of additional measures:

  1. Increase planting area annually.
  2. Establish protected areas with a special forest management regime.
  3. Send significant forces to prevent forest fires.
  4. Implement wood recycling.

The policy of forest protection in different countries can differ significantly. Someone introduces a restriction on the use, and someone simply increases the volume of restoration plantings. But, completely new approach to this problem has developed Norway. She plans completely eliminate cutting.

This country has officially announced that the policy of the so-called "zero deforestation" will be implemented on its territory. Over the years, Norway has actively supported various forest protection programs. For example, in 2015, it allocated 1 billion rubles to Brazil for the conservation of the Amazon rainforest. Investments from Norway and a number of other countries have helped to reduce logging by 75%.

From 2011 to 2015, the Norwegian government allocated 250 million rubles and other tropical country- Guyana. And since this year, Norway has officially declared “zero tolerance” for logging. That is, it will no longer purchase forest products.

Ecologists say that paper can also be produced by recycling the corresponding waste. And other resources can be used as fuel and building materials. To this statement, the state Pension Fund Norway reacted by withdrawing from its portfolio all shares of enterprises associated with damage to the forest fund.

According to the Wildlife Fund, every minute forests with an area comparable to the area of ​​48 football fields disappear from the Earth's surface. It also significantly increases the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.