Deforestation - forest problems. Deforestation is an environmental problem. Forest - the lungs of the planet

For a long time scientists have been talking about the harmful impact of technological progress on nature. Climate change, melting ice, decreasing the quality of drinking water have a very negative impact on people's lives. Ecologists around the world have long been alarmed about the pollution and destruction of nature. One of the most important environmental problems is deforestation. Forest problems are visible especially in civilized states. Environmentalists believe that deforestation leads to many negative consequences for the Earth and man. Without forests, there will be no life on Earth, it needs to be understood by those on whom their preservation depends. However, wood has long been a commodity that is expensive. And so the problem of forest destruction is being solved with such difficulty. Perhaps people just do not think that their entire life depends on this ecosystem. Although long since all revered the forest, giving it often magical functions. He was a breadwinner and personified the life-giving force of nature. He was loved, respected by the trees, and they answered our ancestors the same.

Forests of the planet

In all countries, in every corner of the world, mass deforestation is carried out. The problems of the forest are that many species of plants and animals die with the destruction of trees. Violated ecological balance in nature. After all, the forest is not only trees. This is a well-coordinated ecosystem based on the interaction of many representatives of the flora and fauna. In addition to trees, great importance in its existence has shrubs, herbaceous plants, lichens, insects, animals and even microorganisms. Despite massive logging, so far forests occupy about 30% of the land area. This is more than 4 billion hectares of land. More than half of them are tropical forests. However, northern, especially coniferous, massifs also play a significant role in the ecology of the planet. The richest countries in the world are Finland and Canada. In Russia, about 25% of the world's forest resources are located. The last few trees were left in Europe. Now the forests occupy only a third of its territory, although in ancient times it was completely covered with trees. And, for example, in England they are almost gone, only 6% of the land is given for parks and plantations.

Rainforests

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

Value of the forest

1. It provides humanity with oxygen. It is no coincidence that the forest is the lungs of the planet. And it not only produces oxygen, but also partially absorbs chemical contaminants, purifying the air. A wisely organized ecosystem accumulates carbon, important for the existence of life on Earth. This also helps to prevent the greenhouse effect, which is increasingly threatening nature.
2. The forest protects the surrounding area from strong temperature changes, night frosts, which has a favorable effect on the state of farmland. Scientists have found that the climate is softer where most of the territory is overgrown with trees.
3. The use of forests for crops is also in the fact that it protects the soil from washing out, demolition by wind, landslides and mudflows. The areas overgrown with trees prevent the occurrence of sand.
4. The forest plays a huge role in the water cycle. It not only filters it and saves it in the soil, but it also helps to fill rivers and streams with water during floods, preventing swamping of the terrain. The forest helps maintain groundwater levels and prevents floods. Absorption by roots of moisture from the soil and intensive evaporation by its leaves helps to avoid drought.

The use of forests for the benefit of man

Green plantations are important for humans not only because they regulate the water cycle and provide all living with oxygen. In the forest grow about a hundred fruit and berry trees and bushes, as well as nuts, more than 200 kinds of edible and medicinal herbs and mushrooms. There are many animals produced, such as sable, marten, squirrel or black grouse. But most of all a person needs wood. It is because of this that deforestation takes place. Forest problems are that without trees the entire ecosystem is dying. So why does a person need wood?

1. First of all, this is, of course, construction. For example, until now almost all the houses in the villages of Siberia are built of wood. Despite the appearance of modern building materials, it is still considered the best. Wood also makes furniture, parquet, windows and doors.
2. Wood is very involved in the railway industry. In addition to the fact that most sleepers are made of it, it goes to the manufacture of wagons and bridges.
3. Since ancient times, wood has been considered the best material in shipbuilding.
4. Irreplaceable wood and in the chemical industry: it makes turpentine, acetone, vinegar, rubber, alcohol, fertilizers and plastic. It is used in tannic and dyeing industries.
5. For many hundreds of years the tree is the only material for the production of paper. Tens of millions of cubic meters per year are now spent on this.
6. A very large amount of wood is still used as fuel.
7. In total more than 20 thousand things necessary for man are made of wood. For example, fabrics, toys, musical instruments or sporting goods.

Deforestation

Forest problems arise when it happens uncontrollably, often illegally. After all, the forests have been cut down for a long time. And for 10 thousand years of existence of mankind, about two-thirds of all trees have disappeared from the face of the Earth. Especially a lot of wood fell in the Middle Ages, when more and more space was needed for construction and farmland. And now every year about 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed and almost half of them are places where the human foot has never set foot. Why do they cut down the forest?

• To make way for construction (after all, the growing population of the Earth is required to build new cities);
• As in antiquity, the forest is cut with slash-and-burn agriculture, freeing up the plowland;
• The development of livestock requires more and more places for pasture;
• Forests often interfere with the extraction of minerals, so necessary for mankind for technological progress;
• And, finally, wood is now a very valuable commodity used in many industries.

What kind of forest can I cut down

The disappearance of forests has long attracted the attention of scientists. Different states try to somehow regulate this process. All forest tracts were divided into three groups:

1. Prohibited to cutting down. These are those forests that are very important in ensuring ecological balance on Earth. They perform water protection or public health functions. Most often these forests are protected and enter into various reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. For the felling of trees in such a forest is provided for criminal liability.
2. Forests of limited use. They are in densely populated areas and also perform important functions. Although these are places where partial deforestation is permitted. The environmental problem has arisen because of the fact that wood is often harvested in excess of the measure in these areas. In addition to permitted cutting, for example with a sanitary purpose, healthy valuable varieties of trees are destroyed for sale. Such illegal logging is very common in Russia. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that our forest is very valued abroad, and it is paid a lot of money for it.
3. Operational forests specially planted for logging. They cut down completely, and then planted again.

Types of deforestation

In most countries, the problems of forests are of concern to many scientists and government representatives. Therefore, at the legislative level there is limited felling. However, the fact is that often it is conducted illegally. And although this is considered poaching and punished with heavy fines or imprisonment, mass destruction of forests for profit is growing. For example, deforestation in Russia is almost 80% carried out illegally. And wood is mainly sold abroad. And what are the official types of felling?

1. The so-called main felling. Removed at the same time is the "ripe forest", valuable trees, necessary for industry and construction. Such logging can be continuous (which can only be carried out in the old forest), selective (when experts note which trees can be cut) and gradual.
2. Felling of plants. In this case, cut unripe trees, interfering with the growth of valuable breeds. Young plants often take from other trees nutrients and moisture.
3. Complex cutting, when a site is completely freed from vegetation. This may be required when building or laying a road, power lines, or when you need to clear a place for pasture or farmland.
4. Sanitary logging least of all harms the forest. On the contrary, he heals him. In this case, only diseased and damaged plants are cut down. For example, victims of a fire, broken by a storm or infected with a fungus.

What damage does deforestation do?

The ecological problem of the disappearance of the so-called "light" planet already worries many. Most people believe that this threatens to reduce the supply of oxygen. This is so, but this is not the main problem. The scale that deforestation has now taken is striking. The photo from the satellite of the former woodlands helps to present the situation visually. To what it can lead:

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

According to the researchers, deforestation brings damage to the world economy amounting to 5 trillion dollars a year.

How are the forests cleaned?

How does the deforestation take place? The photo of the territory where the felling was recently carried out is an unsightly sight: a bare country, almost devoid of vegetation, stumps, stains of campfire and stripes of naked soil. How does this work out? The name "felling" has been preserved since the times when trees were felled with an ax. Now for this use chainsaws. After the tree fell to the ground, the branches are chopped and burned. The bare trunk is almost immediately taken away. And move it to the place of transportation by dragging, trailer to the tractor. Therefore, there remains a strip of bare earth with torn vegetation and destroyed underbrush. Thus, a young shoot is destroyed, which could revive the forest. At this point, the ecological balance is completely disturbed and other conditions for vegetation are created.

What happens after cutting down

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

• The level of illumination changes. Those undergrowth plants that are accustomed to living in the shadows are dying.
• Another temperature regime. Without protecting the trees, there is a sharper temperature fluctuation, frequent night frosts. This also leads to the death of many plants.
• Increased soil moisture can lead to waterlogging. And wind blowing the moisture from the leaves of young trees does not allow them to develop normally.
• Root death and the decomposition of forest litter release many nitrogenous compounds that enrich the soil. However, they feel better on it than plants that need just such mineral substances. The fastest growing is raspberries or willow-tea, well developed birch or willow shoots. Therefore, the restoration of deciduous forests is rapid, if a person does not interfere in this process. But coniferous trees grow very poorly after cutting, because they multiply by seeds, for which there are no normal conditions for development. Such negative consequences are deforestation. Solution of the problem - what is it?

Addressing the problem of deforestation

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

• The transition from paper to electronic media, collection of waste paper and separate collection of garbage will reduce the use of wood for paper production;
• The creation of forest farms on which trees of valuable species will grow, having the shortest maturity;
• Prohibition of logging in nature protection zones and toughening penalties for it;
• Increase of the state duty on export of wood abroad to make it unprofitable.

The disappearance of forests does not yet excite the average person. However, many problems are connected with this. When all people understand that it is the forests that provide them with a normal existence, maybe they will be more careful with trees. Everyone can contribute to the revival of the world's forests by planting at least one tree.