Biological resources

Forest resources cover about 30% of land

Over the past 10 thousand years, forests on the planet have been cut down on 2/3 of the area of ​​their former distribution.

Mixed and broadleaf forests reduced to 1/2 of the original area,

Forests of the Mediterranean subtropics - 80%,

Forests of zones monsoon rains– by 90%.

On the Great Chinese and Indo-Gangetic Plains, forests have survived to only 5% of their former extent.

Degradation and reduction of wet areas tropical forests occurs at a rate of approximately 26 ha per minute,
20 years ago this speed was 5 hectares per minute less.
Deforested areas of tropical rainforest are not restored; shrub formations form in their place, and desertification occurs with severe soil erosion.

What does deforestation lead to?

Water flow in rivers is decreasing

The lakes are drying up

The groundwater level is falling

Soil erosion is increasing

The climate becomes more arid and continental

Droughts and dust storms occur frequently.

Forests of Russia
belong to the northern forest belt of the planet,
constitute approximately 1/4 of all forests
Area of ​​forested land in the Russian Federation, million hectares:
1991 – 771.1,
2000 – 774.3,
2007 - 777.2.
2010 - 770.3
Forest cover of the territory of the Russian Federation 45.4%
(2007) and 46.6% (2010)

In Russia, by order of the Ministry of Natural Resources dated March 28, 2007 N68
8 forest vegetation zones have been approved:
1-zone of tundra forests and sparse taiga;
2 – taiga zone (71%);
3 - zone of coniferous-deciduous forests;
4 – forest-steppe zone;
5 and 6 – zones of steppes and semi-deserts;
7 - mountain zone North Caucasus;
8 – South Siberian mountain zone.

Currently Lease relations are the dominant legal form of forest use. The Forestry Code of the Russian Federation abolished the right of short-term use and the logging license.

The area of ​​land leased for timber harvesting by Rosleskhoz amounted to 118.1 million hectares in 2007 (5.4 million hectares more than in 2006).
The volume of standing timber sold at auctions in 2007 was 30,570 thousand cubic meters, which exceeds the level of 2006 by 5,496.7 thousand cubic meters

The number of areas leased for hunting purposes in 2007 increased by 28%, and their area - by 5.4 million hectares.

Positive dynamics in the number of plots forest fund provided for recreational activities (+20% to the 2006 level).

Reforestation work:

Since 1994, the area where trees are planted has been 1.5–2 times larger than the area of ​​clear felling.
Reforestation work is related to the fulfillment of the Russian Federation’s obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol on carbon sequestration and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2010, reforestation on forest fund lands was carried out on an area of ​​810.1 thousand hectares. The main way to restore forests throughout the country remains assistance natural regeneration. In 2010, measures to promote natural regeneration were carried out on an area of ​​633.1 thousand hectares, which is 78.1% of the total area of ​​reforestation work performed.

Artificial restoration forests are carried out by creating forest crops: planting seedlings, saplings, cuttings or sowing seeds of forest plants. The volume of work to create forest crops in 2010 was completed on an area of ​​169.7 thousand hectares (20.9% of the total volume). The areas of artificial reforestation are comparable to the areas covered by clear cuttings only in the sparsely forested areas of the Southern, Volga and Siberian federal districts. In taiga multi-forest areas where active logging is carried out, natural renewal prevails(overgrowing) by preserving viable undergrowth during felling, providing clearings with sources of seeding and tilling the soil for better seed germination and seedling growth.

Animal resources
The loss of genetic diversity is 50% and in the 20th century alone it amounts to 1/5 of the species composition.
Since 1600 (when the extinction of species began to be documented), more than 94 species of birds and more than 63 species of large mammals have become extinct on Earth.

The number of main species of game animals does not exceed several hundred thousand individuals (in Russia, 70 species of mammals and about 90 species of birds are classified as hunting objects.

The number of main species of game animals is: brown bear - 150-160 thousand individuals, lynx - 20-22 thousand, elk - 500-600 thousand, wild boar - 250-350 thousand, roe deer - 800-850 thousand, marten - 200–230 thousand, sable – 1.2–1.5 million, white hare – 4.5–5.0 million, capercaillie – 3.8–4.0 million, black grouse – about 10 million individuals. The use of forests for hunting in many regions of the Russian Federation is of great economic and social importance.

Fish resources- the main type of bioresource potential is in a depressed state in many seas and freshwater bodies.

Why? The habitat is polluted and disturbed basic principle of use:
the catch should not exceed the annual increase.

The state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of use of aquatic biological resources is to preserve and replenish water bodies with species of valuable commercial fish (sturgeon, salmon, whitefish, common fish, herbivores).

The main source of replenishment of aquatic biological resources is artificial reproduction using fish farms, which annually release many millions of juveniles into water bodies

Land resources of the world.
Of interest are soil resources, which are the source of 95-97% of food

The UN forecast was confirmed:
1/3 of the soil layer that humanity had back in the 70s of the 20th century has been lost...

The area of ​​the world's land resources is 129 million sq. km.
(86.5% of land area)
The total area of ​​arable land is 25-32 million sq. km
The annual loss of arable land in the world is about 7 million hectares
(i.e. a living base of 21 million people with a provision rate of 0.3 hectares)

Average per capita arable land supply of the Earth's population:
1985-1990 – 0.45 – 0.50 ha
1997-2000 – 0.35 - 0.37 ha
2005 – 2008 – 0.25 – 0.30 ha
forecast in 10 years – 0.23 ha.

Average per capita supply of arable land in different countries, ha:

Egypt – 0.05

Canada – 1.40

China – 0.09

Russia – 0.83

USA – 0.63-0.79

Germany – 0.15

France – 0.32

Japan – 0.04

REASONS FOR DECREASING SENTILITY:

1) The population of the planet increases every 5 days by approximately 1 million people. or more than 70 million people. in year

2) Soil degradation occurs

The influence of these two factors leads to a decrease in the per capita arable land supply.

Land degradation is widespread around the world.

From 1990 to 2007, farmland decreased from 222.4 to 220.5 million hectares, and arable land decreased from 132.3 to 121.6 million hectares. The area of ​​hayfields and fallow lands has increased.

Reasons for the reduction in the area of ​​agricultural land and arable land:
- transfer of land to another category (for the construction of industrial enterprises, roads, etc.);
- disturbance and degradation of soil cover.

Today, the problem of forest destruction is one of the first places among the global problems of mankind. The phenomenon of mass forest loss is widespread throughout European territory Russia and Siberia.

As for the forests of the planet, in most cases they are destroyed not on a whim, but in order to survive and not die of hunger.

Radiation exposure- a consequence of the death of the forest

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

In total, the area of ​​completely destroyed forest plantations was no more than 10 km2. The share of forests that died from radiation damage in the entire history of the nuclear industry is 0.3-0.4% of the annual loss of forests 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. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and their transport over long distances lead to such rain falling far from the sources of emissions.

Over the past 20 years (1970 – 1990), the world has lost almost 200 million hectares forest areas, which is equal to the area of ​​the United States east of the Mississippi.

Especially big environmental threat represents the depletion of tropical forests – the “lungs of the planet” and the main source biological diversity planets. There, approximately 200 thousand square kilometers are cut down or burned annually, which means 100 thousand species of plants and animals disappear. This process is especially fast in the regions richest in tropical forests - the Amazon and Indonesia.

Forest and tourism

Young trees die not only under fires, but also under axes, and even simply under the feet of numerous visitors. Forests often visited by tourists are so thoroughly littered with cans, bottles, rags, paper, etc., and bear traces of large and small wounds, that this negatively affects natural reforestation.

Not least important in causing damage is the custom of decoration. Christmas trees. Picking mushrooms, flowers and berries undermines the self-renewal of a number of plant species. A fire completely disables the piece of land on which it was laid out for 5-7 years. The noise scares away various birds and mammals and prevents them from raising their offspring normally. Breaking branches, nicks on trunks and other mechanical damage to trees contribute to their infestation by insect pests.

Protecting forests from fires. The Earth's forests suffer severely from fires. Forest fires destroy 2 million tons of organic matter annually. They apply great harm forestry: tree growth decreases, forest composition deteriorates, windbreaks increase, soil conditions and windbreaks deteriorate, soil conditions deteriorate. Forest fires contribute to the spread of harmful insects and wood-destroying fungi. World statistics states that 97% of forest fires occur due to human fault and only 3% due to lightning, mainly ball. The flames of forest fires destroy both flora and fauna in their path. In Russia it is given great attention protecting forests from fires. As a result of those taken for last years measures to strengthen preventive fire-fighting measures and implement a set of works for the timely detection and extinguishing of forest fires by aviation and ground forest fire units, the area of ​​forests covered by fire, especially in the European part of Russia, has decreased significantly.

However, the number of forest fires is still high. Fires occur due to careless handling of fire, due to a deep violation of the rules fire safety during agricultural work. An increased risk of fires is created by clutter in forest areas.

Humanity needs to realize that the death of forests is a deterioration of the environment. It will take centuries to stop its further destruction and delay the approach of an environmental catastrophe in the world.

We can only invite everyone to take care of the forest and its surrounding nature:

do not litter forests with household waste and industrial waste, natural landfills;

stop numerous constructions in forest areas dachas, cottages, roads, including spontaneous and uncontrolled ones;

do not damage or destroy forests as a result of industrial pollution;

do not cut down trees uncontrollably without permission economic needs;

protect from forest fires;

work more intensively to restore forests after logging;

Increased control

Problems of preserving the Earth's biological diversity

Biological diversity (BD) is the totality of all forms of life inhabiting our planet, this is the richness and diversity of life and its processes, including the diversity of living organisms and their genetic differences, as well as the diversity of the places where they exist.

According to the UNEP Global Biodiversity Assessment (1995), more than 30,000 species of animals and plants are at risk of extinction. Over the past 400 years, 484 animal species and 654 plant species have disappeared.

The reasons for the current accelerated decline in biological diversity are

1) rapid population growth and economic development, making huge changes to the living conditions of all organisms and ecological systems of the Earth;

2) increased migration of people, growth of international trade and tourism;

3) increasing pollution of natural waters, soil and air;

4) insufficient attention to the long-term consequences of actions that destroy the conditions of existence of living organisms, exploit natural resources and introduce non-native species;

The impossibility in a market economy to assess the true value of biological diversity and its losses.

Over the past 400 years, the main immediate reasons extinctions of animal species were:

1) introduction of new species, accompanied by displacement or extermination of local species (39% of all lost animal species);

Destruction of living conditions, direct seizure of territories inhabited by animals and their degradation,

3) uncontrolled hunting (23%); and etc.

The main reasons for the need to preserve genetic diversity.

All species (no matter how harmful or unpleasant they may be) have the right to exist. Enjoying nature, its beauty and diversity has the highest value, not expressed in quantitative terms. Diversity is the basis for the evolution of life forms. The decline in species and genetic diversity undermines the further improvement of life forms on Earth.

There are many ways to protect biodiversity.

Reserve. The goal is to preserve nature and natural processes in an undisturbed state.

2.National park. The goal is to preserve natural areas of national and international importance for scientific research, education and recreation. 3.Nature monument. These are usually small areas.

Managed natural reserves.

Protected landscapes and coastal species.

6. Resource reserve created to prevent premature use of the territory.

An anthropological reserve created to preserve the traditional way of life of the indigenous population.

Territory of multi-purpose use of natural resources, focused on sustainable use of water, forests, animals and flora, pastures and for tourism.

Biosphere reserves. They are created to preserve biological diversity.

Places world heritage. They are created to protect unique natural features of global importance.

The main reason for the global energy problem should be considered the rapid increase in the consumption of mineral fuels in the 20th century. Increasing fuel production energy resources resulted in a serious deterioration of the environmental situation.

An extensive way to solve the energy problem involves a further increase in energy production and an absolute increase in energy consumption. Energy crisis of the 70s. accelerated the development and implementation of energy-saving technologies and gives impetus to the structural restructuring of the economy.

IN modern conditions a ton of energy saved as a result of conservation measures is 3-4 times cheaper than a ton of additionally extracted energy. Under the influence of the energy crisis, developed countries in the 70-80s. carried out a large-scale structural restructuring of the economy in the direction of reducing the share of energy-intensive industries.

At the same time, many countries with emerging markets (Russia, Ukraine, China, India) continue to develop energy-intensive industries (ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemical industry, etc.), as well as use outdated technologies. In these countries, we should expect an increase in energy consumption both due to an increase in living standards and changes in the lifestyle of the population, and due to the lack of funds in many of these countries to reduce the energy intensity of the economy. Therefore, in modern conditions, it is in countries with emerging markets that the consumption of energy resources is growing, while in developed countries consumption remains at a relatively stable level. Thus, the global energy problem in its previous understanding as a threat of an absolute shortage of resources in the world does not exist. Nevertheless, the problem of providing energy resources remains in a modified form.

37. Alternative energy is a set of promising methods of obtaining, transmitting and using energy, which are not as widespread as traditional ones, but are of interest due to the profitability of their use with, as a rule, a low risk of harm to the environment.

Today, there is a growing need for promising methods of obtaining energy through the development of alternative energy (AE), since it is beneficial to use and, as a rule, causes low harm to the environment. Its share compared to traditional energy is still quite modest. Most of The energy needs of the whole world are met by thermal and nuclear power plants. However, by-products of nuclear power plants are radioactive waste, the issue of burial of which has not yet been resolved. In addition, there is the threat of terrorism, which can lead to catastrophic consequences. As for fossil energy resources (oil, gas, coal, peat) used by thermal power plants, they are not unlimited and cause damage to the environment.

Energy is divided into non-renewable and renewable (alternative) energy sources. In turn, renewable energy is divided into two more groups - traditional (hydropower and biomass energy) and non-traditional energy sources (defined federal law RF “On Electric Power Industry”).

The main property of populations, like other biological systems is that they are in continuous movement, constantly changing. This is reflected in all parameters: productivity, stability, structure, distribution in space. Populations are characterized by specific genetic and environmental characteristics that reflect the ability of systems to maintain existence in constantly changing conditions: growth, development, stability.

Main characteristics of populations: Number and density are the main parameters of a population. Number – total individuals in a given territory or in a given volume. Density is the number of individuals or their biomass per unit area or volume. In nature, there are constant fluctuations in numbers and density.

The dynamics of numbers and density are determined mainly by birth rates, deaths and migration processes. These are indicators that characterize population changes during a certain period: month, season, year, etc.

Structure and dynamics of populations. The dynamics, condition and reproduction of populations are consistent with their age and sex structure. The age structure reflects the rate of population renewal and the interaction of age groups with external environment. It depends on the characteristics of the life cycle, which differ significantly among different species (for example, birds and mammalian predators), and external conditions.

IN life cycle individuals are usually divided into three age periods: pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive. Plants are also characterized by a period of primary dormancy, which they go through in the stage of dormant seeds. Each period can be represented by one (simple structure) or several (complex structure) age stages. Annual plants and many insects have a simple age structure. A complex structure is typical for tree populations of different ages and for highly organized animals. How more complex structure, the higher the adaptive capabilities of the population

The productivity of agricultural crops depends on many factors. Such as temperature conditions and solar radiation are not regulated by humans in an open field, but are taken into account in practice by choosing the timing of sowing, plant density, row direction, etc.

Other factors are provided by human production activities. The most important of them include: the presence of moisture in the soil; supply of plants with nutrients; variety; seed quality; protection of crops from pests, diseases and weeds; growth regulation; harvest.

The essence of intensification of agriculture and intensive technologies is the following: placement of crops according to the best predecessors in the crop rotation system; cultivation of high-yielding intensive varieties with good grain quality; high supply of plant elements mineral nutrition taking into account their content in the soil; integrated plant protection system from pests, diseases and weeds;

Application of fertilizers. There is an objective contradiction between agricultural productivity and soil fertility: the more we take per hectare of produce, the higher the removal of nutrients. This contradiction can only be overcome by replenishing and increasing the energy potential of the soil, adding organic, mineral substances, and microelements.

In this regard, the importance of chemicalization of agriculture can hardly be overestimated: it allows increasing soil fertility, improving acidic and saline lands, better preserving and increasing nutritional value feed, etc.

Application mineral fertilizers can only slow down the pace of this process, but not eliminate it completely. The result is plowed soils, depletion of their humus reserves and a decrease in effective and potential fertility. This not only worsens the soil nutrition regime, but also negatively affects physicochemical characteristics, water-air and thermal regimes, soil-absorbing complex and biological activity of mineral fertilizers and leads to a significant shortage of crop yields.

Side effects of mineral fertilizers. The chemicalization of agriculture, which is carried out at an increasing pace, takes far from last place among the anthropogenic factors affecting soils and nature in general.

The industrial synthesis of nitrogen fertilizers and their dispersion over the surface of the earth makes serious changes in its biogeochemical cycle. Increasing the amount of nitrogen in natural environments due to human activities - dangerous phenomenon, since nitrates introduced in excess are not completely denitrified, and hence the balance between the processes of nitrification and denitrification is disturbed. Every year, the excess of nitrates reaches more than 9 million tons. They accumulate in the hydrosphere, plants, and subsequently in food products, cause severe poisoning.

Exhaust air from livestock buildings in the form of ventilation emissions also poses a certain threat to rural areas. As a result, air pollution and the introduction of large quantities of liquid manure into fields in the immediate vicinity of livestock farms can lead to pollution of an area of ​​about 100 thousand hectares.

Without drawing up an environmental passport and implementing its recommendations, harmful emissions from the complexes will continue to be unregistered, and consequently the air, soil, surface and ground water will be polluted, and the requirements regulating the protection of the surrounding territory of the complexes and adjacent areas will not be met.

For these purposes, an environmental passport has been developed for livestock farms with industrial technology production of meat and milk. The basis for the development of an environmental passport is a permit for environmental use and operating instructions technological equipment, passports of treatment and production facilities, statistical reporting data, production indicators and regulatory and technical documents.

Thus, on the basis of the environmental passport of the livestock complex, environmental protection measures are developed, the implementation of which guarantees environmental protection and guarantees a healthy living environment for animals and humans

The MPC value is determined by calculation based on the ADI value and the amount of product in the daily diet. ADI and ADI are established on the basis of threshold doses, reduced by the safety factor. Values ​​of chipboard and particle size distribution for many food additives and pesticides were developed by a committee of experts of the Food and Agriculture Section of the United Nations and a WHO expert group (FAO/WHO).

Hygienic standards for the content of chemical substances characterize acceptable, and not optimal, conditions for exposure to environmental factors. Therefore, their strict observance is minimal necessary measure on ensuring chemical safety.

Soviet scientists (A.E. Fersman, N.N. Semenov, I.V. Petryanov-Sokolov, B.N. Laskorin, etc.) made a significant contribution to the concept of waste-free production. Waste-free production is based on the technogenic cycle of substances and energy. The need to create waste-free production arose in the 50s. 20th century due to the depletion of the world's natural resources and pollution of the biosphere as a result rapid development industries (oil refining, chemical industry, nuclear energy, non-ferrous metallurgy, etc.).

According to the ideas of D.I. Mendeleev (1885), the measure of production excellence is the amount of waste. With the development of science and technology, each production is increasingly approaching waste-free production. At this stage, waste-free production refers to essentially low-waste production, in which only a small part of the raw materials is converted into waste. The latter are buried, neutralized or sent to long-term storage for the purpose of their disposal in the future. In low-waste industries, emissions of harmful substances do not exceed the maximum permissible concentration, as well as the level at which irreversible environmental changes are prevented.

The main directions for creating low-waste production at a separate enterprise or in an entire industrial region: environmentally friendly preparation and comprehensive processing of raw materials in combination with cleaning harmful emissions, waste disposal, optimal use of energy, water and gas cycles; the use of so-called short (low-stage) technological schemes with max. extraction of target and by-products at each stage; replacing batch processes with continuous ones using automated systems management and more advanced equipment; widespread involvement in the production of secondary resources.

Environmental monitoring

A comprehensive system of long-term observations, assessment and forecast of changes in the state of the environment under the influence of anthropogenic factors. The main tasks of monitoring: monitoring the state of the biosphere, assessing and forecasting the state of the natural environment, identifying factors and sources of anthropogenic impacts on the environment, warning about emerging critical situations that are harmful or dangerous to the life and health of people and other living organisms.

Natural resources are natural objects that are used by humans and contribute to the creation of material wealth. Natural conditions influence human life and activity, but do not participate in material production.

Natural resources are classified according to their characteristics: atmospheric, water, plant. Classification of natural resources according to their exhaustibility: animals, soil, subsoil, energy. Exhaustible resources include those that can be exhausted in the near or distant future. These are subsoil and wildlife resources. Inexhaustible resources are resources that can be used indefinitely. These are the resources of solar energy, sea tides, and wind. Water has a special position among resources. It is exhaustible due to pollution (qualitatively), but inexhaustible quantitatively.

Natural resources are an important part of a country's national wealth and a source of wealth and services. The process of reproduction is essentially a continuous process of interaction between society and nature, in which society subjugates the forces of nature and natural resources to satisfy needs. Natural resources largely determine not only the socio-economic potential of the country and region and the efficiency of social production, but also the health and life expectancy of the population.

By sources and location: natural resources (bodies or natural phenomena) arise in natural environments (water, atmosphere, plant or soil cover, etc.) and in space form certain combinations that change within the boundaries of natural-territorial complexes. On this basis, they are divided into two groups: resources of natural components and resources of natural-territorial complexes.

Resources of natural components. Each type natural resource usually formed in one of the components of the landscape shell. It is controlled by the same natural factors that create this natural component and influence its characteristics and territorial location. According to their belonging to the components of the landscape shell, resources are distinguished: 1) mineral, 2) climatic, 3) water, 4) plant, 5) land, 6) soil, 7) animal world. This classification is widely used in domestic and foreign literature.

Resources of natural-territorial complexes. Each landscape (or natural-territorial complex) has a certain set of various types natural resources. Depending on the properties of the landscape and the combination of types of resources, their quantitative and qualitative characteristics change. Almost any landscape has climatic, water, land, soil and other resources, but the possibilities economic use very different. In one case, favorable conditions may arise for the extraction of mineral raw materials, in others - for the cultivation of valuable cultivated plants or for organization industrial production, resort complex, etc. On this basis, natural resource territorial complexes according to the most preferred (or preferred) type of economic development. They are divided into: 1) mining, 2) agricultural, 3) water management, 4) forestry, 5) residential, 6) recreational, etc.

By area of ​​use

Based on the principle of replaceability

according to the principle of exhaustibility and renewability:

Exhaustible (renewable, non-renewable): They are formed in the earth's crust or landscape, but the volumes and rates of their formation are measured on a geological time scale. At the same time, the need for such resources from production or for the organization favorable conditions a habitat human society significantly exceed the volumes and rates of natural replenishment. As a result, depletion of natural resources inevitably occurs. The group of exhaustible resources includes resources with unequal rates and volumes of formation. Based on the intensity and speed of natural formation, resources are divided into subgroups:

Non-renewable, which include: a) all types of mineral resources or minerals. As is known, they are constantly formed in the depths of the earth’s crust as a result of the continuously ongoing process of ore formation, but the scale of their accumulation is so insignificant, and the rates of formation are measured over many tens and hundreds of millions of years, that practically they cannot be taken into account in economic calculations. The development of mineral raw materials occurs on a historical time scale and is characterized by ever-increasing volumes of withdrawal. In this regard, all mineral resources are considered not only exhaustible, but also non-renewable. b) Land resources in their natural form are the material basis on which the life of human society takes place. The morphological structure of the surface (i.e., relief) significantly influences economic activity and the possibility of developing the territory. Once disturbed land (for example, by quarries) during large industrial or civil construction in its natural form are no longer restored.

Renewable resources, which include: a) resources of flora and b) fauna. Both are restored quite quickly, and the volumes of natural renewal are well and accurately calculated. Therefore, when organizing the economic use of accumulated reserves of wood in forests, grass in meadows or pastures, and hunting wild animals within limits not exceeding annual renewal, resource depletion can be completely avoided.

Relatively (not completely) renewable. Although some resources are restored over historical periods of time, their renewable volumes are significantly less than the volumes of economic consumption. That is why these types of resources turn out to be very vulnerable and require especially careful control by humans. Relatively renewable resources also include very scarce natural resources: a) productive arable soils; b) forests with mature tree stands; V) water resources from a regional perspective. Anthropogenic soil destruction has been occurring so intensely in recent decades that it gives grounds to classify soil resources as “relatively renewable.”

Inexhaustible (solar energy, water resources, climatic resources): among the bodies and natural phenomena of resource significance, there are those that are practically inexhaustible. These include climatic and water resources:

Climate resources. Typically, climate resources are understood as the reserves of heat and moisture available in a particular area or region. Since these resources are formed in certain parts of the thermal and water cycles, constantly operating over the planet as a whole and over its individual regions, the reserves of heat and moisture can be considered inexhaustible within certain quantitative limits, precisely established for each region.

Water resources of the planet. The earth has a colossal volume of water - about 1.5 billion cubic meters. km. However, 98% of this volume is the salty waters of the World Ocean, and only 28 million cubic meters. km - fresh waters. Since technologies for desalination of salty sea waters are already known, the waters of the World Ocean and salt lakes can be considered as potential water resources, the use of which in the future is quite possible. Subject to the principles of rational water use, these resources can be considered inexhaustible. However, if these principles are violated, the situation can sharply worsen, and even on a planetary scale there may be a shortage of clean fresh water. In the meantime, the natural environment annually “gives” humanity 10 times more water than it needs to satisfy a wide variety of needs.

Deforestation as an environmental problem.

It's hard to overestimate. It's not for nothing that there are trees. They generally constitute a single ecosystem, which affects the life of various species, the soil, atmosphere, and water regime. Many people have no idea what kind of disaster deforestation will lead to if it is not stopped.

The problem of deforestation

At the moment, the problem of cutting down trees is relevant for all continents of the earth, but this problem is most acute in the countries of Western Europe, South America, and Asia. Intensive destruction of forests leads to the problem of deforestation. An area cleared of trees turns into a poor landscape and becomes unsuitable for life.

To understand how close the disaster is, you should pay attention to a number of facts:

• more than half have already been destroyed, and it will take a hundred years to restore them;
• now only 30% of the land is occupied by forests;
• Regular cutting down of trees leads to an increase in carbon monoxide in the atmosphere by 6-12%;
• Every minute, an area of ​​forest that is the size of several football fields disappears.

Causes of deforestation

Common reasons for cutting down trees include:

• wood has high value as a building material and raw material for paper, cardboard, and the manufacture of household items;
• forests are often destroyed in order to expand new agricultural land;
• for laying communications and roads

In addition, a large number of trees suffer as a result, which constantly occur due to improper handling of fire. They also occur during the dry season.

Illegal deforestation

Quite often, cutting down trees occurs illegally. Many countries around the world lack institutions and people who can control the process of deforestation. In turn, entrepreneurs in this area sometimes commit violations, annually increasing the volume of deforestation. It is also believed that wood supplied by poachers who do not have a permit to operate also enters the market. There is an opinion that the introduction of a high duty on timber would significantly reduce the sale of timber abroad and, accordingly, would reduce the number of trees cut down.

Deforestation in Russia

Russia is one of the leading wood producers. Together with Canada, these two countries contribute about 34% of the total material exported to the world market. The most active areas where trees are cut down are the territory of Siberia and Far East. As for illegal logging, everything is resolved by paying fines. However, this does not contribute in any way to the restoration of the forest ecosystem.

The main result of cutting down trees is deforestation, which has many consequences:

• climate change;
• environmental pollution;
• ecosystem change;
• destruction of a large number of plants;
• animals are forced to leave familiar places a habitat;
• deterioration of the atmosphere;
• deterioration in nature;
• soil destruction, which will lead to;
• emergence of environmental refugees.

Permit for deforestation

Companies that cut down trees must obtain a special permit for this activity. To do this, you need to submit an application, a plan of the area where the felling is taking place, a description of the types of trees that will be cut down, as well as a number of papers for coordination with various services. In general, obtaining such permission is difficult. However, this does not completely rule out the illegality of deforestation. It is recommended that this procedure be tightened while the planet's forests can still be saved.

Sample permit for deforestation

What will happen to the planet if all the trees are cut down?

Ecological problems

Current problems of the natural environment and modern world varied. They pose a danger to the planet, both for its present and for the future of all humanity, 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 humanity in a healthy environment.

Unsustainable human activities have caused great damage to natural ecosystems and led to: depletion of soils and fresh water resources, reduction of forest area, extinction of animal and plant species, global pollution environment and greenhouse effect, in turn, who called global warming, formation of acid rain, ozone holes, desertification, etc. The worsening of these global problems signals a serious environmental crisis. Human influence on the entire planet has exceeded the self-healing capabilities of ecosystems. Human-influenced habitat changes became more widespread in the second half of the 20th century due to accelerated development of agriculture and industry, increased transportation, and expanded trade. Degradation of the natural environment also affects human health. There are already a significant number of cities where the effects of air pollution are felt, among them: Detroit, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Calcutta, Los Angeles, New York, etc. In these and other cities, the number of respiratory system diseases among the population, including lung cancer, is high. Atmospheric pollution with lead, copper and aluminum leads to diseases of the nervous system.

To provide healthy image the lives of all humanity and the development of a sustainable economy are required joint efforts. No country alone can stabilize climate change and protect fish resources World ocean. 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 of Global Environmental Changes, Strategic Initiative on Disaster Risk Reduction, World Climate Programme. These projects will allow specialists in various countries to find ways to solve problems associated with environmental changes worldwide.

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: they lower air temperature, increase humidity, reduce wind speed, etc.;

Hydrological function. Forests reduce the intensity of surface runoff after torrential rains, slow down the penetration of water into the soil, keep the water flow of springs almost constant, prevent mudflows, landslides, protect human habitation, agricultural lands, and transport routes from stormy flows;

Soil function. organic matter, accumulated by forests, participates in the formation of soils; -economic function. Timber and other forest resources play an important role in human history;

Social function. Opportunities for leisure, 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 routes, etc. The exploitation of forests for a long time was extensive, exceeding its natural regenerative abilities. In the period 1980-1985 alone, about 280 million hectares were subject to deforestation, which is almost 15 million hectares per year. High rates of deforestation occurred in Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and other countries.

In the Mediterranean region, where natural broadleaf forests have disappeared completely, only shrubs and other less valuable species remain that have virtually no economic value. Reportedly various sources Over the past three centuries, the world's forest stock has shrunk by half or more.

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

Natural disasters (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, etc.) negatively affect forests. Thousands of hectares of forest destroyed natural disasters. They can reduce the forest area to a critical limit. The May 31, 1970 earthquake in Peru alone destroyed forests covering an area of ​​about 70 thousand square kilometers;

Forest fires. A decrease in forest area as a result of natural fires that occur during severe drought occurs in vast areas of Central Siberia, Australia, Canada, California, Indonesia and other regions. In Indonesia, 3.7 million hectares of forest burned in 1983. In Brazil, during a big fire in 1963, 5 million hectares of forest died. This confirms that even moist equatorial forests are not protected from fire. Most often, fires in natural environment happen from lightning. In the state of Nebraska (USA), one day there were 30 forest fires caused by lightning, five of which covered vast areas, causing damage worth millions of dollars. Some fires happen due to human negligence. In densely populated areas, the most common cause of wildfires is human activity and man-made technologies. With the development of tourism, the number of fires caused by unextinguished cigarettes, fires and the carelessness of children is growing.

Deforestation - wood is used for fuel, building material and for processing (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 occurred in vast areas in the Amazon, Congo, etc. river basins, and the forests on these lands are being replaced by processes of soil erosion, etc. Given that forests are climate and hydrological regulators, deforestation in the equatorial regions of the Earth could lead to radical climate change. In this regard, there is a need to protect not just some forest areas or typical forests, and of the entire forest fund of the planet, all forest development must certainly be accompanied by reforestation work.

Desertification

Desertification is a global phenomenon and has a huge impact on climate 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 the arid regions of the Earth. The causes of desertification are a reduction in precipitation and changes in its regime, climate warming, increased winds and increased evaporation rates, as well as economic activity person. Anthropogenic causes represented by: overpopulation, irrational land use (deforestation, desertification, pollution). Prolonged droughts lead to a significant reduction in water reserves in the soil, underground aquifers, and hydrographic network, which gives rise to processes leading to desertification. A dry, salty crust forms on the soils. From deserts, dunes gradually move to adjacent territories.

The phenomenon of desertification intensified in the last years of the 20th century in many drylands, especially in the southern Sahara Desert, where ecosystems with xerophilous vegetation were destroyed by overgrazing and use as agricultural land in the southern Sahara.

Dry periods in recent decades have aggravated and expanded the process of desertification in different regions 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, and Europe.

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

Global climate change

One of the pressing global problems arising as a result of human activity is the change in the Earth's climate, both in the sense of warming and the exacerbation of climate-related natural disasters. Meteorologists and climate scientists involved in research in this area are divided on the severity of the situation, with some considering it the result of human activities and others attributing slow global climate changes to normal cyclical phenomena.

Priority attention to this problem is caused by the following conditions: even the slightest changes in climate have a certain impact on human activity, primarily on agriculture; climate change may turn into natural disasters (for example, 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 relationships between the following components: atmosphere, earth's crust, ionosphere, biosphere, taking into account anthropogenic factor. This is essentially the purpose of climate monitoring. The main types of human activities affecting the climate system:

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

Influence on the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere, in particular, electrical and radiation characteristics. This factor can cause an increase in the concentration of CO2, N02, freon, methane, etc. in the troposphere;

Impacts on the upper atmosphere primarily affect the ozone layer;

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

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

Council of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, consisting of reputable scientists, as well as participants in recent international conferences. It is argued that if fossil fuel use continues to increase, by 2050 average annual temperature on the planet will increase to +19 degrees. Very rapid increase is serious problem, since this will lead to extreme climatic phenomena, including massive floods, droughts and intensified hurricanes. According to statistics, almost half of the natural disasters occurring on the planet are associated with atmospheric processes.

Stabilizing the climate on Earth means, first of all, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by almost 60%. And this requires the participation of all governments and awareness of possible dangers at all levels.

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A forest is a complex ecosystem that affects the climate, air and water conditions of our planet. Forests help purify the air by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and producing oxygen. In addition, it is very good noise protection. Coniferous trees disinfect the air. The forests are home to birds and plants, including medicinal ones.

But forest is still a material for construction, as well as fuel and raw materials for production. Forests are cut down to obtain timber, to expand areas for agricultural purposes, and for mining.
There are several groups of forests:
Prohibited for logging (reserves, national parks).
Limited use. They are located in densely populated areas. Their recovery is monitored.
Operational forests. They are completely cut down and then replanted.

Main types of tree felling.

• Main cabin. Solid. All trees except seed trees are cut down. This causes great harm to the territories.
• Selective. Individual trees are cut down.
• Gradual. Felling takes place in several stages.
• Plant care cutting. Trees are being removed Bad quality, the forest is thinning out and lighting is improving. The remaining trees get more food.
• Complex felling. They are carried out when the forest begins to lose its beneficial qualities. The forest is freed from blind and young wood. More light enters the forest and root competition is eliminated. Valuable breeds develop better.
• Sanitary cabin. Conducted to improve the health of the forest. Sick, old, broken, fire-damaged trees are cut down. The most useful of all types.

Damage caused by deforestation.

The problem of deforestation is relevant all over the world. Forests are capable of regeneration, but the problem is that the volume of deforestation is many times higher than the volume of reproduction. This leads to disappearance rare breeds trees, plant species. Animals are forced to leave their habitats and move to other territories. Deforestation leads to temperature changes, changes in wind speed and direction, changes in precipitation, and changes in soil composition.

When forests are cut down, the composition of the soil changes, as the fertile layer is washed away by precipitation. New trees do not grow or grow very slowly and the felled areas become deserted. Animals, plants and birds die. Ecosystems are being destroyed. Rare species disappear forever.

There are many problems that need to be solved. Lack of human resources and low wages for foresters. Gaps in legislation. Large companies Valuable species are cut down under the guise of small diseased trees.

Measures to help reduce damage from logging.

Preserve forest landscapes and their biological diversity.

• Prevent depletion of forest resources.
• Conduct moderate forest management.
• Strengthen government control over logging.
• Improve legislation.
• Plant new forests.
• Create new reserves and expand the territories of existing ones.
• Protect forests from fires, fight diseases and pests that destroy forest areas.
• More effectively protect forest areas from poachers.
• Develop effective and safe methods felling.
• Reduce wood waste and look for ways to use them.
• Eco-tourism should also be encouraged. Perhaps people will see the current situation with their own eyes and think about the problem, begin to use paper rationally, begin to participate in landscaping in their cities, plant trees next to their homes, and become more careful about nature.

To maintain ecological balance, it is necessary to maintain a balance of deforestation and reforestation.

Collecting waste paper is another important way to save forests from deforestation. Moreover, it is also paid. For example, if you type in the search engine “waste paper price per 1 kg Saratov”, you can find out how much a kilogram of waste paper costs in this city.