Deforestation

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:48

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 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 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 from ancient times everyone revered the forest, often giving it 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 everycorner of the world is undergoing massive deforestation. The problems of the forest are that with the destruction of trees, many more species of plants and animals die. The ecological balance in nature is disturbed. 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, herbaceous plants, lichens, insects, animals and even microorganisms are of great importance in its existence. 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 tropical forests. 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.

Rainforest

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, the deforestation of tropical forests is now proceeding 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. Tropical forest problems areIt's not just 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.

Forest value

He provides humanity with oxygen. It is no coincidence that they say that the forest is the lungs of the planet. And it not only produces oxygen, but also partially absorbs chemical pollution, purifying the air. A wisely organized ecosystem accumulates carbon, which is important for the existence of life on Earth. It also helps prevent the greenhouse effect, which is increasingly threatening nature.
The forest protects the surrounding area from strong temperature fluctuations, night frosts, which favorably affects the state of farmland. Scientists have found that the climate is milder where most of the territory is overgrown with trees.
The benefit of the forest for crops is also that it protects the soil from leaching, wind drift, landslides and mudflows. Areas overgrown with trees prevent the advance of the sands.
Forest plays a huge role in the water cycle. It not only filters it and stores it in the soil, but also helps to fill streams and rivers with water in the spring during floods, preventing waterlogging of the area. The forest helps maintain the water table and prevents floods. Absorption of moisture from the soil by the roots and intense evaporation by its leaves helps to avoid drought.

Using 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?

First of all, it is, of course, construction. For example, until now, almost all houses in the villages of Siberia are built of wood. Despite the appearance of modern building materials, it is still considered the best. Wood is also used to make furniture, parquet, windows and doors.
Wood is very involved in the railway industry. In addition to the fact that most sleepers are made from it, it is used to make wagons and bridges.
Wood has long been considered the best material in shipbuilding.
Wood is also indispensable in the chemical industry: turpentine, acetone, vinegar, rubber, alcohol, fertilizers and plastics are made from it. It is used in tanning and dyeing industries.
For hundreds of years, wood has been the only material used to make paper. Now it takes tens of millions of cubic meters annually.
A very large amount of wood is still used as fuel.
Total more than 20 thousand things necessary for a personare made from wood. For example, textiles, toys, musical instruments or sporting goods.

Forest problems arise when it happens out of control, 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 of deforestation began in the Middle Ages, when more and more space was needed for construction and farmland. And now about 13 million hectares of forest are being destroyed every year, 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;
livestock development requires more space for pastures;
forests often interfere with the extraction of minerals, so needed by mankind for technological progress;
and finally wood is now a very valuable commodity used in many industries.

What 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:

Forbidden to be cut down. These are the forests that are of great importance in ensuring the ecological balance on Earth. They performwater protection or soil protection functions. Most often, these forests are protected and are included in various nature reserves, national parks and sanctuaries. Felling trees in such a forest is criminalized.
Restricted forests. They are located in densely populated areas and also perform important functions. Although these are places where partial deforestation is allowed. An environmental problem has arisen due to the fact that in these areas timber is often harvested beyond measure. In addition to permitted cuttings, for example, for sanitary purposes, he althy valuable varieties of trees are destroyed for sale. Such illegal logging is very common in Russia. The problem is aggravated by the fact that our forest is highly valued abroad, and a lot of money is paid for it.
Exploitation forests specially planted for timber harvesting. They are cut down completely, and then planted again.

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?

The so-called main felling. Removed at the same time"ripe forest", valuable trees needed for industry and construction. Such cutting can be continuous (which can only be carried out in the old forest), selective (when experts note which trees can be cut) and gradual.
Cutting plant care. In this case, unripe trees are cut down that interfere with the growth of valuable species. Young plants often take nutrients and moisture from other trees.
Integrated felling, when some area is completely freed from vegetation. This may be required when building or laying a road, power line, or when you need to make room for pasture or farmland.
Sanitary logging does the least harm to the forest. On the contrary, it 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 cause

The ecological problem of the disappearance of the so-called "lungs" of the planet is already of concern to 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 forest ecosystem is being destroyed, many representatives of flora and fauna are disappearing;
decrease in wood and plant diversity leads to a deterioration in the quality of lifemost people;
increases the amount of carbon dioxide, which leads to the formation of the greenhouse effect;
trees no longer protect the soil (washing out of the top layer leads to the formation of ravines, and lowering the groundwater level causes deserts);
soil moisture increases, causing swamps to form;
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 global 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 disturbed and other conditions for vegetation are created.

What happens after cutting down

In the open space, absolutely differentconditions. Therefore, a new forest grows 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 used to living in the shade are dying.
Another temperature regime. Without tree protection, there is a sharper temperature fluctuation, frequent night frosts. This also leads to the death of many plants.
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.
Dieback of roots and decomposition of the forest floor releases 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 deciduous forests is fast if people do not interfere in this process. But coniferous trees grow very poorly after cutting down, 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

Environmentalists offer many ways to save forests. Here are just a few:

transition from paper to electronic media, waste paper collection and separate waste collection will reduce the use of wood for paper production;
creation of forest farms where trees of valuable species will be grown,having the shortest maturation periods;
ban on logging in protected areas and tougher pen alties for it;
increasing the state duty on exporting timber abroad to make it unprofitable.

Disappearance of forests does not yet excite the average 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.