The biological role of forests in nature. The roles and functions of forests in human life The importance of forests for animals

On the land of the globe, the forest area is 4.1 billion hectares, of which 3.7 billion hectares are covered with forest.

The total reserve of forests in the world is 359.9 billion m3. If we take into account that 3.8 billion people live on earth, then the forest supply per capita will be 1.2 hectares.

The most significant reserves of coniferous forest are concentrated in the USSR (65.8 billion m3) and North America (39.5 billion m3). The given data (in comparison with 1963) indicate a slight increase in wood reserves: in North America by 15 billion m3; in Latin America by 44 billion m3; in Asian countries by 26 billion m3; on the African continent by 31 billion m3. Over the past decade, Europe's total wood supply has increased by 11%. In the USSR, the total supply of wood increased by 26%, and mature wood - by 42%.

The most common wood on the world market is coniferous. The USSR ranks first in terms of the area of coniferous forests - they grow on an area of 580 million hectares. In North America, 440 million hectares are occupied by coniferous forests. Hardwood, especially oak, has not lost its importance.

Over a twenty-year period (since 1950)

to 1970), the volume of timber harvested in forests around the world increased by more than 1 billion m3. Every year, logging increased by 53 million m3. However, developing countries account for 54% of the total increase.

In socialist countries, logging volumes increased by 16 million m3 annually. All countries of the world harvested 2.4 billion m3 of wood in 1971, including 385 million m3 in the USSR and 336 million m3 in the USA.

The volume of wood removed from the forest in 1975 in the USSR amounted to 387.7 million m3; in the USA - 365; in Canada - 150; in Finland - 49.2.

Data on the production of major wood products indicate continued growth in the consumption of lumber - plywood, boards, cellulose and wood pulp, paper and cardboard. Lumber is the main type of wood product.

By 1985, the world's forests will harvest 868 million m3 of sawn timber per year. When analyzing the volumes of wood harvesting in countries around the world, the weak use of wood waste and low-quality wood for industrial purposes is emphasized. The creation of machines and mechanisms for waste processing will reduce losses during logging. The use of limbs, tops and other waste from logging can provide great savings in forest developments.

In the USSR, timber extraction is regulated by dividing all forests according to national economic importance.

In forests of group I, a special forest management regime has been established. Clear cutting is prohibited here and only overmature and withered trees are allowed to be cut down. But since 1951, reforestation felling (clear, narrow-cut, gradual and selective) has been allowed in these forests, since the prohibition of main felling here has contributed to the accumulation of mature and overmature forest.

In forests of group II, final felling is permitted, but in volumes not exceeding the annual wood growth. The main attention in these forests is paid to the preservation and restoration of valuable tree species. The felling system is planned in such a way that in place of the felled forest an even more highly productive forest stand is formed than before. Gradual, selective and clear narrow-cutting are the main methods of felling. The main forestry activity here is forest maintenance felling.

In forests of group III, the primary task is to meet the needs of the national economy for wood. Timber harvesting is usually carried out in continuous concentrated cutting areas, which use powerful logging machines and mechanisms. However, restoration of valuable tree species with high productivity in concentrated fellings is an important task not only for foresters, but also for loggers. Therefore, in areas where there is viable regrowth of valuable tree species, it is preserved or measures are taken to promote natural regeneration. In areas without undergrowth, valuable tree species are sown and planted.

Modern achievements of forestry science and new conditions for forest management and forest exploitation introduce significant clarifications into the division of forests into groups and their silvicultural and economic role. Each group of forests, in addition to its intended purpose, simultaneously performs other vital functions, regardless of the group. The percentages of forest groups change periodically, depending on the development of industry and the expansion of cities and towns.

Forest management in the USSR is regulated by zonal rules for final felling. The logging rules provide for organizational and technical elements of logging that ensure reliable reforestation and a high level of mechanization of logging. In mountain forests on slopes up to 20° steep, clear cuttings are not allowed, but gradual and selective cuttings are introduced, which ensure continuous forest management.

According to records as of January 1, 1973, the stock of mature and overmature plantings of the main forest-forming species in the forests of the USSR amounted to 52.3 billion m3, or 69% of the total stock of plantings.

In the future, the qualitative composition of forests will change: the share of coniferous plantations will increase and the share of soft-leaved trees will decrease. More significant changes in the distribution of plantings by species groups will occur in the European part of the USSR.

The interests of the national economy require the continuous use of forests growing on the same territory. It is known that the rapid depletion of forests in one area leads to the relocation of logging enterprises, the need to import timber from other areas and, naturally, to an increase in transport and other costs.

Consequently, the principle of continuity of forest use is one of the most important, arising from the economic law of expanded socialist reproduction, the law of planned, proportional development of the national economy and the specific features of forestry. Therefore, the development of optimal timber supply standards, the basis of which is the estimated size of forest use, or the estimated cutting area, is the most important stage in organizing forestry.

An analysis of the existing calculation methods and conditions for accepting estimated cutting areas shows that the decisive factor in establishing the size of forest use is the share of mature plantings in the farm and the period of their use. In farms where there are several times fewer mature stands than middle-aged and ripening ones, the estimated cutting area, as a rule, is taken with a short period of use of the operational fund so that the use of the forest is continuous and as uniform as possible.

Until 1980, the rate of increase in logging will decrease due to the involvement in industrial processing of additional resources of small-scale and low-grade deciduous wood, as well as waste from logging, wood processing and sawmilling. In the coming years, due to the effective use of softwood and wood waste, the production of process chips for the hydrolysis and pulp and paper industries, chipboards and fiberboards will be significantly increased. The production of consumer goods and industrial products from small-scale and low-grade wood obtained from forest maintenance and main use fellings will increase.

Forest is a source of energy for humans. Forests have a great influence on the formation of the environment and can influence factors such as temperature and humidity on the planet. They also play an important role in the biogeochemical cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and many other elements. Thanks to tree roots, soil erosion processes are slowed down and water and air flows are delayed.

Without forests, humanity would not have air to breathe, and the soil would not have the necessary set of nutrients to grow certain crops.

The role of forests in nature and human life

Trees provide wood needed for the construction of buildings and paper production, etc. Thanks to the properties of the root system, many natural disasters are prevented, including floods, since the roots absorb excess moisture. In addition, they hold the soil together, protecting against landslides.

The forest is a source of energy for humans. Everyone knows the fact that it is always cool and easy to breathe in the forest; it is scary to imagine what would happen to the air temperature if all the green spaces on Earth disappeared. Planting trees in urban areas can help in reducing high temperature, as tall buildings made of concrete and cement cannot adequately protect people from the heat, but in the shade of parks and in the lap of nature, a person always feels calm and protected.

An irreplaceable natural resource

Education

The forest is a source of energy for humans. The role of forests in people's lives

The importance of forests in nature and human life

It is impossible to overestimate the enormous importance of forests in human life. This natural environmental protector plays an important role in clearing away all kinds of physical and chemical pollutants. Forests provide habitat for all kinds of plants and animals and are a source of a range of medicinal plants, berries, fruits and nuts. This is a precious resource created by nature itself, and its pollution can lead to a serious disruption of the ecological balance in nature.

Without forests, humanity would not have air to breathe, and the soil would not have the necessary set of nutrients to grow certain crops. Trees provide wood needed for the construction of buildings and paper production, etc. Thanks to the properties of the root system, many natural disasters are prevented, including floods, since the roots absorb excess moisture. In addition, they hold the soil together, protecting against landslides.

Trees are natural air filters

Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen, which is a vital requirement for the existence of organisms on the planet. They help in purifying the air from various toxic compounds, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen, carbon monoxide and others. Vegetation tracts absorb and store the energy of the Sun. The temperature regime on the planet also depends on the amount of green space.

The importance of forests in human life

Planting trees in urban areas can help in reducing high temperature, as tall buildings made of concrete and cement cannot adequately protect people from the heat, but in the shade of parks and in the lap of nature, a person always feels calm and protected.

Video on the topic

An irreplaceable natural resource

The role of forests in people’s lives cannot be assessed as something unambiguous, since this resource is used in a wide variety of industries. Even in ancient times, people collected mushrooms and berries, hunted wild animals, the forest was the main breadwinner and protector. But its functions are not limited to this. One of the most important uses of these green areas is the production of various medicines.

In the past, people also used forest gifts to cure themselves of many diseases. Nowadays, many cosmetic companies use natural oils and ingredients in the manufacture of their products. Trees also act as sound barriers. They protect against noise produced by vehicles and various industries.

Forest destruction threatens human existence

Unsustainable use of natural resources is gradually destroying wildlife and threatening the existence of humanity. Human influence on the forest should be manifested not only in destruction, but also in creation. It is very important that the number of trees cut down is equal to the number of newly planted ones. This vital resource must be inherited by the future generation, which will not only use, but also carefully care for this natural treasure.

Over the past 50 years, the area of forest cover has decreased significantly due to the irrational use of natural resources by people. The biological diversity on the planet depends significantly on the condition of forests. The greater the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discovery, economic development, and answers to climate change.

Forest is a source of energy for humans

The forest is the cradle of humanity and its culture; it is of decisive importance in assessing the level of economic life throughout the civilized world. Its functions have undergone constant changes, and at every stage of social and cultural development of society, the forest has always played an important role in human life.

Currently, forests occupy 60% of the virgin vegetation cover of our planet. The 21st century is characterized by dynamic population growth on the globe. At the same time, the demand for consumer goods is expanding significantly. To satisfy its many needs, society uses the energy of natural resources. However, the forest should not be considered as an inexhaustible and renewable source.

No two trees are alike

The main reason why people love trees is not only that they are beautiful, majestic and unique, because there are no two identical specimens in the world, but also that the forest has been a source of energy for humans since time immemorial. There is such a belief: if a person is sick and feels unwell and tired, then as soon as he finds a suitable tree and hugs it, the pain immediately goes away.

The incredible power of some representatives of the plant world, the height and life expectancy, which can sometimes reach several centuries, involuntarily force one to respect these creations of nature. A person often feels an emotional connection with the trees that he planted and next to which he spent his childhood and youth.

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Report: Forest and man of the millennium of general history

Forest and man. Millennia of shared history

Forestry, like any other, appears only when the object of management, in this case the forest, loses the property of unlimited and completely accessible utility and becomes a value. Such a moment occurs with a certain population density and a more or less high degree of cultural development in general.

Orlov M.M., 1895.

There is no need to talk about the role the forest played in the life of the primitive population of the taiga zone of Russia. For them, the forest was both a place of residence and a source of building materials, firewood and food. For many millennia, the culture of the peoples of the European North was formed under the influence of the forests surrounding them. However, even for the forest, human activity did not pass without a trace: from the very beginning of the settlement of the taiga territory, tribes of hunters and fishermen became one of the main factors in the formation of taiga landscapes, radically changing their development. In fact, the forest and human civilization in the European North of Russia developed in parallel, exerting an extremely strong influence on each other. It is impossible to consider the European taiga as something purely natural, completely ignoring the role of man in its development, just as it is impossible to deny that modern human economic activity leads to a disruption of the equilibrium that has developed over thousands of years and the destruction of the taiga.

In order to understand how the relationship between man and taiga nature developed, what role human civilization and the European taiga played in each other’s lives, it is necessary to highlight the main stages of their common history. Obviously, these stages do not and cannot have clear time boundaries; Moreover, in different parts of the taiga zone they replaced each other at different times. We can only talk about some general picture of the development of relations between human society and taiga nature. From the point of view of human use of forest resources and human impact on the formation of taiga landscapes, the following main stages can be distinguished.

Natural economy. For many millennia since the settlement of the taiga zone of European Russia, the taiga has been a source of various material benefits for the population, satisfying mainly local needs (for building materials, fuel, game, fish, mushrooms and berries). Only a small part of forest products was harvested on an industrial scale, for commodity exchange or trade with the population of other, more southern regions (animal skins, especially valuable species of fish, in the southern taiga - honey).

The low population density led to a low need for wood and, as a result, extremely small volumes of logging. Small volumes of logging and the use of predominantly certain sizes of trees for construction purposes determined the absolute dominance of selective, or rather mine, cuttings, in which only individual trees, most suitable for a specific purpose, were selected from the forest.

The main factor in the impact of human civilization on the taiga was forest fires. In the southern taiga, they were primarily associated with slash-and-burn agriculture, in which a forest area was burned, and for several years crops were grown on soil fertilized with the ash of burnt trees and cleared of weeds, after which it became overgrown with weeds (with which, with primitive agricultural technology, there was no way to fight) and the depleted area was abandoned and gradually re-grown with forest. Despite the low population density, thanks to the constant change of burned areas of the forest, slash-and-burn agriculture apparently had already passed through almost the entire territory of the southern taiga and a significant part of the middle one by the middle of our millennium. Slash-and-burn agriculture led to the transformation of not only the directly cleared areas of the taiga territory; Often the fire “escaped” out of control, and a significant part of the adjacent forests burned out. Slash-and-burn agriculture persisted in the taiga zone until this century; it finally disappeared in the north of European Russia only in the 30s. Nowadays, slash-and-burn agriculture is no longer found in taiga forests, but an absolutely similar land use system can be found in many of the largest tracts of tropical forests.

Slash-and-burn agriculture was the main, but not the only, source of forest fires. Everywhere, and especially in the northern taiga, the sources of fires were fires at the camps of hunters, fishermen, and in some areas, reindeer herders. In general, the indigenous population of the taiga zone was the main source of forest fires during almost the entire history of the formation of forests in the north of European Russia.

Fig. 14. One of the most important results of the industrial “development” of the forests of the European North was the clogging of taiga rivers with wood lost or abandoned during rafting. Republic of Karelia, Pyaozersky forestry enterprise, Tavanga river.

For many millennia of the post-glacial history of the north of European Russia, the economic activity of the primitive indigenous population was one of the main factors determining the formation of a special structure of taiga landscapes - a structure in which a significant area was occupied by areas transformed by fires and slash-and-burn agriculture. Nevertheless, throughout almost the entire taiga zone, the taiga remained a single whole, a continuous space of natural ecosystems, into which only here and there were sections of human-developed territory that moved from place to place over time. In fact, it is precisely this state of the taiga that can be considered “natural”, since this nature of human relations with the surrounding taiga nature developed at the very beginning of the post-glacial history of taiga forests, and it is often possible to separate “natural” factors in the formation of taiga ecosystems from “anthropogenic” ones associated with the activities of primitive human, almost impossible.

Formation of commercial environmental management. The onset of the next stage in the relationship between human society and taiga nature was associated with the beginning of the industrial use of wood resources, in which wood or products obtained from its use (coal, resin, potash, salt, etc.) began to be harvested not only for the needs of local population, but also for export to other regions. A significant contribution to the development of industrial forestry was made by those types of industries that required large amounts of fuel wood (charcoal metallurgy, salt production, potash production). The emergence and development of large centers for the consumption of fuel wood (for example, salt mines in Staraya Russa and on the Upper Kama, metallurgical plants in the Urals and others) already in the 17th-18th centuries caused a significant depletion of forest resources in the most intensively exploited areas.

What importance do forests have in human life?

Finally, most of the taiga forests of European Russia were involved in industrial exploitation in the second half of the 19th century with the development of exports of Russian timber and its processed products to European countries and the growth in consumption of fuel and construction wood by large industrial centers and transport. In general, this stage is characterized by a predominance in the structure of consumed (or exported) wood products of unprocessed or lightly processed construction wood and firewood (including charcoal). The main factor of human influence on taiga ecosystems is still fires, but they are also supplemented by a very significant depletion of wood resources and changes in the structure of forests by logging. Unfortunately, this stage of development of the forestry complex in Russia ended much later than in most European countries, which already at the end of the 19th century led to a predominantly raw material orientation of the Russian forestry complex, extensive use of forests and, as a result, to their significant depletion in areas accessible to development .

It is also important to note that at this stage, transportation of wood becomes of great importance. The main method of delivering wood from the place of harvesting to the place of consumption (or shipment to foreign consumers) is river rafting. As the industrial development of wood resources in the taiga zone intensifies, pollution of rivers by wood lost during rafting becomes one of the most significant problems associated with forest management (Fig. 14). In addition, the predominance of rafting determined that the most intensive logging sites were confined to the banks of rivers and lakes, i.e. to the most important forests in terms of water protection. Problems associated with wood rafting persisted at subsequent stages of forest management development.

The emergence and development of deep wood processing. The beginning of this stage is associated with two main reasons - the emergence of a shortage of high-quality forest materials and the growing need for products of advanced wood processing, primarily paper. Both reasons have led to a significant increase in the demand for low-quality and thin-sized wood raw materials, which were previously practically unused. The active development of deep wood processing in the taiga zone of Russia and the associated change in the structure of demand for harvested timber occurred in the 20s - 30s of the 20th century. This period was marked by the construction of many large pulp and paper enterprises in the European North of Russia. At the same time, the share of fuel wood in the total volume of harvested wood products begins to decrease. The change in the structure of demand for harvested wood materials (which, in addition to the development of deep processing, was facilitated by the growth in consumption of mine stands, railway sleepers and other low-grade wood processing products) led to a fairly rapid displacement of the previously dominant selective logging, which produced only large and high-quality wood, by clear cutting. The reduction of natural taiga tracts as clear-cutting tracts expand and the fragmentation of the original taiga cover become the main factors in the transformation of taiga forests. The gradual development and change in the structure of consumption of forestry products changed somewhat in the post-war period due to the sharply increased need for construction wood and lumber. However, the fundamental nature of the use of wood resources and the consumption of forest products did not change until the early 70s.

Intensification of deep wood processing and the beginning of active use of wood waste. The beginning of this period is associated with a significant depletion of forest resources in areas accessible for development, with a simultaneous increase in the need for high-quality building materials and pulp and paper products. As a result, the production of particle boards and wood fiber boards, the use of wood waste in pulp and paper production, and the production of plywood are becoming increasingly important. The depletion of raw materials along rafting rivers, interference with water transport associated with rafting, and the emergence of acute environmental problems associated with the clogging of rivers with wood lost during rafting, lead to a gradual decrease in the role of rafting in wood transportation. Unfortunately, the stage of formation of the modern wood processing industry in Russia was never completed. As a result of the deep crisis, the Russian forestry complex actually returned to the beginning of the previous stage with a sharp reduction in deep wood processing at Russian enterprises, an increase in the amount of waste during wood harvesting and a focus on the export of high-quality unprocessed wood.

Integrated multi-purpose sustainable forest management. Unfortunately, this stage is only hypothetical for the Russian forestry complex, and a real transition to it in the coming years is unlikely. However, the depletion of available forest resources, the huge number of environmental problems associated with forest management and the growing interest of different sectors of society in the rational and sustainable use of forest resources make movement in this direction extremely necessary.

Introduction

The 21st century is not only a century of discovery and development, but also of enormous environmental problems. One of them is the problem of deforestation on the planet.

Forests are climax communities across much of the planet and not long ago covered a third of the land. Now the area of temperate forests is decreasing slightly, but these are only the remnants of their continuous prehistoric tracts, cut down by man. Even before man’s active attack on nature, forests occupied almost the entire territory of Europe. Currently, they are preserved on one third of its area. The most populated European country is Finland, where 70% of the territory is covered with forests. The poorest of all in this regard is Great Britain - there forests account for less than 6% of the country's area. Vast forest areas still remain in Asia - in the Siberian lowlands and on mountain slopes, as well as in tropical and subtropical regions in the southeast of the continent. Forests cover about two-thirds of the area of North and South America: in the north there is coniferous taiga, in the subtropics there are coniferous and deciduous forests and palm trees, in the equatorial zone there are evergreen rain or tropical rainforests. In addition, forests remain the dominant biome in a quarter of Africa and approximately a fifth of Australia.

Today, more than 13 million hectares of forest are cut down every year, and the areas cleared of forest are used for agriculture, road construction and growing cities. Of the areas being cut down, 6 million hectares are virgin forests, i.e. no human has ever set foot in these forests. Therefore, this topic is currently particularly relevant.

Purpose of the work: to study the problems and possible measures to combat forest destruction.

To do this, it is necessary to solve the following problems:

Describe the role and significance of forests in human life;

Outline the main measures to combat forest destruction.

The importance of forests in human life

Many scientists call forests the “lungs” of our planet, as plants enrich our atmosphere with oxygen. But despite this, deforestation of our planet is occurring at an enormous rate.

Deforestation is a serious global environmental problem. Forest destruction is mainly the result of human activities associated with deforestation. Wood is used as fuel, raw material for pulp and paper factories, building material, etc. In addition, forests are cut down when clearing areas for pastures, during slash-and-burn farming, and also in mining sites.

Developed countries experienced massive deforestation before and during the Industrial Revolution, which led to dire consequences for them, for example, a decrease in the fertility of many lands. However, industrialized countries have generally recognized the problem and are now reforesting at a rate that is at least equal to the rate of deforestation.

Since the beginning of this century, the area under African forests has decreased by almost half, and in some countries by 5 to 10 times. Thus, in Ethiopia at the beginning of the century, forests covered 40% of the territory. Now only 3.5% remains under forests. In India, 40 years ago forests occupied 22% of the territory; now they account for barely 10%.

In developing countries, for two thirds of the population (about 2.5 billion people), the era of modern energy has not yet arrived. Firewood is still needed for heating and cooking. Even in cities, many people use charcoal produced in rural areas by cutting down and burning wood. Approximately 60% of these people are cutting down forests faster than they are growing. In some countries, deforestation is occurring five times faster than reforestation.

Forests perform a vital ecological function. Forested watersheds function like giant sponges, absorbing, storing and gradually releasing water, feeding streams, rivers and underground aquifers. Forests regulate runoff from the mountains to flat, cultivated and urban lands, help prevent soil erosion and floods, and regulate the amount of sediment entering rivers, lakes, and reservoirs with runoff.

Forests play an important role in global carbon and oxygen cycles. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. When trees are cut down and burned, the carbon they contain is released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide. Deforestation also leads to the oxidation and release into the air of carbon accumulated in the soil under the trees.

Forests provide natural habitat for more wild plant and animal species than any other ecosystem. This makes them the largest repository of biological diversity on our planet. In addition, forests absorb noise and many air pollutants and have a beneficial effect on people's mood, providing their need for privacy and beauty.

Forests also play an important role in conserving soil and water and maintaining a healthy atmosphere. The water cycle in nature is disrupted, as trees feed on groundwater using their roots. The destruction of forests causes an increase in groundwater levels, which leads to floods.

The damage caused and the extinction of forests lead to soil erosion and degradation of river basins. Forests are often found on higher elevations and watersheds and intercept a significant portion of rainwater. The forest canopy mitigates the impact of intense tropical rainfall on the environment in various ways. It returns large amounts of water to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration, while minimizing surface runoff, i.e. allowing water to seep into the soil (infiltration). This leads to the formation of a stable aquifer at depth that evenly feeds streams and rivers. If the forest canopy is destroyed, surface runoff will increase sharply, which will lead to drying out of watershed areas and sharp changes in water levels in lowland rivers. For example, the unprecedented flooding in Bangladesh in the summer of 1988, which affected much of the country, was attributed mainly to deforestation of the mountains in northern India and Nepal. And increased surface runoff leads to soil erosion. Its fertile layer can be completely washed away, so that the exposed soil will become unsuitable not only for agricultural use, but also for restoring the original tree stand. At the same time, siltation of reservoirs, estuaries and harbors will occur, which will require their regular dredging. There will be a threat of landslides and mudflows.

During the process of photosynthesis, forests absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide, so their destruction could lead to an increase in its concentration in the atmosphere, which many scientists believe will happen in the 21st century. will contribute to global warming due to the so-called. greenhouse effect.

Of particular concern is the destruction of tropical forests, the average annual death rate of which reaches 1% of their area. Tropical forests are the source of half of all hardwood produced in the world. According to T. Miller's book "Living in the Environment", over a 50-year lifespan, the average tree in a tropical forest provides an "ecological income" from the production of oxygen, reduction of air pollution, control of erosion and soil fertility, regulation of water regimes, and provision of habitats. for wildlife and protein production of $196,250. Sold as timber, it would bring only about $590. Tropical forests in places like Indonesia, Congo and the Amazon are particularly vulnerable and at risk. At this rate of deforestation, tropical rainforests will disappear in less than 100 years. West Africa has lost about 90% of its coastal rainforests, with similar rates in South Asia. In South America, 40% of tropical forests disappeared, and new areas were developed for pasture. Madagascar has lost 90% of its eastern rainforests. Several countries have reported catastrophic deforestation in their territories.

Among the food products obtained in tropical forests are coffee, cocoa, spices, nuts, and fruits. A quarter of all the medicines we use come from plants that grow in tropical forests. Aspirin is made from a substance extracted from the leaves of tropical willow trees. About 70% of promising cancer drugs may come from tropical rainforest plants.

The consequences of the destruction of tropical forests are the extinction of species, soil degradation, decreased runoff in watersheds and increased accumulation of precipitation in water bodies, a decreased buffering role of forest swamps, a decrease in carbon reserves in terrestrial biomass, an increase in CO 2 content in the atmosphere, and a decrease in the amount of precipitation. In addition, scientists estimate that 80% of all species of flora and fauna live in tropical forests.

Deforestation destroys ecosystems and leads to the extinction of many species of animals and plants; some plants are essential species from which medicines are obtained. Their destruction will lead to the extinction of little-studied forms of life, i.e., a decrease in the genetic reserves of the planet and a reduction in biological resources potentially useful to humans. Rainforests have already given us anti-malaria and anti-cancer drugs, and scientists are intensively studying the plants of these forests in search of drugs against AIDS and many other diseases.

Forests are dying not only in the tropics. Massive disease and death of forests due to air, water and soil pollution is occurring in Europe and North America. As a result of intensive logging, the coniferous forests of Central Russia have been practically destroyed, and the most valuable and accessible forest tracts in Siberia and the Far East are being steadily destroyed.

The forests of Siberia are disappearing at a dangerous rate. Here, more than half a million hectares of forests are cut down annually, while new plantings take place on only one-third of the cleared areas. Scientists record changes in the Siberian landscape. In most cases, swamping begins at the felling site. Since pine and even cedar, the most valuable forests, are cut down first of all, depletion of forest cover is observed everywhere. Cedar is called the miracle of Siberia, the pearl of the taiga, and the breadfruit tree. The kernel of its nut contains up to 60% fat, 20% protein, 12% starch, 4% fiber, as well as a whole complex of vitamins that improve blood composition and have a beneficial effect on skin tissue. Cedar oil is not inferior in calorie content to chicken eggs; it is a good remedy for the treatment of pulmonary and kidney diseases.

So, under human pressure, forests are retreating on all continents, in almost all countries, but especially massive destruction of forest cover is occurring in the tropical zone. On the one hand, being one of the main components of the human environment, the forest influences the climate, the availability of clean water, clean air, protects agricultural lands, provides places for comfortable living and recreation for people, preserves the diversity of wildlife, which is environment-forming, or ecological the role of the forest. On the other hand, the forest is a source of many material resources, which humanity cannot yet do without and is unlikely to be able to do in the foreseeable future - wood for construction, paper and furniture production, firewood, food and medicinal plants and others - it is an economic or resource resource. the role of the forest. On the third hand, the forest is part of the cultural and historical environment, under the influence of which the culture and customs of entire nations are formed, a source of work, independence and material well-being for a significant part of the population, especially those who live in forest villages and towns - this is the social role forests. For humanity as a whole, all three roles of the forest are equally important: ecological, economic and social.

In conclusion of the chapter, we note that forests have a remarkable feature - the feature of renewal. Therefore, we need to learn how to manage forests in accordance with environmental requirements and learn to fight deforestation in all corners of the globe.

Forests have a significant influence on the weather, climate and processes occurring on the earth's surface and at some depth below it.

The forest interacts with the following environmental components:

The forest participates in the oxygen cycle in nature in the most active way. Due to the huge mass of forests, the importance of the processes of photosynthesis and forest respiration has a huge impact on the gas composition of the Earth's atmosphere. Solar energy is one of the main sources of forest existence. Thanks to solar energy, the forest can carry out the process of photosynthesis, which contributes to the release of oxygen necessary for the life of the animal and plant world.

Hydrosphere. The forest directly participates in the water cycle in nature and thus interacts with the hydrosphere. The forest prevents soil water from flowing with rivers into large bodies of water. Predatory deforestation along river banks leads to their catastrophic shallowing, which leads to a deterioration in water supply to populated areas and a decrease in the fertility of agricultural land.

In winter, masses of snow that do not melt for a long time under the cover of the forest retain water and thereby weaken the intensity of the often destructive spring floods.

Atmosphere. The influence of forests on atmospheric processes is also great. There is a well-known practice of creating wind-protective forest belts, which also contribute to snow retention, as well as weakening the force of the wind, leading to the removal of the fertile layer of soil, deprived of vegetation cover due to its cultivation for crops.

Animal world. The forest serves as a habitat for many animals. Animals, in turn, often play a sanitary role in the forest.

Human. The forest is of great importance for human health and life. Human activity, in turn, affects the forest.

Lithosphere. The composition of the upper layers of the lithosphere is associated with the growth of forests in the corresponding areas.

The following main areas of forest use for economic purposes can be distinguished:

Food source (mushrooms, berries, animals, birds, honey)

Energy source (wood)

Construction material

Raw materials for production (paper production)

Regulator of natural processes (forest plantations to protect the soil from weathering)

Unfortunately, today the volume of deforestation is often several times greater than the volume of its natural restoration.

In this regard, in civilized countries attention is paid to forest reproduction, both through plantings that restore the number of trees, and through a complete ban on any economic activity in some forests. Thanks to this, natural regeneration of forests is ensured in these areas, and in some countries there are a small number of forest areas where there has never been any human intervention in the life of the forest. In Germany these forests are called "urwald" - primeval or ancient forest. In them, even coniferous trees (spruce) live to the age of 400 years.

The forest has enormous sanitary, hygienic and healing significance. There are more than 300 different chemical compounds in the air of natural forests. Forests actively transform atmospheric pollution, especially gaseous ones. Conifers (pine, spruce, juniper), as well as some varieties of linden and birch, have the greatest oxidizing ability. The forest actively absorbs industrial pollution, in particular dust and hydrocarbons.

Forests, especially coniferous ones, emit phytoncides - volatile substances with bactericidal properties. Phytoncides kill pathogenic microbes. In certain doses, they have a beneficial effect on the nervous system, enhance the motor and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract, help improve metabolism and stimulate cardiac activity. Many of them are enemies of pathogens of infectious diseases. But only if there are few of them. Phytoncides from poplar buds, Antonov apples, and eucalyptus have a detrimental effect on the influenza virus. Oak leaves destroy bacteria of typhoid and dysentery.

Forests on the globe occupy about 32% of the land surface.

Their significance for humanity is enormous and multifaceted. They are a source of wood. Forest is the most important environment-forming factor on our planet. With the development of science and technology, the use of all the benefits of the forest is expanding and deepening. Its environment-forming role increases immeasurably, and in many cases acquires paramount importance.

The forest, being one of the most important components of the biosphere, itself has a comprehensive influence on it, as well as on water, atmosphere, and soil. The hydrological role of forests is manifested in the regulation of the water regime of vast territories. It ensures a uniform flow of runoff into rivers, preventing floods, soil erosion processes and the transformation of landscapes into waterless spaces. Forest is an effective means of biological treatment of ground and surface wastewater. The number of bacteria in 1 m 3 of water passing through a forest belt decreases by 26 times or more. Due to the widespread use of mineral fertilizers in agriculture, forest belts greatly reduce the removal of chemicals from fields to water bodies. Thus, the forest prevents the pollution of inland waters with microorganisms and chemicals harmful to human life and fauna.

The forest has a mitigating effect on extreme climatic phenomena in continental and temperate climates, has a positive effect on the purity of the atmosphere and on the balance of gas exchange, which is of particular importance in areas with a high degree of urbanization and industrialization.

To form 1 ton of absolutely dry wood, a planting absorbs an average of 1.83 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and simultaneously releases 1.32 tons of oxygen. A hectare of forest releases 3...10 times more oxygen than a hectare of agricultural land. The importance of forests in the negative ionization of air and in the release of volatile substances - phytoncides, which can kill harmful microorganisms. There are 46...70 times fewer pathogenic organisms in 1 m 3 of air in the forest than in the city. The green forest canopy traps solid particles suspended in the air (dust, etc.); 1 hectare of forest condenses 50...70 tons of dust per year. Green spaces reduce noise levels, which is especially important in places where people live and relax.

In assessing the impact of forests on soil, first of all, one should take into account the effective resistance of forest vegetation to the processes of water and wind erosion, and in high mountain areas, in addition, to avalanches and mudflows. The soil-protective influence of the forest extends to the areas of agricultural crops adjacent to the forest. In steppe conditions, this function is performed with great efficiency by a system of forest shelterbelts.

An assessment of the positive properties of the forest will be incomplete if one does not take into account its importance for people’s recreation and satisfaction of their aesthetic and cultural needs. The widespread use of the beneficial properties of forests requires linking these issues with the organization and management of forestry, as well as activities that improve natural landscapes.

In the Soviet Union, the forested area is 769 million hectares. According to their importance, the forests of the State Forest Fund of the USSR are divided into three groups, according to which the methods of farming in them and the mode of use are determined. The main logging activities are concentrated in heavily forested areas of the country. Their volume has stabilized, the growing demand for wood is satisfied through its more complete and rational use and industrial processing. The new methods of forestry being introduced ensure the preservation and enhancement of the positive impact of the forest on the environment.

Forest is a geographical phenomenon, therefore it is necessary to take into account the zonal differentiation of its impact on the environment depending on the species composition, age, productivity, and the nature of the location of forests on the territory. The environment-forming functions of forests in the same geographic environment vary over a wide range depending on the methods and intensity of their economic development. The positive impact of forests on the environment is most fully manifested when the optimal ratio between forested and treeless areas is achieved - Optimal forest cover, established for each geographical area.

Highly productive forests perform the most complete water protection, sanitary, hygienic and other functions. To increase productivity and improve the qualitative composition of forests in our country, a wide program of measures is being implemented: reforestation and thinning, selection of valuable species, forest drainage, protection of forests from harmful insects and diseases, protection of forests from fires and a number of others.

The most important problems of forestry that are directly related to improving the environment include forest management, logging and reforestation, protective afforestation, protection of forests from harmful insects and diseases, and protection from fires. In forest management, taking into account the tasks of nature conservation, the forestry of the USSR builds a technical policy on the following principles: inexhaustibility and constancy of forest use, ensuring forest restoration after felling, full and rational use by loggers of the logging fund allocated for felling, integrated use of harvested wood, involvement in exploitation forests of Siberia and the Far East by reducing the size of felling in the European part of the USSR.

Water and wind soil erosion causes enormous damage to the national economy. To combat it, a system of organizational, economic, agrotechnical, forest reclamation and hydraulic measures is provided. A large place is occupied by the creation of protective forest plantations - shelterbelts, plantings on ravines, ravines, mountain slopes, sands, etc. In the USSR, there are over 3 million hectares of such plantings, protecting about 30 million hectares of agricultural land in the most difficult areas for agriculture . Forestry science has developed principles and techniques for afforesting areas disturbed by the open-pit industrial mining of mineral raw materials and peat.

Having a positive impact on the external environment and improving human living conditions, the forest itself needs its help and protection. The forestry system operates a service for monitoring the sanitary condition of forests, monitoring the mass reproduction of forest pests has been organized, and preventive and active measures have been taken to combat them. A fire weather forecast service has been established. Television is used to monitor the occurrence of fires. Air patrols cover 80% of the state forest fund territory. Forestry enterprises operate fire-fighting chemical stations to extinguish fires. To combat fires, a set of measures has been developed, including artificially causing precipitation with chemical reagents.

In our country, measures are being taken to reduce and regulate recreational loads in the most valuable forest areas, and a lot of explanatory work is being carried out in the interests of caring for the forest. The struggle for the protection of the natural environment and the rational use of natural resources is inextricably linked with the struggle of peoples for peace, disarmament and social progress, led by the Soviet Union and the socialist countries.

This is the role of the forest in the lives of people and each individual in particular.

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The United Nations has designated March 21 as the International Day of Forests, part of a global effort to promote the value and plight of forests around the world. This holiday was first celebrated on March 21, 2013.

Forests help us breathe

Habitat for people

About 300 million people live in forests around the world, with an estimated 60 million indigenous people dependent almost entirely on local forests. Many people live near forest edges. Even simply increasing the number of urban trees can increase property values and reduce crime rates.

Forests support health

Trees also provide vital oases of shade on the ground. Urban trees help buildings stay cool by reducing the need for electric fans or air conditioners, while large forests perform complex tasks such as curbing the city's heat island effect or regulating local temperatures.

Fighting warming

Trees also have a way of dealing with it: they absorb CO2, which contributes to rising temperatures. Plants always need some amount of CO2 for photosynthesis, but the air on Earth has become so thick that it is very important to clean it, which trees do well by simply breathing. CO2 is stored in wood, leaves and soil, often for centuries.

Promotes precipitation

Large forests can influence regional weather patterns and even create their own microclimates. For example, the Amazon creates atmospheric conditions that not only promote regular rainfall on nearby farmland, but possibly affect the Great Plains of North America.

Fighting floods

Tree roots are key allies in heavy rain, especially for low-lying areas such as river plains. They help the ground absorb water from flash floods, reducing soil washout (water erosion) and reducing property damage by slowing the flow.

Purify water resources

In addition to flood control, runoff absorption also protects downstream ecosystems. Modern stormwater increasingly carries toxic chemicals, from gasoline and lawn fertilizers to pesticides and manure, that accumulate in watersheds, ultimately creating low-oxygen "dead zones."

Refill aquifers

Forests are like giant sponges because they can absorb a lot of rainfall, but not all of it. Water that passes by the roots flows down into aquifers, replenishing groundwater (fresh water) important for drinking, sanitation and irrigation around the world.

Block the wind

Farmland near forest has many benefits, such as bats and songbirds that eat insects; or owls and foxes hunting rats. But groups of trees can also serve as a buffer, protecting sensitive crops and fertile soil from the wind. In addition to protecting these plants, less wind also makes it easier for bees to pollinate.

Compact the soil

The forest's root network stabilizes vast amounts of soil, strengthening the foundation of the entire ecosystem against water or wind erosion. Not only does deforestation cause destruction, but subsequent soil erosion can trigger new, dangerous natural processes such as landslides and dust storms.

Cleans up contaminated soil

In addition to conserving soil, forests also remove certain pollutants from the soil through phytoremediation. Trees can either destroy toxins or partially break them down so they become less harmful. This is a useful feature that allows trees to absorb polluted wastewater.

Purify dirty air

We use indoor plants to purify indoor air, but don't forget about forests. They can clean up air pollution on a much larger scale, not just the aforementioned CO2. Trees capture and absorb a wide range of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Silences noise pollution

Sound disappears in forests, making trees a popular natural noise barrier. The muting effect is largely due to the rustling of leaves - plus you can hear other pleasant noises in the forest, such as bird songs. Just a few properly located trees reduce noise levels by 5-10 decibels.

Provide food

Trees not only provide us with fruits, nuts, seeds and more, but edible mushrooms, berries and large animals such as deer, turkeys, rabbits and wild boar can also be found in the forests.

Provide medications

Forests contain a large number of natural medicines. For example, theophylline, which is used in the treatment of asthma, is found in cocoa beans. About 70 percent of all known plants with anti-cancer properties are found only in rain forests.

Help make things

How will humanity manage without wood and resin? We've long used these renewables to make everything from paper and furniture to housing and clothing. However, people sometimes over-deplete forest benefits, leading to deforestation. However, thanks to the development of sustainable forestry, as well as the establishment of forest plantations, wood products are becoming easier to source.

Create jobs

According to US data, more than 1.6 billion people rely on forests to some extent for their livelihoods, and about 10 million people are directly involved in forest management or conservation. Forests provide more than 1% of global GDP through timber and non-timber products, with the latter supporting up to 80% of the population in many developing countries.

The forests are majestic

Natural beauty may be the most obvious, although less tangible, in terms of economic benefits. However, the presence of vegetation, beautiful colors, tranquility and pleasure provide people with specific benefits. However, it is quite difficult to convince the current generation that forests should be valued and preserved for our descendants.

Help us explore and relax

Our innate attraction to forests, part of a phenomenon known as "biophilia", is still in the relatively early stages of scientific explanation. We know that people are drawn to water, forests and other natural landscapes, although exposure to forested crops has been shown to increase creativity, suppress ADHD, speed recovery and promote mindfulness. Forests also have a positive effect on life expectancy.

They support communities

Forests really tie everything together - and we often don't appreciate them until they're gone. Apart from all their special ecological advantages, they have reigned for centuries as the most successful living organisms on Earth's land. Modern species probably couldn't survive without forests, but we need to make sure we never have to face complete deforestation. The more we enjoy and understand forests, the less likely we are to destroy them.