Deforestation

For a long time scientists talk about the harmful effects of technological change on the environment.Climate change, melting ice, lowering the quality of drinking water is very negative impact on people's lives.Environmentalists around the world are sounding the alarm for a long time about the pollution and destruction of nature.One of the major environmental problems is deforestation.Problems of forest are seen especially in civilized countries.Environmentalists say that deforestation leads to many negative consequences for the earth and man.Without forests there will be no life on Earth, it is necessary to understand those on whom they depend for preservation.However, wood has long been a commodity that is expensive.And so the problem of deforestation is achieved with such difficulty.Perhaps people just do not realize that their whole life depends on this ecosystem.Although all have long revered the forest, often giving it a magical function.He was the breadwinner, and life-giving force of nature personified.He loved the trees treated with care, and they answered the same to our ancestors.

world's forests in all countries, in every corner of the world made massive deforestation.Problems of forest that the destruction of trees killed many more species of plants and animals.Disturbed ecological balance in nature.After the forest - it's not just the trees.This harmonious ecosystem, based on the interaction of many species of flora and fauna.Besides trees, important in its existence have shrubs, herbaceous plants, lichens, insects, animals and even microorganisms.Despite the massive felling still forests cover about 30% of the land.It is more than 4 billion hectares of land.More than half of them - a tropical rainforest.However, of great importance in the ecology of the planet, and also played the north, especially coniferous arrays.The richest country in the world greenery - is Finland and Canada.In Russia there are about 25% of the world's forest resources.Least of all remaining trees in Europe.Today forests cover only a third of its territory, although in ancient times it was completely covered with trees.And, for example, in England they were almost gone, only 6% of the land given over to parks and plantations.

Rainforests

They occupy more than half of the territory of green plantations.Scientists estimate that there are around 80% of animal species that are not familiar ecosystems may die.However, deforestation of tropical forests now being accelerated.In some regions, such as West Africa and Madagascar, have lost some 90% of the forest.The catastrophic situation exists in South America, where more than 40% of the felled trees.Problems of the rainforest - it's not just those countries in which they are located.The destruction of such a vast array will lead to environmental disaster.It is difficult to assess the role played by forests in the life of mankind.Therefore, scientists around the world are sounding the alarm.

value forests

It provides humanity with oxygen.It is no accident say the forest - the lungs of the planet.And he not only produces oxygen and absorbs some chemical pollutants, purifying the air.Wisely organized ecosystem carbon stores, important for the existence of life on Earth.It also helps prevent a greenhouse effect, which is increasingly threatened by nature.
Forest protects the surrounding area from the strong temperature changes, night frosts, which favorably affects the condition of farmland.Scientists have found that the climate is milder, where most of the area is overgrown with trees.
benefits of forests for crops is still in the fact that it protects the soil from washing away, wind drift, landslides and mudflows.Territory, overgrown with trees, prevent sand encroachment.
Wood plays an important role in the water cycle.It not only filters and stores it in the soil, but also helps in the spring during the floods filled with water streams and rivers, preventing waterlogging areas.The forest helps maintain the level of groundwater and prevents flooding.The absorption of moisture from the roots of the soil and its leaves intensive evaporation helps to avoid drought.

use of forests for the benefit of human

Green areas are important for the person, not only because that regulate the water cycle and provide all living things with oxygen.In the forest there are about a hundred fruit and berry trees and shrubs, as well as nuts, more than 200 species of edible and medicinal herbs and mushrooms.It produces a variety of animals such as sable, marten, squirrel and grouse.But most of all a person needs the wood.It is because of this deforestation occurs.Problems of forest that no trees are killed the whole ecosystem.So why man needs a timber?

First of all, it is certainly building.For example, until now almost all the houses in the villages of Siberia, built of wood.Despite the emergence of modern building materials, it is considered to be the best.From the tree also make furniture, flooring, windows and doors.
wood very involved in the railway industry.In addition the majority of sleepers made of it, it goes to the production of cars and bridges.
tree has long been considered the best material in the shipyards.
irreplaceable wood, and in the chemical industry: from it make turpentine, acetone, vinegar, rubber, alcohol, fertilizers and plastics.It is used in tanning and dyeing industries.
For many hundreds of years the tree - is the only material for paper production.Who is annual leave tens of millions of cubic meters.
very large amount of wood is still used as a fuel.
total more than 20 thousand person needed things made of wood.For example, fabrics, toys, musical instruments and sporting goods.

Problems forests arise when it happens uncontrollably, often illegally.It has long been cut down forests.And for 10 thousand years of human existence disappear from the face of the Earth for about two-thirds of all trees.Especially a lot of steel to cut down the forest in the Middle Ages, when it was required more space for construction and farmland.And now, are destroyed every year about 13 million hectares of forest and almost half of them - places where've never gone before.Why do cut down the forest?

to make way for the construction (in fact growing population required to build new cities);
as in antiquity, chop wood when slash and burn agriculture, freeing up space for arable land;
livestock development requires more space for grazing;
forests often interfere with the extraction of minerals, so necessary to mankind to technical progress;
and finally, wood is now - a very valuable commodity, used in many industries.

Which wood can be cut down

deforestation has long attracted the attention of scientists.Other states are trying to somehow regulate this process.All forests were divided into three groups:

Prohibited cutting.These are forests, which are of great importance in ensuring the ecological balance in the world.They carry water protection or pochvoohrannye function.Most often, these forests are protected and come in a variety of nature reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.For the cutting of trees in a forest criminalized.
Woods Limited service.They are located in densely populated areas, and also perform important functions.Although this is the place where permitted partial deforestation.Environmental issue has arisen due to the fact that these territories are often harvested timber beyond measure.Also permitted felling, such as sanitary purpose, destroying healthy valuable varieties of trees for sale.This illegal logging is very common in Russia.The problem is compounded by the fact that our forest is very much appreciated abroad, and for him to pay a lot of money.
Production forests, planted specifically for wood.They cut down completely, and then planted again.

Types deforestation

In most states, the problem of forest worry many scientists and government representatives.Therefore, at the legislative level, there is limited logging.However, the fact that it is often carried out illegally.Although it is considered poaching punishable by heavy fines or imprisonment, mass destruction of forests to make a profit is increasing.For example, deforestation in Russia, almost 80% is carried out illegally.Moreover, wood is mainly sold abroad.And what are the official views of the cutting?

so-called final felling.Removed with the "mature wood", valuable trees needed for industry and construction.This cabin is a solid (which can only be carried out in the old forest), sampling (when experts say what trees can be cut) and gradual.
Thinning plants.In this case, immature trees are cut down, preventing the growth of valuable species.Young plants are often taken away from other trees nutrients and moisture.
Integrated cutting, when some land completely free of vegetation.This may be required during the construction and laying of roads, power lines, or when you need to make way for pasture or farmland.
Sanitation cutting the least harm to the forest.Conversely, it heals.In this case, only patients being cut and damaged plants.For example, affected by fire, storm broken or infected by fungus.

disruptive effect of deforestation

environmental problem of the disappearance of so-called "lungs" of the planet already worries many.Most people believe that it threatens to decrease the supply of oxygen.This is so, but it is not the main problem.Striking scale, which is now accepted deforestation.Photos from the satellite ex forests helps to visualize the situation.What can this lead:

destroyed the ecosystem of the forest to disappear, many representatives of flora and fauna;
reducing the amount of wood and plant diversity leads to a deterioration in the quality of life of most people;
increased amount of carbon dioxide, which leads to the greenhouse effect;
trees cease to protect the soil (leaching of the upper layer leads to the formation of gullies and lowering of the groundwater level is the cause of deserts);
increases soil moisture, because of what formed the swamp;
scientists believe that the disappearance of the trees on the mountain slopes leads to the rapid melting of glaciers.

researchers' calculations, deforestation brings a global economic damage amounting to $ 5 trillion a year.

As forests are removed?

How is deforestation?Photo territory where logging took place recently, is unsightly: naked area, almost devoid of vegetation, stumps, hearths spots and strips bare soil.How did this happen?The name "cutting" preserved from the times when the trees are cut down with an ax.Now, this is done using chainsaws.After the tree fell to the ground, chopped off limbs and burned.Bare trunk almost immediately taken away.And move it to the portage transport, trailer to the tractor.Therefore, the remaining band of bare earth to tear out vegetation and underbrush destroyed.Thus destroyed young growth, which could revive the forest.At this point, completely disrupted the ecological balance and create other conditions for vegetation.

What happens after cutting

outdoor areas are completely different conditions.Therefore, the new forest grows only where the cutting area is not very big.What prevents young plants grow stronger:

change the level of illumination.Those plants undergrowth that used to live in the shadows, dying.
Another temperature.Without the protection of trees is more sudden changes in temperature, frequent night frosts.It also leads to the death of many plants.
Increased soil moisture may result in waterlogging.A wind blowing moisture from the leaves of young shoots are not giving them to develop normally.
withering away of the roots and the decomposition of forest litter release a lot of nitrogen compounds that enrich the soil.But her feel better those plants that need in such minerals.Fastest clearings grow raspberry or rose-well-developed shoots of birch and willow.Therefore, the restoration of deciduous forests is fast if a person does not interfere in this process.But after felling pine trees grow very bad, because they reproduce by seed, for which there are no normal conditions for development.Such negative consequences have deforestation.Solving the problem - what is it?

Addressing deforestation

Environmentalists offer many ways to conserve forests.Here are some of them:

transition from paper to electronic, paper collection and separation of garbage collection will reduce the use of wood for paper production;
creation of forest farms, which will be grown precious wood with the smallest terms of growing up;
ban on logging in protected areas and punishment for it;
increase the state tax on the export of timber overseas to make it unprofitable.

Deforestation is not worried about the common man.However, many of the problems associated with this.When all the people will understand what the forests provide them with normal life, maybe they will be more careful to treat the trees.Everyone can contribute to the revival of the world's forests that will plant at least one tree.