The most important components of the human environment are. These are plants, animals, fungi, algae, bacteria, as well as their combinations - communities and ecosystems (forests, meadows, aquatic ecosystems, swamps, etc.). Biological resources also include organisms cultivated by humans: cultivated plants, domestic animals, strains of bacteria and fungi used in industry and agriculture.
Thus, biological resources- these are natural sources of obtaining material goods necessary for a person (food, raw materials for industry, material for breeding cultivated plants, farm animals, microorganisms, for recreational use).
Due to the ability of organisms to reproduce, all biological resources are renewable, but humans must maintain conditions under which the renewal of these resources will occur. With the modern system of using biological resources, a significant part of them is threatened with destruction.
The most important biological resources are the resources of flora and fauna. Man is inextricably linked with living nature. His current apparent independence and isolation from nature is in fact only a consequence of the fact that man, in the process of evolution, has gone beyond the boundaries of its resource cycle. However, nature will live without man, but man without nature will die. This is precisely the importance of natural biological resources.
Biological resources are the basis of human life. This is his food, shelter, clothing, source of breathing, environment for rest and recuperation. The depletion of biological resources can lead to mass starvation and other unpredictable consequences. To maintain the stability of biological resources, a sufficiently highly developed base for their reproduction is necessary. The human population is growing, and the amount of arable land on which necessary agricultural products are grown per capita is decreasing. Even if we assume that the total area of agricultural land will not decrease, then in this case the amount of fertile land per capita will decrease due to the increase in the number of people.
Today, for every inhabitant of the planet, including children, there is 0.28 hectares of fertile land (Table 2). By 2030, the area under cultivation is expected to increase by 5% (total!), while the world's population is projected to increase to 8 billion. This will lead to a reduction in the amount of land per capita to 0.19 hectares. Almost all of Asia, China in particular, will try to feed itself on a much smaller per capita basis of fertile soil area.
Table 2. Provision of land and arable land (ha/person) in some countries of the world
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Land availability |
Arable landlessness |
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Australia |
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Argentina |
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Brazil |
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United Kingdom |
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People meet their need for food resources mainly by growing various varieties of cultivated plants and raising domestic animals. This is done by such branches of agriculture as plant growing, including field growing, fruit growing, meadow growing, vegetable growing, melon growing, forestry, floriculture, and livestock farming - fur farming, fishing and other types of fishing. Thanks to these industries, people provide themselves with food, and industry with plant and animal raw materials.
Plants create the necessary environment for human life and serve as an inexhaustible source of various food products, technical and medicinal raw materials, building materials, etc. It is plants that are the primary link in natural food chains, and therefore represent the primary link (producers) in relation to the animal world (consumers).
Biological resources (BR) are sources of living origin that contribute to the receipt of material benefits by humans, for example, food, material for industry, breeding of plants, animals and microorganisms. These resources are an important component of the human environment and are presented in the form of plants, animals, bacteria, as well as ecosystems (forests, aquatic ecosystems, etc.).
It should be noted that all organisms have the ability to reproduce, therefore, biological resources are renewable; it is only necessary to maintain appropriate conditions for this. To date modern system the use of BR may lead to the elimination of a significant part of them.
The main part of BR comes from forest flora, thanks to which we have ¼ of the annual increase in biomass. Currently, human activity has led to the fact that this number of living matter has decreased, and therefore the biological productivity of the Earth has decreased. However, by replacing part of the former forests with pastures, people thereby provided food and technical raw material to the population of the planet.
Today, forests on the planet form two belts: southern (deciduous trees) and northern (coniferous trees). Those countries that do not have forest areas have insufficient forest natural resources.
Currently, the forest biological resources of Russia, Canada, the USA and Brazil are the largest. At the same time, the area of southern forests begins to disappear due to an increase in the export of wood and its use as fuel, while the forests of the sulfur belt remain practically unchanged. But despite this, these resources are increasing every year.
Biological resources, namely food, account for twenty percent of all agricultural production and one percent of all ocean and land productivity. It should be remembered that due to the rapid rate of population growth, the productivity of crop products needs to be doubled, while that of livestock products needs to be tripled. Thus, it is necessary to develop agriculture, irrigated agriculture, and rational use of ocean resources.
The biological resources of the world's oceans amount to one hundred million tons of products, of which twenty percent is reserved for its restoration. All products are presented in the form of fish and non-fish objects; Many countries engage in so-called marine farming, breeding algae, shellfish, sea cucumbers and fish.
Thus, the first place in production is taken by fish (85%), followed by non-fish objects, including algae (9%), pinnipeds and whales (6%).
Despite the fact that the world's population is growing rapidly, the increase in fisheries is always faster. The need to increase the number of produced water bodies is associated with both economics and medicine, since the latter indicates the need for people to regularly consume seafood.
But still, we should not forget about the need to double the amount of seafood production.
Biological resources of the animal world are a global heritage, since animals ensure the cleanliness of water bodies, soil fertility, pollination of flowers, etc.
Today, many representatives of the fauna are threatened with extinction. However, it should be said that many corners of the planet have not yet been explored, as well as many groups of organisms. In addition, only a small part of natural objects is used by humans, and many ecosystems support themselves.
Thus, BRs represent all living objects of the biosphere that form the environment.
75. Naturally protected landscapes and protected areas
Reserves – highest form protection of natural areas. The reserves are intended exclusively for carrying out scientific and scientific-technical tasks in the country. This is the specificity and fundamental difference between nature reserves and other forms of protected areas. Areas that are most typical for a given natural zone and can serve as an example of landscape-geographical zones are allocated for nature reserves. Preference is given to those areas that are least altered by human economic activity, as well as to those landscapes that are in danger of extinction.
Most often, one reserve occupies 30–70 thousand hectares, but there are reserves of 700–800 thousand hectares (for example, Pechero-Ilchesky, Altai). In the European part of the country, where there are no large areas suitable for a reserve, its size does not exceed 1-5 thousand hectares.
Protected zones are created around most reserves, where the exploitation of natural resources and the development of industry and construction are limited. The objectives of the protective zones are to smooth out the influence of adjacent territories on protected natural complexes.
An important criterion when choosing a site for a reserve, the presence on its territory of rare species of animals and plants, unique formations of inanimate nature is considered. The main direction of scientific research in reserves is the study of the structure and functions of primary biogeocenoses, identifying their patterns, which is of great importance for understanding the essence of the laws of the biosphere as a whole.
The basis of scientific research in the reserve is the development of methods for recording animals, determining the effectiveness and identifying the consequences of the economic use of natural resources in adjacent territories, the development of biological methods for controlling pests of forestry and agriculture, studying the factors that determine changes in the number of wild animals in order to predict them, and also study environmental features individual species animals and plants, development of measures to ensure the preservation of natural protected areas, restoration of rare and endangered animals, plants, etc.
The reserve regime pursues the goal of preserving all elements of biogeocenoses in such quantitative ratios that are inherent to them and that ensure natural diversity and dynamic balance of the natural complex. Nature reserves cannot allow an excessive increase in the number of any one species, even the most valuable, to the detriment of others.
Landscape protection has many forms, which can be grouped into three groups:
The first two forms of landscape protection are associated with protected areas. In this case, complete protection pursues mainly scientific purposes. Partial protection is aimed at scientific, technical or resource conservation and cultural purposes.
Protected areas are of great importance for the protection of the gene pool of our planet, as natural objects for environmental research.
The forms of protected areas vary throughout the world. These are national and natural parks, reserves for various purposes, nature reserves, protected landscapes, wildlife areas, nature reserves, etc. The main forms of protection of natural areas abroad are national and natural parks, reserves, and in Russia - nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
76. Specially protected landscapes and protected areas Altai Territory
Currently, the original natural landscapes have practically not been preserved in the Altai Territory. The region currently lacks both active reserves and national parks. There are 33 reserves in the region. Their total area is 773.1 thousand hectares or less than 5% of the region’s area, which is significantly lower than the Russian average and is not enough to maintain landscape-ecological balance in the biosphere. In the Altai Territory, 100 natural monuments have been approved, of which 54 are geological, 31 water, 14 botanical and 1 complex. At present, a decision has been made to create the Kulundinsky and Tigireksky state reserves in the region.
Tigireksky reserve
The territory occupies the watershed between the right tributaries of the Charysh River and the upper reaches of the sources of the Alei River. The area of the reserve is 40,693 hectares, with a protected zone of 26,257 hectares. Initially, the territory of the reserve was supposed to be about 300 thousand hectares.
The reserve consists of three sections: Beloretsky - the upper reaches of the Belaya River; Tigireksky - adjacent to the village of Tigirek from the south; Khankharinsky - upper reaches of the Bolshaya Khankhara River
The reserve's terrain is mid-mountain with dome-shaped peaks. Absolute heights reach 2200 meters above sea level. There are many rivers in the territory, the largest of which is the Belaya. The climate of the reserve is sharply continental with hot summers and cold winter. In January, the temperature can drop to -49C -52C, the absolute maximum in July is +33C +38C.
The characteristics of the reserve's vegetation cover are determined by its geographical location, climate heterogeneity and diversity environmental conditions. The main area is occupied by black taiga, which is an ancient (relict) formation. The reserve is a refuge for the following tertiary relics: osmoris ospinosa, European hoofed grass, common wolfberry, and broadleaf bellflower. The flora includes a large number of medicinal, fodder, melliferous, and ornamental plants. Medicinal plants include Rhodiola rosea (golden root), Raponticum safflower (maral root), peony marin root, and bergenia. Among food plants, the most famous are spinach sorrel, blueberry, common viburnum, prickly rose hip, and common asparagus. The Red Books of the RSFSR and the Altai Territory include: male shieldweed, Altai Stelleropsis, Altai onion, Bludov's iris, broad-leaved bellflower, marin root peony and others.
The fauna of the reserve is represented primarily by such large animals as brown bear, deer, roe deer, and elk. Sable, weasel weasel, ermine, squirrel, chipmunk, and mountain hare are common everywhere. Less common are lynx, weasel, wolverine, solongoi, and a few musk deer.
There are many species of birds found in the reserve. The most characteristic forest birds are hazel grouse, black grouse, great owl, great owl, nutcracker, and occasionally capercaillie is found.
Employees of the Tigirek Nature Reserve in the Altai Territory discovered three species of birds that had not previously been seen here. These are the greenfinch, the great magpie and the little grosbeak. The press center of the reserve emphasized that the lesser grosbeak was recorded for the first time not only in Altai, but also, possibly, in Western Siberia.
Kulundinsky Reserve
The purpose of creating the Kulunda Nature Reserve is to preserve the largest quasi-natural territory in the Kulunda Lowland. It includes the salt lake Kulundinskoye - the largest of the drainless lakes of Kulunda, and the ecosystems adjacent to it from the east - steppes, saline meadows, salt marshes. The lake and the mouths of the rivers flowing into it are important as habitats for nesting and migrating shorebirds. For many years, a zoological (hunting) reserve for the protection of birds existed throughout the reserve.
77. The concept of the “red book”, its significance for the reproduction and rational use of flora and fauna
The Red Book is an annotated list of rare and endangered animals, plants and fungi. Red books come at different levels - international, national and regional.
International Union The Nature Conservancy (IUCN) united and led in 1948 the work on wildlife conservation of government, scientific and public organizations in most countries of the world. Among his first decisions in 1949 was the creation of a permanent Species Survival Commission, or, as is commonly called in Russian-language literature, the Commission on Rare Species.
Editions of the IUCN Red List
The first edition of the IUCN Red List was published in 1963. This was a “pilot” publication with a small circulation. Its two volumes included information about 211 species and subspecies of mammals and 312 species and subspecies of birds. The Red Book was sent to a list of prominent statesmen and scientists. As you accumulate new information, as planned, additional sheets were sent to the recipients to replace outdated ones.
Three volumes of the second edition of the book were published in 1966-1971. Now it had a “book” format (21.0 × 14.5 cm), but, like the first edition, it had the appearance of a thick flip calendar, any sheet of which could be replaced with a new one. The book was still not intended for wide sale; it was sent out to a list of environmental institutions, organizations and individual scientists. The number of species listed in the second edition of the IUCN Red List has increased significantly as additional information has been collected over time. The first volume of the book included information about 236 species (292 subspecies) of mammals, the second - about 287 species (341 subspecies) of birds, and the third - about 119 species and subspecies of reptiles and 34 species and subspecies of amphibians.
Gradually, the IUCN Red Book was improved and expanded. The third edition, volumes of which began to appear in 1972, included information on 528 species and subspecies of mammals, 619 species of birds and 153 species and subspecies of reptiles and amphibians. The headings of individual sheets have also been changed. The first section is devoted to characterizing the status and current state of the species, the subsequent sections are devoted to geographic distribution, population structure and numbers, habitat characteristics, current and proposed conservation measures, characteristics of animals kept in zoos, and sources of information (literature). The book went on sale, and in connection with this its circulation was sharply increased.
The latest, fourth “standard” edition, published in 1978-1980, includes 226 species and 79 subspecies of mammals, 181 species and 77 subspecies of birds, 77 species and 21 subspecies of reptiles, 35 species and 5 subspecies of amphibians, 168 species and 25 subspecies of fish . Among them are 7 restored species and subspecies of mammals, 4 of birds, 2 species of reptiles. The reduction in the number of forms in the latest edition of the Red Book was not only due to successful conservation, but also as a result of more accurate information obtained in recent years.
Work on the IUCN Red List continues. This is a document of permanent validity, since the living conditions of animals are changing and more and more new species may find themselves in a catastrophic situation. At the same time, the efforts made by man yield good results, as evidenced by its green leaves.
Introduction
biological resource natural forest
Year after year, the impact of human activities on the environment is constantly increasing and causing its changes. In our life, we cannot refuse either the use of biological resources or their change, which in turn, with irrational consumption of natural resources, leads to the depletion of these resources. Therefore, humanity faces a particularly pressing issue of replenishing consumed biological resources. This work devoted to the study of the problem of natural and artificial reproduction of biological resources Volgograd region using the example of forest reserves.
The relevance and practical significance of the study of this problem is due to the fact that the role of forests is extremely large and consists in regulating the ecological balance of the biosphere and preserving biological diversity on the planet. Russia is a country of forests, because... 22% of all forests on the planet are located on our territory. This is almost 1.2 billion hectares. But a significant part of Russian forests was so intensively exploited during the 20th century that it is now depleted; in reality, only about 55% of the forest can now be used. The forest grows slowly. For example, pine is suitable for use at the age of 81 years, ash - 101 years, oak - 121 years. Therefore reproduction forest resources acquires extremely important economic, environmental and social significance. Today, combined forest restoration by combining natural and artificial reforestation is of particular relevance, which ultimately contributes to the restoration of forest plantations, the preservation of forest biological diversity, and the preservation of their beneficial functions. .
The purpose of this work is to study the problem of reproduction and conservation of biological resources in modern stage, in particular the forest reserves of the Volgograd region, consolidating and deepening theoretical knowledge on this topic. The Volgograd region belongs to sparsely forested regions, therefore it is necessary to identify options for solving this problem, taking into account regional characteristics, as well as to determine ways for the rational use of natural resources in relation to specific conditions. To achieve this goal, the following interrelated tasks must be solved:
analyze the significance of the forest in human life and its current state;
study methods of reproduction of forest resources;
evaluate foreign experience in the field of reproduction and conservation of forest resources;
study the forest resources of the Volgograd region and identify problems associated with their reproduction and conservation;
determine ways of rational use of natural resources.
The object of study of this work is the process of reproduction of biological resources. The subject of the study is to study the problems and challenges of natural and artificial reproduction of forest reserves in the Volgograd region.
Methodological basis for writing course work there were statistical data on the forest resources of the Volgograd region and the level of their reproduction, the Forest Code of the Russian Federation, as well as publications listed in the list of sources used. When writing the course work, we used the following scientific research methods:
comparative method;
study of the regulatory framework;
study of monographic publications and articles;
analytical method.
Problems of reproduction and conservation of biological resources at the present stage. Meaning of forest
The forest plays a dual role in the life of man and humanity. On the one hand, the forest, being one of the main components of the human environment, greatly 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 (environment-forming, or the ecological 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 (economic or resource role forests).The different roles of forests closely intersect with each other; it is not always possible to unambiguously draw the line between them, and their names themselves are very arbitrary. For example, protective forests in agricultural areas play, first of all, an environment-forming role (protecting agricultural land, settlements and reservoirs from adverse weather influences) - and the economic importance of these forests for agriculture is very great. When harvesting wood for industrial needs, forest resources are also used (economic role). There are many examples of how the different roles of the forest intersect with each other - but this does not detract from any of them. .
Environment-forming, or ecological role of the forest. The forest largely determines the quality of the environment and how suitable this environment is for a comfortable and healthy human existence. The role of the forest as the “green lungs of the planet” is well known: the forest absorbs and binds carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, accumulates carbon in the organic matter of living plants, their residues and soil, and releases back the oxygen necessary for all living beings to breathe. At the same time, the forest very effectively cleans the air of dust and other harmful impurities - they easily settle on the surface of leaves and needles and are washed off to the ground by rain. The forest, by evaporating large amounts of water, maintains high air humidity, protecting not only itself, but also the surrounding areas from drying out.
No less well known is the role of forests in preserving clean fresh water - the main natural resource of the 19th century, the shortage of which is increasingly felt in various parts of the Earth, including in many regions of Russia. Forests play a large role in the global distribution of precipitation: moisture evaporated by trees returns to the atmospheric cycle, which creates conditions for its further transport from the oceans and seas inland to the continents. Modern research show that if there were no forests, then the territories remote from the seas and oceans would be much more arid or even deserted, unsuitable for human life and for the development of agriculture. The forest effectively delays the melting of snow in the spring and the runoff of water after heavy rainfalls, thereby “smoothing out” the rise of water in rivers, preventing destructive floods and drying up of rivers and streams during drought. The forest reliably protects the banks of rivers and streams from erosion, thereby preventing the pollution of water bodies by soil particles. .
Forests, shelterbelts and even individual trees are of great importance for protecting and preserving the fertility of adjacent agricultural lands, preserving the land and crops from the harmful effects of strong winds, late frosts, desiccation, erosion and other adverse effects. The beneficial effect of forests on agricultural lands is especially noticeable in areas of risky farming - where the climate is not very favorable for growing most crops. Forests and shelterbelts, when best placed among agricultural lands, are capable of providing favorable conditions for agriculture on an area that is many times (up to 10-20 times) larger than the area occupied by the forest itself.
Forests are associated with the existence of the main share of the Earth's biological diversity - the diversity of living organisms and ecosystems existing on our planet. Forests are the main habitat for approximately three-quarters of all species of plants, animals and fungi that exist on our planet, and most of these species simply cannot exist without forests.
Preserving the diversity of the Earth's forests, and primarily wild forests, which still live according to the laws of the wild with minimal human intervention, is key to preserving the full diversity of life. .
As human civilization develops, population increases, requirements for environmental quality, needs for clean water, air and similar benefits provided by forests, the environment-forming importance of forests in the life of mankind increases. And most importantly, simple awareness of this role is gradually, albeit very slowly, replaced by a willingness to do something to ensure that the role of the forest in preserving a favorable environment never dries up.
Economic or resource role of the forest. Since ancient times, forests have been a source of many different material values and products, without which humanity cannot do and is unlikely to be able to do so in the foreseeable future, and the basis for the existence of an entire industry (which is called the forest industry). The forest is a source of wood and its processed products (building materials, furniture, paper, various types of wood fuel and others), numerous food and medicinal resources, and many other material values. The main forest material resource used by people in most countries and regions of the world is wood; however, often the basis for the existence of entire villages and towns is the use of other forest resources - mushrooms, berries, etc. .
Once upon a time, humanity, in principle, could not do without the use of wood: it was at the same time the main (or one of the main) building material, the main source of heat (firewood), and the basis for mass production of the “main companion of progress” - paper. Now, of course, the situation has changed: modern housing, if necessary, can be built without the use of wood products, firewood, etc.
source of energy have almost lost their former importance, and even paper has partially lost its former role due to the widespread use of electronic storage media. However, completely from the use of wood
humanity cannot refuse, and it is unlikely that it will strive for this in the foreseeable future. The fact is that there is little that can be given up “just like that” - almost always some kind of replacement is needed: for example, to replace wooden houses stone ones are coming, fossil fuels are replacing firewood, plastic packaging is replacing paper packaging. Such a replacement is not always a good thing. For example, the resources of fossil fuels that replaced firewood are depleting, their use is associated with an irreversible increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and all the ensuing consequences, and the cost of this fuel, as its reserves are depleted, is steadily increasing. The massive use of plastic instead of paper and wooden packaging has sharply aggravated the problem of garbage - unlike wood and paper, plastic almost does not decompose in the natural environment. Wood and most other forest resources are renewable (of course, only if the forests are handled correctly), the products of their processing easily and without residue decompose in the natural environment, are, as a rule, completely safe for human health and have many other advantages. Therefore, now, in the era of awareness of the environment-forming role of forests, there is not a refusal to use material forest resources, but, on the contrary, an increase in their use instead of non-renewable natural resources or products, the production of which is associated with the most “dirty” technologies.
But, unfortunately, today the volume of deforestation is often several times higher than the volume of its natural restoration, which is clearly shown in (Fig. 1). .
Modern problem of reproduction of biological resources
The essence of the environmental problem lies in the clearly revealed and deepening contradiction between the productive activities of mankind and the stability of the natural environment. Growing pressure anthropogenic factors on the biosphere can lead to a complete breakdown of the natural cycles of reproduction of biological resources, self-purification of water, soil, and atmosphere. This gives rise to “collapse” - a sharp and rapid deterioration of the environmental situation, which can lead to the rapid death of the planet’s population. It is estimated that at least 1 billion 200 million people live with severe shortages of drinking water. Biologists record that every day, as a result of human activity, the world loses 150 species of animals and plants. Uncontrolled growth
population undermines the resource base, rapidly bringing us closer to the maximum permissible load on the natural environment. Exceeding the threshold level of such a load leads to the destruction of the natural environment.
There are many factors at the heart of the environmental problem that really threatens our continued existence. But if some of them are variable, changeable quantities, then the three factors can rightfully be considered fundamental due to their immutability and constancy. They are the ones who hinder any attempts to successfully solve the problem. .
The factor of material interest: consuming anything and everything created by nature turned out to be much more profitable for us than returning, restoring and protecting. Every action aimed at protecting nature, on the contrary, requires material and financial costs, that is, it deprives us of benefits. This applies to both individuals, production teams, and entire states. Hence the wary attitude towards ecologists and “greens”, towards calls to protect and save nature. Nobody wants to miss out on their benefits.
The factor of fragmentation of efforts: the entire natural system, the entire Biosphere is an extremely sensitive, very complex, but indivisible, single organism. Therefore, “treating and healing” it in separate, conveniently divided “pieces” for us is an absolutely meaningless exercise. As meaningless as “saving at least a single part of the body” of a person drowning in a river. It’s better to let the whole thing drown calmly. .
The whole, the indivisible, must be saved either entirely or not at all.
The unrealistic factor of financing: spending money “on the environment” without first stopping even the main channels of environmental pollution is a hopeless and extremely ruinous matter. You might as well try to put out a fire with gasoline. No matter how much you pour, the task will never be completed. At any, even the most incredible costs, the result will always be zero. .
Therefore, all attempts to solve the environmental problem are standard
methods are doomed to failure. There is absolutely nothing to oppose material interest. There is no point in saving disparate parts of an indivisible organism. It is unrealistic to save the entire body without blocking the pollution channels. It is impossible to block these channels, since this contradicts material interest. Therefore, today we are forced to spend thousands of times more money to eliminate the damage that has already been caused than would be needed to take preventive measures. But people crave immediate benefits. This corresponds to their nature, although it contradicts common sense. The factor of material interest is so strong that it suppresses even the stubborn resistance of our basic natural instincts - self-preservation and the preservation of the race.
Global ecology as a set of ideas and practical acts to optimize the “society-nature” relationship should become the subject of comprehension and application by politicians and economists, all the “powers of this world.” It is necessary to outline the limits of development within which disaster can be avoided. Unfortunately, this idea has not yet been seriously recognized by politicians, not understood by the mass consciousness, and has not become a clear goal of social and personal practice. The ecological imperative has not yet been formulated by theorists so convincingly as to become a regulator of real life activity. .
In the approach to solving environmental problems, three main directions can be distinguished that form the main strategies for environmental activities.
· The restrictive strategy, as the main means of preventing environmental disasters, proposes limiting the development of production and, accordingly, consumption, since the tendency towards continuous economic growth inevitably increases environmental tension. Supporters of this strategy insist on “zero growth”, demand the immediate development of environmentally harmful industries, call for voluntary consumption restrictions, etc. · The optimization strategy involves finding the optimal level of interaction between society and nature. This level should not exceed the critical pollution threshold. It must be such that the exchange of substances between society and nature is possible without negatively affecting the state of the environment. · The closed cycle strategy involves the creation of production facilities built on a cyclical principle, thereby isolating production from the impact on the environment. Closed cycles are possible using biotechnology, which makes it possible to process inorganic production waste into organic substances. The latter can be reused to create useful to people products. The named strategies are not alternative: depending on the specific circumstances, one or another strategy can be applied. . Problems of conservation of biological resources
The initial reasons that appeared at the end of the 20th century. global environmental problems were a population explosion and a simultaneous scientific and technological revolution. The Earth's population was 2.5 billion in 1950, doubled in 1984 and will reach 6.1 billion in 2000. Geographically, the growth of the Earth's population is uneven. In Russia, the population has been declining since 1993, but is growing in China, the countries of southern Asia, throughout Africa and Latin America. Accordingly, over half a century, the space taken from nature by crop areas, residential and public buildings, railways and roads, airports and marinas, vegetable gardens and landfills has increased by 2.5-3 times. At the same time, the scientific and technological revolution gave humanity the possession of atomic energy, which, in addition to the good, led to radioactive contamination of vast territories. High-speed jet aviation has emerged, destroying the ozone layer of the atmosphere. The number of cars polluting the atmosphere of cities with exhaust gases has increased tenfold. In agriculture, in addition to fertilizers, various poisons began to be widely used - pesticides, the wash-off of which polluted the surface layer of water of the entire World Ocean. All this has led to many major environmental problems. Global environmental problems are an objective result of the interaction between our civilization and the environment in the era of industrial development. The beginning of this era is considered to be 1860; around this time, as a result of the rapid development of Euro-American capitalism, the then industry reached a new level. Global environmental problems are divided into several groups that are closely related to each other: · demographic problem (negative consequences of population growth in the 20th century); · energy problem (energy shortage gives rise to the search for new sources and pollution associated with their production and use); · food problem (the need to achieve a complete level of nutrition for every person raises questions in the field of agriculture and the use of fertilizers); · the problem of preserving natural resources (raw materials and mineral resources have been depleted since the Bronze Age, it is important to preserve the gene pool of humanity and biodiversity, fresh water and atmospheric oxygen are limited); · the problem of protecting the environment and people from the effects of harmful substances (sad facts of mass stranding of whales on the coast, mercury, oil, etc. disasters and poisonings caused by them are known). . The current environmental and economic situation in Russia and its immediate prospects give rise to serious concerns. Despite the significant decline in production in industry and agriculture in recent years, the overall environmental situation in Russia continues to remain at an unsatisfactory level. Specific indicators such as energy consumption and, in general, resource costs per unit of gross national product, disturbance of territory per person, pollution per unit of output, are several times higher in the Russian Federation than in industrial developed countries peace. Negative aspects of the environmental situation are manifested in a decrease in the quality of the human environment, degradation of natural ecosystems, and depletion of natural resource potential. The environmental factor significantly affects the health of the population, increasing the number of environmentally caused diseases and enhancing its provoking effect. . In Russia, about 80% of extracted resources go to supply resources to extractive and resource-intensive manufacturing industries. Large-scale extraction of natural resources and huge volumes of resource processing production are carried out in conditions of an increased level of emergency hazard at industrial facilities. In general, the modern technical and technological potential of Russia remains at the level of the 70s, which corresponds to the period of environmentally “dirty” industry. As for forest resources, on the protection and use of which the conservation of many biological resources largely depends, the situation in this area is no less deplorable. Man influences the ecology of his habitat, not only by consuming its resources, but also by changing the natural environment, adapting it to solve his practical, economic problems. Because of this, human activity has a significant impact on the environment, subjecting it to changes, which then affect the person himself. Throughout the history of civilization, it has been cut down /3 forests, oxygen reserves have decreased by 10 billion tons, about 200 million hectares of land have been degraded as a result of improper, irrational farming. The twentieth century of scientific and technological progress has significantly increased human economic pressure on the natural environment. Every day, as a result of irrational human activity, 44 hectares of land turn into deserts, and over 20 hectares of forests are destroyed per minute! The nature-intensive structure of the forest complex with undeveloped processing industries leads to a huge overconsumption of forest for production compared to existing technologies. In this situation, it is necessary to take immediate action. If we want not only us, but also our future generations to be able to use forest reserves, then we should not only consume them thoughtlessly, but also take care of solving the problem of reproduction of this type of resource. The main problems of environmental safety of the Russian Federation can be classified as follows. Current problems related to the state of the environment and ensuring the environmental safety of the population: · urban air pollution; · unsatisfactory quality of drinking water; · food safety (pesticide content, etc.); · pollution of the environment with dioxins, production and consumption waste (hazardous waste dumps); · radioactive contamination of a number of territories (regions of Chernobyl, etc.); · the occurrence of a chain reaction of man-made disasters at the current critical level of deterioration of the main production assets in industry and public utilities. A number of main problems of the Russian Federation in the field of natural resource protection: · reduction in animal species diversity and flora, decrease in forest cover; · complex land disturbance; · depletion and pollution of surface waters; · exhaustive use of natural resources. . Measures taken to preserve biological resources should be aimed at their rational use, timely and high-quality reproduction, conservation and restoration of ecological potential and biological diversity. The potential of Russia's natural environment as an important component of national wealth is currently not being properly used. Therefore, in the field of environmental conservation and rational use of natural resources it is necessary: create conditions for sustainable environmental management, including the presence of an adequate regulatory legal framework, modern technologies, scientific and methodological support, necessary financial and administrative resources; carry out an economic and, above all, cadastral assessment of the entire range of natural resources of the country; determine the rights and rules for the use of natural objects; develop systems of economic and legal mechanisms for the use of natural resources; evaluate foreign experience in the field of rational use, conservation and reproduction of natural resources. . In accordance with Art. 61 of the Forest Code of the Russian Federation, forest reproduction is one of the main tasks of forest management, and should be ensured through reforestation and forest care, which in turn will lead to sustainable forest management. The concept of “sustainable forest management” in domestic and foreign literature is not new. The first mentions of it can be found in foreign literature of the 18th century, and in domestic literature starting from the 19th century. In the domestic science of forestry, one of the first to touch upon the concept of sustainability in relation to forests was the classic of Russian forestry, professor at the St. Petersburg Forestry Institute (1901-1917), author of the classic and repeatedly republished work “The Doctrine of Forests” G.F. Morozov. The modern definition of sustainability was formulated in the draft general declaration of the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Helsinki (1995): “Sustainable forest management means the management and use of forests and forest areas in a manner and at an intensity that ensures their biological diversity, productivity , renewability, viability, and the ability to perform, now and in the future, relevant environmental, economic and social functions at local, national and global levels, without harming other ecosystems." These principles have been successfully applied in Finland. . Finland is the most forested country in Europe, as forests cover 86% of the country's land surface. For more than 30 years, the overall growth of Finnish forests has clearly prevailed over the volumes of harvesting, natural mortality and other losses. Forest reserves are determined by state inventory, and in addition to reserves, growth and marketability, characteristics characterizing the biodiversity of the natural environment are also taken into account. Half of the total wood supply is pine. The next most common forest species are spruce and birch. The forestry and timber industry in Finland are based on the cultivation and use of these tree species. The most important principles of Finnish forestry are sustainability and bringing nature closer to its original appearance. Forestry, which duplicates natural processes, contributes to giving the forest environment its original appearance. In this way, both the economic benefits and social sustainability of forestry are ensured by minimizing changes in the natural cycle. In the country there is such a thing as family forestry, since forests that are privately owned by a family are inherited by the next generation. The state provides support to private forest owners. Percentage forest owners in the country is presented in (Fig. 2). . Finnish forest policy is based on the concepts of sustainable forestry and multiple-use forest management. In 1886, the first forest law was developed in Finland, which prohibited the destruction of forests and obliged the restoration of the forest after felling. Finnish forest policy changed fundamentally in the 1990s, when the concept Sustainability of forestry has acquired a new meaning and issues of environmental and social sustainability have arisen on a par with timber production. Finland is also an active participant in international relations in the field of forest policy of the European Community, Europe and the world. Finland has the highest share of the forest sector in the gross national product in Europe, the share of strictly protected, i.e. untouched forests. The area of forest reserves has tripled in 35 years, which has slowed or stopped the extinction of some forest species. The importance of forestry to Finnish society is great, and people's attitudes towards the forest are widely reflected in discussions about forests, as well as in forest policies, in particular through national forest programs and other policy instruments. We have a lot to learn. . Features of the reproduction and conservation of forest resources in the Volgograd region, ways of their rational use. Forest resources of the Volgograd region For the steppe and semi-desert landscapes of the Volgograd region, woody vegetation is of particular value, the main role of which is its multifunctional impact on the environment: protection of agricultural land from droughts, hot winds and wind erosion; water protection and water regulating function, etc. In the region there are currently about 400 thousand hectares of natural forests and 250 thousand hectares of artificial forest plantations for various purposes. Natural forests are confined mainly to low relief elements - floodplains of the Volga, Medveditsa, Khopra, Don rivers and ravines. Only in the northwestern regions - near the black soil steppe - do they rise to watersheds. Their distribution is associated with natural-historical conditions. The average forest cover is 3.8%. Forests are distributed unevenly: forest cover in the northwestern regions is 5.8%, in the Volga and southern regions - only 1.8%. . All forest areas are classified in the first group, in which only thinning and reforestation are carried out; 200.5 thousand hectares are green areas that serve as a recreation area for workers. The main forest-forming zones include: oak - 52.9%, pine 10.7%, poplar - 8.2%, elm - 6.1%, ash - 4.8%, willow - 3.9%, alder - 2 .4%, aspen - 2.4%, birch - 1.4%, maple - 1.0%, white acacia - 0.8%. The undergrowth contains blackthorn, euonymus, Cossack juniper, hawthorn, buckthorn, elderberry, Tatarian maple and some other naturally growing shrubs. The vast agroforestry area of the arid south-east of the European territory of the country, which includes the Volgograd region, for the convenience of organizing forest reclamation activities, including the selection of tree and shrub species, is delimited into 3 regions: black soil steppe, dry steppe, semi-desert. . In the chernozem steppe, which is characterized by relatively good forest growing conditions, when selecting species, the main attention is paid to the widespread introduction of valuable species into protective forest plantations, reaching great heights, forming openwork and windy forest strips. These include larch, oak, birch, Norway maple, linden, poplar, and pine. The share of the named species in the region for shelterbelts should be approximately (%): larch -10, birch -25, oak - 20, linden -10, Norway maple - 10, poplar - 5, and for afforestation of sandy lands pine - 20. In the dry steppe in areas with dark chestnut soils, protective forest plantings are laid from oak, in chestnut and light chestnut soils - from elm, white acacia, hawthorn ash, etc., on light soils - from pine. In the semi-desert zone, the main type of protective plantings are pastures. To create reclamation plantings, drought-resistant and salt-resistant shrubs are used: juzgun, tamarix, teresken, etc. Nowadays, in treeless steppe areas, a network of protective state forest plantations, field protection, ravine, and massive industrial oak forests has been created. The main species chosen was oak, which, as a rule, was sown using the nesting method. Despite the enormous scale of this work, there were failures. Especially untenable for these conditions was the cultivation of oak without maintenance under a continuous cover of grain crops. Often unsuitable soils, poor sandy and highly saline, were allocated for afforestation; The biological characteristics of tree species were not always taken into account. The drying out of protective plantings on elevated elements of the relief in the dry steppe was often observed already in 10 - 15 years. . To create biologically stable protective forest plantations in difficult forest conditions, the main attention should be paid to the correct selection of tree and shrub species in accordance with specific forest conditions, as well as the use of breeding methods when using seed and planting material. . Floodplain forests. Of the natural vegetation, the most valuable are floodplain forests, which have water protection, anti-erosion, climate-regulating, sanitary, hygienic and recreational significance. Tree and shrub vegetation here was formed in accordance with the historically established natural rhythm of moisture, flood regime and floodplain topography. In the riverbed part of the floodplain and in depressions with excess moisture, willow grasses grow; in areas with close groundwater levels due to prolonged flooding - wildflowers; in squares with average duration- sedge growers; on hills with short-term flooding or without flooding, on near-terrace areas of floodplains and on ridges - oak forests. The species composition of tree and shrub vegetation here is relatively poor. The main species are oak and black poplar. The most valuable are oak forests, which, as a rule, are pure stands or with an admixture of smooth elm. Oak plantations of predominantly coppice origin of various ages have undergone repeated renewal, which has depleted their maternal root systems. Reliable oak regeneration in the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain is currently practically absent; in wildflowers and sedges, good regeneration is observed only in low locations. Consequently, the only reliable reforestation in the floodplain is the method of forest crops. Artificial afforestation in the floodplain makes it possible to expand the range of species to some extent. There are many areas suitable for growing pine plantations; crops of productive hybrid forms of poplars, etc. should be widely used. The main attention in the conservation of floodplain forests should be paid to proper management, differentiated by categories of forest conditions. In sanitary protective recreation areas, where the highest recreational loads are observed, in all likelihood, best shape The organization of the territory will be based on the principle of park farms, construction of an irrigation network, construction of roads, etc. . Semi-desert forests. Oak groves in the south of the Volgograd region are represented by single oak groves, confined to low relief elements, called grove oak groves. These are areas with the most favorable soil and hydrological conditions, ensuring relatively high longevity of oak. In conditions of an acutely arid climate, in the process of evolution and natural selection, genetic oak populations resistant to adverse factors were formed in these plantations, which are of great value for breeding work. Research by P.I. Chernyavsky (1966) proved that these oak forests are representatives of the southern Caucasian climate, which, according to morphological characteristics(the structure of the trunk, leaves, buds, the nature of the crown, the size of the acorns) is xeromorphic. The southern outposts of the ravine oak are Chapurnikovskaya, Grigorov and other ravines located near Volgograd. . Upland and ravine forests in the northern regions of the region. It is enough to look at the map of the distribution of forests in the Volgograd region to make sure that not only floodplain, but also mountain oak forests are distributed very unevenly. It is striking that to the north and north-west of the region there are more patches of mountain oak forests, and forest cover also increases sharply, especially within the Uryupinsky and Nekhaeesky districts. Along the plane route from Volgograd to Nekhaevsky, the first islands of mountain oak forests appear on the open slopes immediately beyond the Don. As you move north and northwest, the forests become larger. In the Shakinskoye forestry there is a mountain oak forest with an area of up to 6 thousand hectares. Large tracts of mountain oak forests stretch along the right bank of the Khoper River. In these areas you can find ravine oak forests, penetrating along ravines high to the steppe watersheds. The upland and ravine oak forests of this region are characterized by great diversity. They include oak forests of several groups of habitats, differing in soil moisture regime, illumination, heating and soil type. In the Nekhaevsky district, mountain forests are represented by mixed plantations with the dominant species being pedunculate oak. In the lower parts of the slopes, oak forests of lnpo-forb and maple-shrub-fern grow on the thalwegs, mainly on highly moist degraded chernozems. On the slopes, the forest is represented mainly by upland dry and fresh maple-shrub oak forests on leached and southern degraded chernozems. On the upper parts of the slopes and watersheds, forest vegetation is often represented by pure oak forests, sparsely 4-5 quality classes. . The abundant floristic composition of the forest serves for numerous animals and birds not only as a reliable shelter, but also as a source of rich and varied food. A lot of beautiful, interesting and instructive things can be found in this unique forest area. For its protection, the Shemyakinskaya dacha has been declared a nature reserve. General felling is prohibited in it; only sanitary reforestation felling of those tree stands that have lost the ability to naturally regenerate is carried out. . Natural and artificial reproduction
Russia is a country of forests (suffice it to say that on our territory there are 22% of all forests on the planet). This is almost 1.2 billion hectares. But a significant part of Russian forests was so intensively exploited during the 20th century that it is now depleted. Therefore, only about 55% of the forest can actually be used now. The total timber reserves in the forest fund are almost 82 billion cubic meters. In order to know the optimal volume of cuttings, there is a scientifically based norm - the estimated cutting area. In 2000, it amounted to about 511 million cubic meters, but only 118 million cubic meters, that is, 23%, were actually cut down. . The positive aspects in afforestation include the fact that during 2000, forestry enterprises created almost 25 thousand hectares of protective forest plantations. From this, in particular, agriculture benefited, and the soils became more fertile. . The Forestry Code of the Russian Federation prescribes the implementation of hydroforestry reclamation measures. Like direct afforestation, this increases land productivity. But, as often happens with us, the code is a code, but again there is not enough finance. As a result, in 2000, only 1.5 thousand hectares of forest were drained (for comparison: in 1996 - 8.4 thousand hectares). And in total in Russia there are currently 220 million hectares of waterlogged and swampy lands in the forest fund (of which, in general, hydroforestry reclamation work has been carried out on 100.4 thousand hectares). . A separate topic is the reproduction of forest resources. Reforestation work (planting, sowing, etc.) was carried out in 2000 on an area of almost 973 thousand hectares, including sowing and planting forests on 263 thousand hectares. In general, since 1994, the areas where reforestation activities are carried out are almost twice as large as the areas of clear felling. You can help the forest renew itself naturally, you can grow and plant individual species. At the same time, the survival rate of planted crops is very important. In 2000, plantings on an area of almost 2 million hectares were grown and entered into the category of economically valuable plantings (1.6 billion seedlings and saplings were grown in forest nurseries). By the way, this also requires significant costs - if only for the simple reason that 70% of forest nurseries are located in conditions of low natural soil fertility. To this we must also add climate problems - especially in the North, Siberia and the Far East. . Located in a zone of dry steppes and semi-deserts, the Volgograd region belongs to sparsely forested regions. Forest cover in the region is 4.3 percent. The total area of forest fund lands as of January 1, 2000 is 699 thousand hectares, including 577 thousand hectares under the jurisdiction of forestry authorities, and 122 thousand hectares held by other forest fund holders, mainly agricultural entities. All forests in the region belong to group I. Occupying a small area, they perform important environmental, environment-forming and environment-protective functions: soil protection, anti-erosion, water protection, absorb a significant amount of carbon and other harmful substances from the air, increase the comfort of the environment for the population, and also partially satisfy the region’s needs for timber and non-timber forestry. products. . One of the most important conditions for preserving forests is the timely implementation of work to restore them and maintain sustainability. At the same time, in accordance with Article 108 of the Forest Code of the Russian Federation, expenses for forest reproduction must be financed from the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Forest reproduction is ensured by a system of forestry measures for the procurement of seeds, planting and maintaining forest seed and mother plantations, growing planting material, creating forest crops, promoting natural reforestation, thinning in young forests, thinning, sanitary improvement of forests and carrying out a complex of forest protection works. . In this regard, in order to develop and implement priority measures for the reproduction and increase in the sustainability of forests as the most effective means of improving the environmental situation in the region, in order to strengthen coordination of the activities of interested organizations and ensure the most effective use of available financial resources, a regional target program “Forests of the Volgograd Region” has been developed "for 2001 - 2005. . Forest management. As of January 1, 2000, the study of the forest fund managed by the forestry enterprises of the KPR is characterized by the fact that the forest inventory is 5 years old, it was carried out in 1995. With limited funding for forest management work, the supply of forest management materials is insufficient. The volume of forest management work in forests managed by agricultural formations has decreased, where forest management in 1995 was carried out in 3 inter-farm forestry enterprises out of 15 available, and desk processing was not carried out due to lack of funds. . Forest monitoring In accordance with Article 69 of the Forest Code of the Russian Federation, in order to organize a system of observations, assessments, forecasts of the state and dynamics of the forest fund, and the implementation of public administration on the issues of use, conservation, protection of the forest fund, forest reproduction, the Program provides for the use of monitoring of forests in the region. To ensure the implementation of work on organizing forest monitoring, 200 thousand rubles will be required annually. Reforestation and afforestation In the coming period, reforestation work will be carried out on an area of 16.5 thousand hectares and in the most effective way - by planting forest crops. In order to create a sustainable and high-quality seed base, it is planned to plant 11 hectares of forest seed plantations. To expand the range of tree and shrub species, test crops will be created on an area of 21 hectares. A significant area in the state forest fund of the region is occupied by burnt forests. During 2001 - 2005 it is planned to develop 6 thousand hectares of burnt forests and create forest crops. The area of forest nurseries in the forestry enterprises of the KPR is 758 hectares, including irrigated - 303 hectares, which is enough to meet the needs for planting material. In this regard, the creation of new forest nurseries is not planned. Forest maintenance fellings and selective sanitary fellings. . In the period from 2001 to 2005, the annual volume of thinning for young growth is provided on an area of 2800 hectares. This volume is lower than the annual average for recent years - 3800 hectares, but it meets forestry requirements. Harvesting of liquid wood from thinning and sanitary felling is planned in the amount of 120 thousand cubic meters and characterizes the current need for wood and the possibility of its sale. Protecting forests from pests and diseases. The protection of forests in the region is carried out taking into account their natural characteristics, intended purpose and represents a system of measures aimed at increasing the sustainability of forests, reducing losses in forestry from pests and diseases, and other harmful effects. . Forest protection includes: design and implementation of preventive measures to protect forests from pests and diseases; sanitary and health measures; design and implementation of extermination measures in areas of pests and forest diseases; forest pathological monitoring, including supervision of the development of pests, diseases and damage to forests, nurseries, and forest seed plots. Due to insufficient allocation of funds to finance work in the region's forestry, there has been a reduction in the volume of activities to combat harmful insects. In 1999, they were carried out on an area of 15 thousand hectares. For 2000, indicators for aerial control measures were approved on an area of 16.1 thousand hectares, and ground control measures - 6 thousand hectares. Predicted areas of foci of forest pests and diseases, the extent of weakening and drying out of forests. . Ways of rational use of natural resources
In connection with the problem of nature conservation, the ideas of monitoring the environment as a form of scientific observation included in the technology of rational environmental management are becoming widespread. Now this question is very relevant, because... If humanity does not understand the full importance of what is happening, it may threaten it with an environmental disaster. . Once upon a time, forests occupied most of the planet's land surface, but with the development of civilization the situation has changed dramatically, and now all forests occupy only a third of the land surface. Already the first farmers burned large areas of forests to clear the area for crops. With the development of agriculture and industry, forests began to quickly disappear. They needed arable land and pastures, wood for construction and heating. As a result, by the 20th century, natural forests were destroyed almost throughout Europe, northern Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, southern Russia, and several regions of America. Durable and beautiful wood from tropical trees was in particular demand. In the 20th century, most of the wood was mined in developing countries, tropical forests, the areas of which seemed enormous, and whose wood reserves were almost inexhaustible. But it turned out that this was not the case. Today, tropical forests occupy only 7% of the land, that is, half as much as 100-200 years ago. And their area is decreasing at a catastrophic rate - by 1.25% annually, primarily in Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and African countries. In Latin America in the 1920s, up to 6 million hectares per year were destroyed. Africa has lost more than 50 million hectares of tropical forests since the early 1980s. . Reduction of forest areas and forest degradation - deforestation - have become one of the global environmental problems. Deforestation in developing countries continues to be driven, in part, by the need for fuel. Almost 70% of the population in these regions still use firewood and charcoal for cooking and heating their homes. Due to the destruction of forests, almost 3 billion people are now facing an acute shortage of wood fuel. Prices for it are rising, and almost 40% of the family budget is often spent not purchasing firewood. In turn, high demand for wood fuel fuels further deforestation. . Rational use of natural resources is necessary because Forests are the “lungs of our planet,” which means that if complete deforestation occurs, oxygen production will sharply decrease. All forests of the Volgograd region are classified as protective forests for their intended purpose and their development is aimed at preserving the environment-forming, water-protective, protective, sanitary-hygienic, health-improving and other useful functions. In conditions of low forest cover in the region and a high level of development of industry and agriculture, these functions are important. The environmental properties of forests are the main ones, and the use of timber and non-timber forest resources is of secondary importance. . In this regard, the general focus of silvicultural activities and the forestry strategy are aimed at increasing sanitary, hygienic, aesthetic properties, creating picturesque landscapes and creating favorable conditions for people to relax. Forest care. In the reporting year, thinning and sanitary measures in forests under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Department of the Administration of the Volgograd Region (hereinafter referred to as the Department) were carried out on an area of 3.5 thousand hectares. . From all types of felling, 63.4 thousand m3 of wood was harvested, incl. from thinning - 13.4 thousand m3. . In accordance with Art. 30 of the Forest Code of the Russian Federation in 2010, 944 wood purchase and sale agreements were concluded to meet the needs of citizens for heating, construction of buildings and other needs, with a total harvest volume of 4939 m3. . 13 auctions were held to sell the right to conclude purchase and sale agreements for forest plantations for timber harvesting to meet state needs. Based on their results, 72 purchase and sale agreements were concluded for 61,296 m3. . Use of forest areas. According to the Forest Plan of the region and the forestry regulations of forest districts, types of forest use are permitted on the territory of the forest fund. Forest plots can be provided for use on the basis of lease, permanent (indefinite) use, or gratuitous fixed-term use. The provision of forest plots for lease for all types of forest use provided for by the Forest Code of the Russian Federation (with the exception of the types of use provided for in Articles 36, 43-45 of the RF LC) is carried out based on the results of an auction for the sale of the right to conclude lease agreements for forest plots. . In the reporting year, 7 such auctions were held, 6 of them for recreational activities, 1 for research activities. Based on the results of the auctions, 72 lease agreements for forest plots were concluded for recreational activities, 1 agreement for scientific research activities. . 23 lease agreements were concluded for forest plots for the construction, reconstruction, operation of power lines, communication lines, roads, pipelines and other linear facilities, 5 agreements for the construction and operation of reservoirs and other artificial water bodies, as well as hydraulic structures and specialized ports, 1 lease agreement for the operation of forest infrastructure facilities, 2 lease agreements for carrying out activities in the field of hunting. . Protecting forests from fires During the fire-hazardous period of the reporting year, 120 fires occurred on a total area of 2090 hectares in the forest fund of the region, which is under the jurisdiction of the Department and subordinate state institutions (forestry departments). Of these: the forest area was covered by ground fire - 1189 hectares, by high fire - 867 hectares; non-forested area covered - 3.4 hectares, area not covered by forest - 30.1 hectares. Standing forests burned - 24,621 m3, young trees died - 588 hectares. Of the 120 fires, 5 grew into the large category on an area of 1249 hectares, incl. one fire each in the Uryupinsky, Serafimovichsky, Nizhnechirsky, Volgogradsky and Rudnyansky forest districts. The largest fire occurred on July 29 in the Serafimovichsky forestry on an area covered with forest - 550 hectares, of which 250 hectares were covered by a crown fire. . Compared to 2009, the area of forest fires increased by 22 hectares. So, if in 2009 the total area covered by fire was 2068 hectares, with the number of fires - 103, in 2010 - 2090 hectares with 120 fires. The average area of one fire was 17.4 hectares. From June to September 2010, high and extreme fire danger due to weather conditions prevailed in the region for 88 days. During this period, 107 forest fires occurred over an area of 2015 hectares, including 5 large forest fires. . In the vast majority of cases, forest fires were caused by human fault. Anthropogenic fires occur from careless handling of fire by the local population, vehicle passengers, malfunction of tractors and other equipment (lack of spark arresters), due to failure to comply with fire safety rules during construction work, military field exercises, etc. In the reporting year, the implementation of the main volumes of fire-fighting activities amounted to: installation of fire barriers - 22,162 km, maintenance of fire barriers - 64,734 km, repair of fire-fighting roads - 114 km, controlled preventive burning of dry ground cover - 3,950 hectares. . Conclusion
The priority in the development of forestry in the Russian Federation is to ensure sustainable forest management, taking into account economic, social, environmental and cultural factors. The main tasks for the near future: rational forest management, increasing the efficiency and profitability of the use of forest resources, their timely and high-quality reproduction, preservation and restoration of resource and environmental potential and their biological diversity. According to forecasts, by 2020 the world demand for industrial wood will increase by 100 million m3. Russian forests are one of the main sources of covering this need. . Forestry losses from forest fires, pests and forest diseases, and industrial emissions remain high. Every year the area of forest fires is 0.5-1 million hectares. Forest pests and diseases annually cause the death of forests on an area of 60 thousand hectares. . Of course, forests have always been sick and burning in all countries where they exist; but almost everywhere they try to help them - in pest control, in fire protection. In Russia, work on reforestation is now extremely limited due to the same lack of funds. On the territory of Russia (17 million sq. km) there are 9 million sq. km. km. Intact, and therefore working, ecological systems. A significant part of this territory is tundra, which is biologically unproductive. But the Russian forest-tundra, taiga, sphagnum (peat) bogs are ecosystems without which it is impossible to imagine a normally functioning biota of the entire globe. . Russia, for example, ranks first in the world in absorbing (thanks to its vast forests and swamps) carbon dioxide - about 40 percent. It remains to be stated: there is, perhaps, nothing in the world more valuable for humanity and its future than the preserved and still working natural ecological system of Russia, despite the complexity of the environmental situation. Due to the increasing scale of anthropogenic impact ( economic activity humans), especially in the last century, the balance in the biosphere is disturbed, which can lead to irreversible processes and raise the question of the possibility of life on the planet. In this work, we examined all the main aspects of the rational use of natural resources, their natural and artificial reproduction. We also drew your attention to the recklessness of a person who excessively draws on the resources of the Earth, his home planet, without doing anything to neutralize the traces of his activities. I am glad that in the last decade, this issue has firmly taken the first position at various international conventions. It’s good that people have begun to think at least a little about the environment, about the state of the planet, about natural resources. As for the Volgograd region, work on planting green spaces is carried out by foresters every day, including weekends. Work begins before dark and ends after dark. After all, a few spring days for agricultural workers are “The Day that Feeds the Year,” and in relation to forestry we can paraphrase that this is “The Day that Feeds the Century,” because forests grow, bringing their benefits to everything around them, for many decades . The survival rate of the planted trees will depend on how well foresters meet the planting deadlines, which directly depend on weather conditions. So forestry workers are trying to replenish the forest plantations of their native land as soon as possible, since the climatic features of the Volgograd region, located mainly in the dry steppe zone, dictate their conditions to foresters. References
Boldyrev, V. A. Structure and productivity of forests in the southern part of the Volga Upland / V. A. Boldyrev // Forestry. - 2006. - N 6. - p. 27-33. Bukshtynov A. D., Groshev B. I., Krylov G. V. Forests. - M.: Mysl, 1981. - 316 p. - 100,000 copies. All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Agroforestry / resp. per issue L. A. Petrova; photo: A. M. Stepanova [and others]; RASHN. - Volgograd: VNIALMI Publishing House, 2001. - 31 p. : ill. - 100-00 Golub A., Strukova E. . Environmental activities in a transition economy / Economic Issues, 1995. No. 1 Green ring. Experience in creating forest parks and gardens around Volgograd / Yu. N. Godunov [et al.]. - Volgograd: Nizh.-Volzh. book publishing house, 1964. -102 p. : ill. - 300-00. Forest Code of the Russian Federation. - 25 s. Mattis, G. Ya. Afforestation in arid conditions. - Volgograd: VNIALMI Publishing House, 2003. - 292 p. : ill. - Bibliography: p. 256-263. - ISBN 5-900761-29-0: 150-00. Based on materials from the Popular Report on the State of the Environment in Russia. Pankeev I.A., Rybalsky N.G., Dumnov A.D., Snakin V.V., Fedorov A.V., Gorbatovsky V.V. Russian environment at the turn of the millennium. Popular report on the state of the environment in Russia / Ed. I.A. Pankeeva and N.G. Rybalsky - M.: REFIA. Problems of environmental management and conservation of biodiversity in conditions of desertification: mat. Interregion. scientific -pract. conf. September 18-20, 2000 / ed. K. N. Kulika [and others]; VNIALMI. - Volgograd: ATTENTION, 2000. - 240 p. - ISBN 5-900761-16-9: 200-00. Reshetnikova, M.V. Current state and dynamics of development of woody vegetation in urban landscapes in the south of the Oka-Don lowland: abstract of thesis. dis. ...cand. geogr.Science/scient. hands V. N. Anopin; VGASU. - Volgograd, 2006. - 24 p. - B. c. State and protection of biological resources of the Volgograd region: Abstracts of reports of the IV intersectoral scientific and practical. Conf. / ed. V. F. Chernobay; Volgogr. ped. Institute - Volgograd, 1987. - 132 p. - 200-00. Turchin, T. Ya. Arena oak forests of the steppe Don region and their restoration / T. Ya. Turchin // News of the Higher educational institutions. North Caucasian regton. Natural sciences. - 2007. - N 5. - p. 91-94. .#"justify">.#"justify">.http://science-bsea.narod.ru/2008/les_2008/vasiliev_ekonom.htm
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Abstract on the topic:
“The problem of conservation of biological resources”
1. Introduction
2. Biodiversity
3. Species and genetic diversity. Diversity of communities and ecosystems
4. Water resources of Russia
5. Mineral Resources Russia
6. Conclusion
7. References
Introduction
Our life is inextricably linked with the world around us and also greatly influences it. Many live without thinking about future generations, about what we will leave them as a legacy, thereby preparing for them much worse living conditions, a poorer biological heritage. For many years we have been saying that man is the master of nature. Meanwhile, everything that the hand of progress hung over remained empty and lifeless. The same process occurs in our minds and hearts: progress and greed kill everything humane and good in us.
Since the 20th century, the entire biopotential of our planet has been recklessly wasted, and by now the nature of the Earth has changed so much that environmental problems that already threaten human existence are discussed on international level and their solutions are financed.
One of these problems, which I discuss in my essay, is the problem of preserving biological resources. I believe that not so much finding out the reasons for this issue, but rather introducing awareness of one’s actions into the minds of new generations is decisive in overcoming it. Everyone must understand that any action they take will affect what surrounds them, and everyone is responsible for the environmental and moral problems of our society.
Biological diversity.
Biological diversity is subject to global changes no less than mineral or water resources, and the result of these processes is in many ways more tangible for everyone than others. Therefore, to study this issue, we need to know what biological diversity is.
Biological diversity is the entire diversity of life forms on Earth, millions of species of plants, animals, microorganisms with their sets of genes and complex ecosystems that make up living nature. Thus, biological diversity should be considered at three levels.
Biological diversity at the species level covers the entire range of species on Earth from bacteria and protozoa to the kingdom of multicellular plants, animals and fungi. At a smaller scale, biological diversity includes the genetic diversity of species generated both by geographically distant populations and by individuals within the same population. Biological diversity also includes the diversity of biological communities, species, ecosystems formed by communities and the interactions between these levels.
For the continued survival of species and natural communities, all levels of biological diversity are necessary, and all of them are important for humans. Species diversity demonstrates the richness of evolutionary and ecological adaptations of species to different environments. Species diversity serves as a source of diverse natural resources for humans. Many natural ecosystems provide raw materials for food industry, medicine, cosmetology.
Genetic diversity is necessary for any species to maintain reproductive capacity and the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. but genetic diversity is also necessary for humans, since only with the presence of genetic material can breeders develop plant varieties and animal breeds, as well as renew the existing artificially created genetic stock with the natural one when the bred varieties and breeds lose the desired properties.
Species and genetic diversity. Diversity of communities and ecosystems
At each level of biodiversity, experts study the mechanisms that change or maintain diversity. Species diversity includes the entire range of species living on Earth. There are two main definitions of the concept of species. First: a species is a collection of individuals that differs from other groups in certain morphological, physiological or biochemical characteristics. This is the morphological definition of the species.
Differences in DNA sequence and other molecular markers are now increasingly being used to distinguish between species that are nearly identical in appearance (such as bacteria). The second definition of a species is a set of individuals between which free crossing occurs, but there is no crossing with individuals of other groups (biological definition of a species). The inability to clearly distinguish one species from another due to similar characteristics or resulting confusion in scientific names often reduces the effectiveness of species protection efforts.
Therefore, protecting a particular species requires a conscious approach to studying its structure and place in wildlife. The adoption of laws to protect a species as a biological resource is difficult, as it combines many aspects of legal legislation and is often complicated by poor knowledge of a particular species. Therefore, much work still needs to be done to systematize and classify all the species existing in the world. Taxonomists have described only 10-30% of the world's species, and many may become extinct before they are described.
Genetic intraspecific diversity is often provided by the reproductive behavior of individuals within a population. A population is a group of individuals of the same species that exchange genetic information with each other and produce fertile offspring. A species may contain one or more distinct populations. A population can consist of a few individuals or millions. Individuals within a population are usually genetically different from each other.
Genetic diversity is due to the fact that individuals have slightly different genes - sections of chromosomes that encode certain proteins. Variants of a gene are known as its alleles. Differences arise from mutations - changes in the DNA that is found in the chromosomes of a particular individual. Alleles of a gene can have different effects on the development and physiology of an individual. Genetic diversity allows species to adapt to environmental changes, such as rising temperatures or the outbreak of a new disease. In general, it has been established that rare species have less genetic diversity than widespread ones, and accordingly they are more susceptible to the threat of extinction when environmental conditions change.
A biological community is defined as a collection of individuals of different species living in a certain territory and interacting with each other. Examples of communities are coniferous forests, tallgrass prairies, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, deserts. A biological community together with its habitat is called an ecosystem. In terrestrial ecosystems, water is evaporated by biological entities from the Earth's surface and from water surfaces to fall again as rain or snow to replenish terrestrial and aquatic environments. Photosynthetic organisms absorb light energy, which is used by plants for their growth. This energy is absorbed by animals that eat photosynthetic organisms or released in the form of heat both during the life of the organisms and after they die and decompose.
During photosynthesis, plant organisms absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, while animals and fungi absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide during respiration. Mineral nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus cycle between living and nonliving components of the ecosystem.
The physical properties of the environment, especially the annual regime of temperature and precipitation, influence the structure and characteristics of the biological community and determine the formation of either a forest, or a meadow, or a desert or swamp. The biological community, in turn, can also change physical characteristics environment.
In terrestrial ecosystems, for example, wind speed, humidity, temperature and soil characteristics can be influenced by the plants and animals that live there. In aquatic ecosystems, physical characteristics such as turbulence and water transparency, its chemical characteristics and depth determine the qualitative and quantitative composition of aquatic communities; and communities such as coral reefs themselves greatly influence the physical properties of the environment. Within a biological community, each species utilizes a unique set of resources that constitute its niche. Any component of a niche can become a limiting factor when it limits population size.
The composition of communities is largely determined by competition and predators. Predators often significantly reduce the number of species - their prey - and can even displace some of them from their usual habitats. When predators are exterminated, the population of their prey can increase to or even exceed critical levels. Then, after the limiting resource is exhausted, the destruction of the population may begin.
Water resources of Russia
Russia is washed by the waters of 12 seas belonging to three oceans, as well as the inland Caspian Sea. On the territory of Russia there are over 2.5 million large and small rivers, more than 2 million lakes, hundreds of thousands of swamps and other water resources.
In the national economy of the country, in quantitative terms, water consumption exceeds the total use of all other natural resources. This is largely determined by the existing structure of production in many industries.
One of the most important areas for the use of water resources is hydropower, which has undoubted advantages over other methods of generating electricity (thermal power plants, state district power plants, nuclear power plants).
Water areas are widely used as transport arteries.
At the same time, the cost of transportation by water transport is on average 3-5 times cheaper than by road.
The river network is distributed unevenly throughout the country: its greatest density is typical for the northern and mountainous regions, and the least for the southern ones. The flood is formed due to snow melting, and the flood regime is caused by rainfall. Fluctuations in water levels in rivers are associated with changes in their water content, which varies across the territory. Ice phenomena are typical for all rivers. Depending on the geographical location of the basin and water availability, many rivers freeze in winter and dry up in summer.
But regardless of the individual and general characteristics of water resources, they are very important for Russian society. That is why I decided to consider this problem using the example of Russia, as a state that is not indifferent to me.
Reservoirs play a big role in regulating flood processes, preventing floods, etc. For Russia, this is extremely important because flood-hazardous territories cover more than 400 thousand km2, including in the Siberian District (in Yakutia, Transbaikalia, Buryatia, etc.) Along with the positive role of reservoirs, the problems they create should also be noted:
1. Coastal destruction
2. Landslide phenomena, the zone of which affects many settlements, including such large ones as Volgograd, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, etc.
3. Deterioration of the technical condition of waterworks, most of which are in need of ongoing repairs, and hundreds are in a pre-emergency condition.
4. As an example of the use of water resources, we can consider the Volgograd Reservoir. Regulation of the water level during the flood period is ensured by water discharge. Moreover, its destruction can lead to a huge catastrophe, and its technical condition leaves much to be desired.
But still, the main problem that needs to be solved is the lack of fresh water and its uneconomical use.
With such abundance and provision of fresh water in Russia in many areas, the question of its purification arises. Reservoirs, lakes, rivers are overflowing with garbage. Many species of not only fish, but also other organisms that ensure the natural balance of this ecosystem have disappeared.
And those that remain mutate and become dangerous to humans. All this gives impetus to the development of pathogenic microorganisms in lakes and rivers and turns them into a hotbed of disease. There are many examples in our city: polluted gutters in the city center, littered beaches.
Water resources are essential for life, and we must protect them.
Mineral resources of Russia
For the first time in the last 10 years, there has been some economic growth in Russia, and with it, hopes for an economic revival of Russia. Of course, the economic revival of Russia is a very real thing, moreover, Russia has every chance of becoming one of the world leaders by the third - fourth decade of the 21st century, but the problem is that calculations for future growth in most cases are based on very controversial assumptions.
Setting ourselves the goal of bringing Russia to a new level through the introduction of advanced technologies in production, science, and education, we forget about the impact of this on our ecology. The race for leadership on the world stage sometimes puts concern for the environment into the background. But exactly what we don’t want to pay attention to now will later turn against us and become a serious problem for every citizen.
Most of the funds used to raise the country to a new level are provided by trade between Russia and other states. And, unfortunately, it is on this process that we waste such a huge natural potential.
In this regard, it is necessary:
1. develop and begin to implement the concept of state natural resource policy, which includes problems of regulatory, economic, accounting and statistical support for rational environmental management;
2. complete the preparation of the regulatory framework for the introduction of fees for the use of all types of natural resources involved in economic circulation;
3. continue to improve the system of payments for the right to use subsoil, including the possibility of subsoil users receiving benefits for depleting subsoil or for mining low-quality ores containing scarce minerals.
In the future, increase the efficiency of state management of natural resources, strengthen the economic foundations in the field of relations to our own natural resources.
To implement state policy in the field of use, protection and reproduction of mineral resources, the following basic measures should be provided as a priority:
1. eliminating the acute shortage in the country of certain types of mineral raw materials (manganese, chromium, uranium, etc.);
2. stopping the lag in the growth of reserves from the volumes of mining;
3. development of the mineral resource base at the regional level through the identification, assessment and industrial development of small deposits of coal, peat and agrochemical raw materials, primarily in remote areas of Russia, where there are no alternative sources of solid fuel and mineral fertilizers;
4. increasing the complexity of the use of mineral raw materials;
5. development of measures to modernize geological exploration, introduce new equipment for drilling and geophysical work, adapted to the geological and natural conditions of specific oil, gas and ore-bearing regions of Russia;
6. expanding the scope of study and use of resources of the shelf and the World Ocean.
Conclusion
To summarize my work, I would like to note not only the economic, scientific, but also the moral aspect of this problem. Neglect of moral principles and propaganda of selfishness lead to the fact that a person does not recognize himself as a part of the state and society. Therefore, in my opinion, it is impossible not to address the problem of preserving biological resources from this side.
But, nevertheless, the formation of personal views largely depends on state policy, which determines the desire for better progress. And progress as a tendency of modern society should improve it, not destroy it.
After analyzing all the chapters of my work, I came to the conclusion that the inappropriate use of any resources can lead to huge consequences and the solution to these problems cannot be postponed. It is always worth remembering that more than one generation of people will live after us. And what will we leave them as a legacy?
References
Alimov A.F. Options for solving environmental problems // Salvation. - 2003. - No. 6.
Antsev G.V., Elfimov V.G., Sarychev V.A. On the approach of a global environmental catastrophe // Monitoring - 2000. - No. 1.
Alekseev V.P. Nature and society: stages of interaction // Ecology and life. - 2002. - No. 2.
Snurikov A.P. Rational environmental management. - M.: Nauka, 1996.
"Big Schoolchildren's Guide", 2001
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The role of living organisms in the life of the Earth is enormous. It is living organisms that enrich the atmosphere with oxygen and create a fertile soil layer at the border of “living” and “dead” nature.
Vegetation significantly influences the climate: the moisture it evaporates participates in the water cycle. Moreover, vegetation, along with microorganisms, created the modern atmosphere and maintains its gas composition.
Plants enrich the soil with organic residues, thereby improving its fertility.
Planting forest belts helps with snow retention and moisture conservation. Forest plantings create a barrier to moving sands. Trees, shrubs and grasses protect the soil from erosion.
Living organisms, especially microorganisms, play a major role in biological weathering. Bacteria contribute to the decomposition of organic matter and participate in the supply of nitrogen to the soil. At the same time, some bacteria contaminate water bodies with hydrogen sulfide.
Plant remains and dead animal organisms fill lake basins with sapropel silts and build up peat bogs. Large accumulations of organic remains become the material that composes rocks.
Many animals - earthworms, burrowing rodents - actively participate in soil formation.
There are animals that carry seeds and fruits of plants, helping them disperse.
Of course, in living nature there are harmful weeds, predators, and blood-sucking insects that humans have to fight with. However, you should always remember the numerous connections that exist in nature. For example, most birds of prey exterminate harmful rodents. Therefore, to make an unambiguous conclusion that birds of prey bring harm to humans means that it is too primitive to perceive the complex relationships in nature.
Organisms on Earth are one of the most complex and vibrant components that determine the appearance of almost all geographical landscapes.
The role of flora and fauna in human life is difficult to overestimate. Human development of natural resources began with the development of biological resources.
There are plant resources and animal resources.
Plant resources. Problems and solutions.
Economic assessment.
The plant world provides humans with food and feed, fuel and raw materials. For a long time, people have used the fruits of useful wild plants - berries, nuts, fruits, mushrooms. Man learned to grow useful plants and cultivate them.
A few numbers: in Russia there are 11,400 species of vascular plants; 1370-bryophytes; more than 9,000 algae, about 3,000 species of lichens, more than 30,000 fungi. 1363 species have different beneficial properties, of which 1103 species are used in medicine
It should be noted that, according to some estimates, the volume of commercial stocks of wild plants is about 50% of biological stocks.
In 2000, more than 18,000 forest fires occurred in the forests under the jurisdiction of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources alone (damage amounted to 3,387 million rubles, about 183 thousand hectares of young trees were killed, and 38,802 thousand cubic meters of wood were destroyed).
Of course, forests have always been sick and burning in all countries where they exist; but almost everywhere they try to help them - in pest control, in fire protection. In Russia, work on reforestation is now extremely limited due to the same lack of funds.
But it's not just about forests. In the north, for example, the area of lichen tundras has halved over a quarter of a century. In addition, degradation of 25% of reindeer pastures is observed. One of the reasons is the activities of resource-extracting enterprises.
Vegetation in the taiga zone is also degrading. But the most serious problems now are in the steppe and semi-desert regions. Steppe natural ecosystems are a unique world that has been created over millennia. And now about 70% of our lands are plowed in the Central Black Earth region, the same amount, if not more, in the Volga and North Caucasus regions, and even up to 40% in the East Siberian and West Siberian regions.
Of course, it will not be possible to simultaneously preserve natural ecosystems and use them as arable land or forage lands. But the fact of the matter is that half of these lands still have a yield of less than 5 (five!) centners per hectare. Moreover, due to anthropogenic loads, species diversity in these areas is decreasing.
Man has long become a “powerful geological force” (V.I. Vernadsky), but, unfortunately, there is still a “deficit of reason when communicating with the soil” (A.N. Tyuryukanov). People talk about this more simply, ridiculing this approach - you have strength, you don’t need intelligence. You don’t have to be Dokuchaev or Vavilov, Izmailsky or Maltsev to understand what these great scientists talked and wrote about. It is enough to think at least a little about the present and the future, which are not possible without soil.
Nevertheless, the same steppes are almost completely plowed in the Krasnodar and Stavropol territories. As a result, the vegetation of the North Caucasus region is degrading; xenophilic forests are under threat of complete destruction (their fragments remain only on the mountain slopes near Anapa, Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk).
Russia is a country of forests (suffice it to say that on our territory there are 22% of all forests on the planet). This is almost 1.2 billion hectares. But a significant part of Russian forests was so intensively exploited during the 20th century that it is now depleted. Therefore, only about 55% of the forest can actually be used now. The total timber reserves in the forest fund are almost 82 billion cubic meters.
The positive aspects in afforestation include the fact that during 2000, forestry enterprises created almost 25 thousand hectares of protective forest plantations. From this, in particular, agriculture benefited, and the soils became more fertile.
The State Forestry Guard of Russia numbers about 100 thousand people and has more than two thousand fire-chemical stations. About 202 million hectares of forest are protected from fires by ground (about 142 million hectares with air patrolling).
In hard-to-reach areas, problems of forest protection are solved with the help of aviation. This task is entrusted to the Federal State Institution “Central Base of Aviation Forest Protection “Avialesookhrana”. These are 23 air bases, one air unit and one aviation enterprise, which protect almost 678 million hectares of forest.
Animal resources. Problems and solutions.
Economic assessment.
Animal resources are primarily hunting and commercial resources. Hunting is one of the most ancient human activities. The main commercial fur-bearing animals in Russia include the squirrel, arctic fox, fox, and hare. More rare fur-bearing animals are marten, weasel, otter, and beaver.
The territory of Russia is huge - over 17 million square kilometers. Natural conditions are very diverse. Therefore, a significant part of the world's biological diversity is located in our country. Let's think about the number - 1513. This is exactly how many species of vertebrates there are in Russia, namely:
320 species of mammals, 732 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, 29 species of amphibians, 343 species of freshwater fish, 9 species of cyclostomes.
In addition, about 1,500 species of marine fish live in the seas surrounding our country.
As for the invertebrate fauna, it numbers up to 150,000 species, of which 97 percent are insects.
And many of these species exist only in our country; they are not found anywhere else in the world. Scientists call such species endemics.
Hunting in Russia is allowed for 60 species of mammals and 70 species of birds. According to civil service hunting resources, the number of game animals is stabilizing. The noted fluctuations are caused by changes in weather and climatic conditions. For example, in 1999 these conditions were extremely unfavorable - snowy winter, May frosts, severe summer drought. This caused a decrease in the number of some animal species.
The population of valuable fur-bearing animal species is in good condition - the number of sable and beaver is increasing, despite the fact that their prey has increased significantly.
The number of grouse birds has finally recovered, the condition of which was alarming just five years ago.
Hunting reserves also play a positive role - now there are more than a thousand of them, with a total area of almost 44 million hectares. In most of the reserves, the density of animals is much higher than in adjacent areas. And over time, animals from reserves naturally move to adjacent territories.
In 2000, the total allowable catch of fish in Russian freshwater bodies was more than 111,000 tons. As in other years, the main part (more than 41%) are small-sized fish; bream and whitefish species (16% each); very few sturgeon and salmon. This is not surprising, because the stocks of valuable fish species (sturgeon, salmon, pike perch) are declining, as are the stocks and numbers of predatory fish species, such as pike, burbot, and catfish.
Too much human activity (not only fishing, but the development of industry) has led to a decrease in the stocks of commercial fish species in lakes such as Ladoga, Onega, Ilmen, and Beloe. Although, in general, in Russian reservoirs the stock of commercial fish species remains at a fairly high level.
In general, the fish stocks of reservoirs in the European part of Russia are most intensively used - about 80% of the fish from reservoirs is caught here. And the reservoirs of the Urals and Western Siberia account for up to 70% of the total catch of river fish.
As a rule, the most fish are caught where there are valuable fish species and, naturally, a market. Thus, in the Yenisei basin 1.7 thousand tons were produced in 2000, in Lake Baikal - 2.6 thousand tons, in the Rybinsk Reservoir - about 1.5 thousand. tons, in Kuibyshevsky - 2.8 thousand tons, and in Tsimlyansky - 7.4 thousand tons (although this is below the 1999 level).
For economic reasons, for the last two years, seal fishing has not been carried out by any of the Caspian countries.
Hundreds of millions of juvenile small fish - carp, bream, pike perch - are released into natural reservoirs every year. And the catches show the high efficiency of work on the artificial reproduction of their stocks. Thanks to the activities of the Tsimlyansky fish hatchery, a commercial herd of silver carp has been formed in the reservoir of the same name. Commercial stocks of herbivorous fish appeared in Krasnodar, Volgograd, Saratov and other reservoirs.
What is the ecological state of Russia's fishery reservoirs? Otherwise, sometimes you get a paradoxical picture: one plant grows fish, and the second immediately destroys it.
In 2000, fisheries protection authorities registered 58 cases of massive pollution of water bodies. One of the unfortunate results of this is dead fish. By the way, the damage from these salvos of pollution amounted to more than 60 million rubles.
In addition, many reservoirs are negatively affected by natural factors. For example, in the Primorsky Territory, due to logging in water protection zones (established for each river depending on its size), spawning grounds have become silted.
Due to water pollution in Nakhodka, Amursky and Ussuriysky bays, stocks of rudd, flounder, greenling, smelt, navaga, and pollock have decreased. In addition, the Kamchatka crab no longer approaches the polluted coast, the spawning grounds of herring have shrunk, and the lost habitats of scallops and sea cucumbers are not being restored at all.
The oil and gas complex in the Ob basin has a detrimental effect on the food supply, and, accordingly, on the reproduction of fish.
Pulp and paper mills on the shores of Lakes Ladoga, Onega, and the Yanis-Joki River also do not contribute to the reproduction of fish. As a result of dirty wastewater, the stocks of vendace have decreased, the spawning grounds and wintering holes of bream have decreased, and the fish itself has become specific - not fishy at all! - smell.
And vice versa - where the activities of enterprises cease or are reduced, fish stocks are restored there. For example, as soon as some enterprises stopped operating on Sakhalin, Asian smelt, navaga, and pink salmon immediately began to enter the sea zone to spawn. The Kholmsky and Chekhovsky pulp and paper mills ceased their activities - the condition of the salmon rivers improved.
With a decrease in the volume of drilling work in the Arkhangelsk region, fish stocks in tundra lakes have been restored.
The ichthyofaunares of Puksa and Podina recovered only after the closure of two pulp mills; in 2000, whitefish even successfully spawned, and juveniles were introduced into the Puksa River.
This, of course, is not about a complete closure of all enterprises. But, as Paracelsus said, the dose, that is, the measure, is important in everything. And in our century - the use of new treatment technologies. Of course, it’s bad without paper and cardboard, but they are useless if not because of them there will be no forests, rivers, fish and nature.
Recently, there has been an increasing understanding of not only the ecological, but also the economic value of such a specific resource as the ability of the natural environment to assimilate and a certain amount of waste entering it, i.e., to self-purify. The economic significance of this property means that within the assimilation capacity of the environment, the production process can be carried out without spending money on environmental protection measures.
This property of nature is the property of all peoples and generations, but a relatively small number of countries that were the first to take the path of industrial development took advantage of it, thereby hindering the progress of other countries and creating a threat to the existence of future generations. A fair solution to this problem is possible on the basis of objective international agreements.