The forest is an amazing ecosystem, and in every corner of our planet you can find various forests: from tropical forests at the equator, in the tropics and subtropics to coniferous forests in the taiga. The basis of every forest is trees, but there are also shrubs and grasses, mosses and lichens, mushrooms and other life forms. For many people, the forest is of the utmost importance for life, because since ancient times people have been gathering valuable berries, mushrooms, nuts here, hunting animals. Over time, trees in the forest began to be actively cut down, because wood now has a valuable economic value. It is used in construction and energy, in the manufacture of furniture and paper, in the chemical and other industries. The forest is harvested at such a pace that it causes huge damage to the environment.
Why forest health is important
For nature, the full development of forests is simply irreplaceable. In addition to the fact that many unique plants can be found in the forests, it is home to many animals and microorganisms. The main functions of the ecological system are air purification and oxygen production.
Equally significant is that with the help of trees, you can reduce the amount of dust that is contained in the air. Only 1 hectare of forest can destroy 100 tons of dust. At the same time, forests make an invaluable contribution to the planet’s hydrosystem. Plantations are able to regulate and improve the water balance of a reservoir located nearby. This is due to the fact that forest plants are able to accumulate moisture in a certain period of the year, and this, in turn, contributes to the preservation of the high water of nearby rivers and reservoirs.
Woodland can dampen noise, keep strong winds out, improve air quality, increase humidity, and even change the climate for the better. The forest is a filter and does a great job of eliminating harmful chemicals in the air. Plantations also prevent the formation of landslides, mudflows and other adverse processes.
The importance of the forest for humans
The importance of forests for humans can be seen from three perspectives: economic, environmental and social. The first of them allows to provide the population with paper, building materials, furniture, medicinal products and other vital goods. And even causing irreparable harm to nature, people go to deforestation, as they pursue the goal of providing a person with everything necessary and, of course, making good money.
Deforestation statistics by country
Country | Number of hectares (thousand.) |
Russia | 4.139 |
Canada | 2,450 |
Brazil | 2.157 |
USA | 1.7367 |
Indonesia | 1.605 |
Congo | 608 |
China | 523 |
Malaysia | 465 |
Argentina | 439 |
Paraguay | 421 |
From an ecological point of view, the forest is a source of oxygen and a guarantor of nature conservation. The system provides people with the necessary conditions for life.
In a social key, the forest is the heritage of mankind. Since ancient times, it has been considered a source of resources that helped our ancestors to survive, namely: to find food, water and safe shelter.
But, despite the need to protect the forest and implement artificial plantations, the forest has been and will be in demand, as various goods and materials are made from it, and the forest industry is becoming more and more popular.
The fact is that trees are the lungs of the planet, because only they are able to purify the air of harmful substances and release the oxygen necessary for people and fauna to live. The fewer trees left on the planet, the dirtier the atmosphere will be. The remaining forests are simply not able to filter the air, given that every day there are fewer trees, more and more pollution occurs.
Environmental problems of the forest
Unfortunately, forest fires are the main problem today. They have a detrimental effect on trees and can completely destroy everything around, or severely damage the vegetation. As a result, the main functions of the forest protective and water protection are reduced, and sometimes even disappear altogether. This is because outdoor recreation has become quite popular, and as a result of the negligence of people, not only the environment is littered, but the likelihood of forest fires also increases. This problem remains one of the main for all countries of the world. States are developing special measures aimed at preventing fires, their minimum spread and timely detection.
The next forest problem is household waste and waste resulting from timber harvesting. Bark, stumps, branches an ideal breeding ground for forest pests. Household garbage not only worsens the aesthetic appearance, but in most cases it takes a long time to process or does not rot at all.
The forest is important not only because trees grow in it, but also because it is a home for many animals. In addition, plant roots protect the earth from destruction (water and wind erosion, degradation, desertification). Flora plays an important role in the process of the water cycle in nature. If the forest is excluded from any ecosystem, then all forms of life will die.
It is necessary to start caring for the forest with each person in particular. The ecological system requires proper care and attention, but people not only do not appreciate the gifts of nature, but also contribute to the deterioration of the environment. The state of the country should control compliance with the rules and the state of the forest. For enterprises engaged in the timber industry, special rules and regulations for timber harvesting should be created.
Conservation actions for the forest
Today, forest protection is one of the pressing global problems. No matter how the public discusses this issue, it is still not possible to stop mass deforestation. To save the forest, you must follow these recommendations:
Thus, air quality and the integrity of nature, including forests, depend on us. To chop or not to chop a tree is our choice. Of course, the mass destruction of the forest is the work of huge corporations, but each person at the local level can try not to harm the environment, and this is already of great importance for the conservation of the forests of our planet.