What to do to save the rainforests. Each of us can save the rainforest. The rainforest is home to many plant and animal species. But since, as before, the process of its destruction is underway, there is a danger that it will disappear in the 21st century.

The rainforest is home to many plant and animal species. But since, as before, the process of its destruction is underway, there is a danger that in the 21st century it will disappear from the surface of the Earth.

rescue action

In the Amazon, in some parts of Africa, in the territories of Guinea and the Congo, in the Malay Archipelago, from the western mountain ranges of India to the mountainous islands in the Pacific Ocean, in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands.

What needs to be done

Almost 29 million hectares of tropical forests are being destroyed every year. If this rate of their destruction continues, then in 2035 there will not even be one square meter of tropical forests left. Earth satellite images showed that almost a tenth of the Amazon forests burned down in 1988. In fact, such large areas of rainforest were burning that planes at the airfield in La Paz - a city located in the Andes at an altitude of 1500 m - could not take off due to thick smoke. Observers could see a strip of fire several thousand kilometers long. Before this happened, it seemed that it would be impossible for a person to destroy such huge tracts of forest in such a short time.

What we can do
   Rainforests could be saved through agricultural reform, but such fundamental changes should have begun much earlier. On the other hand, forests cannot be made inviolable, because man still needs their riches. Therefore, it is necessary to find a way to restore the destroyed territories.
   It is necessary to support the actions of environmentalists based on pressure on the governments of individual states.
   By supporting fast-growing tree planting campaigns, we are saving entire tracts of tropical forests from being cut down.    You can also deliberately boycott hardwood from the rainforest.

Deforestation will not only lead to the death of thousands of animal species, but also to climate change on the globe, which can lead to disaster for all mankind.

WHAT IS A TROPICAL FOREST

   The rainforest covers an area of ten million square kilometers. It forms a multi-tiered living space, a complex collection of animal and plant communities living in the only one in a peculiar climate, which they also influence. Almost all life in the rainforest is concentrated at a height of 30 m above the ground.
   Construction timber: Approximately 4.5 million hectares of forest are cleared annually to meet the demand for mahogany, teak and ebony. Hardwood has been growing for hundreds of years. It is difficult to replace it with others or grow it on plantations.
   Livestock: there is a flexible international market for cheap beef. Most of it comes from South America. Entrepreneurs buy huge areas of tropical forests and burn them, thus obtaining fields for pastures. After a few years, the animals destroy all the vegetation and the livestock breeders move on.
   Mining: open pit mining of bauxite in Brazil has destroyed gigantic areas of forests and arable land. By law, these areas must be restored, but most firms ignore these requirements.
   Soil erosion: arable land at the site of uprooting the forest becomes barren after 10 years. Land devoid of trees does not accumulate rainwater and is easily washed away.
   River pollution: cutting down trees in the upper reaches threatens the existence of fish along the entire length of the river.
   Floods and diseases: The climate is changing as a result of deforestation. If the forest does not absorb water, the rains will change the river system and cause floods. But if there is no rain, then droughts will lead to an epidemic of typhus or cholera.

   What processes take place in the rainforest
   1. Leaves retain rainwater. Some plants are able to accumulate it.
   2. Water flows down the stems of trees and soaks into the ground.
   3. A small amount of water flows into streams and rivers, but most of it is absorbed by tree roots.
   4. The roots of trees absorb water, which rises through special vessels even to a height of 65 m.
   5. Water evaporates from the crowns of trees, and as a result, clouds appear in the sky containing up to a billion liters of water.

TROPICAL FOREST THREATS

Almost all tropical forests are located in third world countries. The locals consider the forest as a source of their income. Through the sale of industrial wood, hospitals and schools are financed, and the economic development of countries is also supported. The number of people on our planet is constantly growing. To survive, people need food and cultivated land, and they also need to use wood to build and heat their homes. Around each new settlement, forests are cut down, and land is given over to agricultural fields. As soon as the land ceases to be productive, people move further into the depths of the forests. 300,000,000 people annually destroy seven million hectares of forest.

LIFE IS AT RISK

   Man eats a small number of plants and animals that are found in the tropics. Science is trying to develop new species, and the rainforest gives it a wide genetic material.
   There are many plants growing in tropical forests that a person could consume, in addition, there is a large amount of natural raw materials that a person could use for his own purposes. Thus, a tenth of all medicines used by people are made on the basis of components extracted from tropical forests. However, we still know little about rainforest plants.
   The more important fact is that the atmosphere we depend on is, to a certain extent, produced by the exchange of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Such an exchange occurs in tropical plants, which convert sunlight into energy. Therefore, tropical forests are sometimes also called the "lungs" of the Earth.
   Tropical forests absorb the energy of the Sun in large quantities. Now that they are being destroyed en masse, the ability of the Earth's surface to reflect the sun's rays is changing. And this leads to a violation of heat exchange and leads to a change in atmospheric conditions and the rhythm of precipitation, which in turn affects climate change around the globe.
   In 1987, 200 thousand km of tropical forest were burned in Brazil. The measurements carried out showed that 500,000,000 tons of ozone and carbon dioxide got into the atmosphere.

The current state of the climate on the planet is changing day by day. More and more ozone holes appear in the atmosphere, which leads to the greenhouse effect. This is evidenced by all the increasing cases of skin cancer, changes in the ocean - an increase in its level and area, an increasing area of deserts.

Relationship between economic and environmental problems

In different regions of our planet, the volume of losses is different, but things are worst in desert and semi-desert areas. It is these regions that are most vulnerable from an environmental and economic point of view to climate change. In developing regions, agriculture is the main activity, and drought will be detrimental to food self-sufficiency.

The development of new lands and their processing is the main reason for the accumulation of dangerous gases in our atmosphere. It has been proven that a quarter of all harmful gases, including carbon dioxide, enter the atmosphere due to deforestation. Everyone has heard the saying more than once that forests are the lungs of our planet, their destruction leads to a decrease in the oxygen we need so much.

Geographically, tropical forests are located in a wide strip along the equator. The flora of such forests is very diverse and in many ways unique. O Usually tropical forests are divided into three levels:

upper level - consists of giant trees, up to 60 m high;
middle level - consists of trees up to 30 m high, the crowns of such trees are usually intertwined, forming a dense dome;
lower level - consists of trees up to 20 m high. This level has the hardest time to survive, since the minimum amount of light penetrates to it. In old forests, as a rule, the lower level is thinned out by man for the convenience of moving through the tropics.

But more than 60% of these rare forests have already been destroyed by small-scale farming. Land cleared in this way, unfortunately, gives a good harvest only for a while, so after a few years, farmers again have to cut down forests and adapt the land to their lands.

There used to be government-funded programs to help families develop tropical rainforest areas in countries like Peru, Brazil, and Bolivia. But now there is growing dissatisfaction with the large-scale disappearance of tropical forests, and from an economic point of view, such programs are very costly and ineffective.

There is an opinion that the preservation of the forest does not require large sums of money. But for developing countries that are in debt, that are themselves suffering from deforestation leading to fuel shortages, declining income from the sale of meat and timber, this is not the case. It is categorically unacceptable to throw a heavy burden of responsibility on economically weak countries, which geographically account for most of the tropical forests.

There is an exit

Only by joint efforts can wet forests be saved from complete extinction. It is necessary to plant new trees in place of those cut down, and in the Third World such work is practically not carried out. It is necessary to help them develop more effective tactics for forest management, find new ways to sell forest products: timber, fruits, nuts, meat.

First of all, developed countries could reduce import tariffs for the above-mentioned units. Such measures would allow developing countries to begin to establish a process of reforestation. After all, their safety is a global problem.

Another option for assistance may be the cancellation of part of the external debt of Third World countries. At the moment, this is already an impressive amount - about 1.5 trillion. dollars. It is impossible to engage in reforestation work with such a huge external debt.

And there are plenty of other problems associated with external debt. In developing countries, the birth rate is declining due to insufficient funds for health care and family planning programs. Poverty is growing, population density is increasing against the backdrop of an unfavorable environmental situation.

Solving all the problems mentioned above will certainly help stop the loss of rainforests. It is necessary to develop and implement long-term programs for the search and development of new schemes for harvesting forest material, including restoration processes. It is also necessary to increase the number of jobs so that local residents can get out of the shackles of poverty and stop cutting down forests for their meager economy in order to somehow make ends meet.

Unfortunately, long-term investments tend to incur losses at first, which in this case can further exacerbate the already deplorable economic state of the Third World countries. Thus, restoration work to conserve rainforests could lead to more poverty in these countries if they do not receive financial support from outside countries for environmental programs.

The current situation is such that it is beneficial for developed countries to preserve and restore tropical forests, but as long as they do not actively participate in this process, the situation with the disappearance of rare forests will only worsen.

Specific measures

To normalize the current situation, developed countries only need to make regular contributions in favor of the preservation of tropical forests. For Third World countries, there are several options to reduce the cost of restoring and protecting forests.

Rational and more efficient use of the remaining forest resources. Instead of burning trees to prepare land for agriculture, it would be more rational to process the wood and sell it. In such fires, very valuable wood dies. Brazil alone destroys more than $2.5 billion worth of valuable timber annually.

The situation could be changed if developing countries supplied wood for fuel or for export to other countries. Cut down older trees, and organize proper care for young ones.

It is also necessary to increase control over the cutting process: on bare, completely cut down areas of the forest, it is almost impossible to grow a new one. In this regard, it is proposed to revise the rules for issuing permits for such a type of work as logging. It is also recommended to improve the process of taxation of the holders of such permits, usually large companies or wealthy elites.

Sales of related products. It is necessary to establish in other regions the supply of such goods as: meat, fruits, nuts, resins, oils, etc., mined in the depths of forests. Such deliveries will be able to somewhat improve the economic situation of the Third World countries. A large number of the local population will be able to get a job, which will significantly affect their well-being and standard of living.

But for such a scheme to work, economically developed countries must allow developing countries to trade in their markets.

Easing debt pressure on developing countries. It is proposed to convert external debts into domestic obligations for the implementation of environmental protection measures, including the conservation of tropical forests. The funds accumulated and saved in this way can be used not only for environmental protection measures, but also for paying salaries and insurance to the population engaged in logging. In some regions, such programs are already operating, but their share is small.

Help for development. More developed countries could participate in the fight against poverty and landlessness among the poor. Such actions would eliminate the root cause of deforestation. It is also proposed to consider the issue of banks refusing to provide assistance to such areas of the economy that, by their actions, openly harm forests and the environment.

As we can see, there is a solution to the problem of preserving tropical forests. It is only necessary to understand that the disappearance of such unique forests from the face of the Earth is a tragedy. The tragedy is not only in the Third World countries where these forests are geographically located, it is a global problem. Global warming has already begun, the climate of our planet is changing faster and faster year by year. If we don't act now, it will soon be too late. In the face of a common tragedy, one should forget hostility, one should not shift responsibility to another. Preserving and restoring the lungs of our planet is possible only through joint efforts.

slide 2

We were looking for answers to the following questions:

Why are tropical rainforests disappearing?
How to save these forests?

slide 3

Ecology of the tropics

Once upon a time, most of the land surface was occupied by forests. However, with the development of civilization, the situation changed dramatically. Now all forests cover about a third of the land surface. Already the first farmers burned vast areas of forests to clear the area for crops. With the development of agriculture and industry, forests began to disappear very quickly. We needed land for arable land and pastures, wood for construction and heating. As a result, by the 20th century, forests were destroyed in almost all of Europe, in northern Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, southern Russia, and in a number of regions of America.
Tropical forests are the lungs of our planet. These forests are one of the wonders of nature. Two thirds of all species of plants, animals, mushrooms that are on Earth live here. The dense, lush vegetation of the jungle releases a particularly large amount of oxygen into the air.

slide 4

Animal world

These animals are inhabitants of tropical rainforests.

slide 5

Tropical forest problems

Reasons for the destruction of tropical forests
Cutting down for wood
Burning and uprooting of trees for agricultural land, road construction
The result of rainforest destruction
Break in the power chain
Decreased oxygen
Soil destruction
Death of plants and animals
Changing of the climate

slide 6

Slide 7

How to save tropical forests?

About 50% of tropical forests have already been destroyed on our planet.

To save the jungle you need:

Stop cutting and burning forests.
Plant new forests in place of cut down forests.

Slide 8

After examining the problem of the destruction of tropical forests, we came to the following conclusion:

The disappearance of the jungle is the result of human activities.
People, stop! Tropical forests are one of the wonders of nature!

View all slides

How to Save the Rainforests

The rainforest is home to many plant and animal species. However, as its destruction continues, there is a danger that in the 21st century it will disappear from the surface of the earth.
The deforestation of tropical forests will not only lead to the death of thousands of animal species, but also to climate change on the globe, which could turn into a catastrophe for all mankind.

What is a tropical forest

TropeThe forest covers an area of 10 million km. It forms a multi-tiered living space, a complex web of animal and plant communities living in a one-of-a-kind climate that they also influence. Almost all life in tropical forests is concentrated at a height of 30 m above the ground.

Where do tropical forests grow?

On theAmazon, in some parts of Africa, in the territories of Guinea and Congo, in the Malay Archipelago, ort of the western mountain ranges of India to the mountainous islands in the Pacific Ocean, in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands.

All life is at stake

Chelocentury uses as food only a small number of plants and animals that are found in the tropics. Science is trying to develop new species, and the rainforest provides it with a variety of genetic material.

In the rainforests, there are many plants that a person could eat, in addition, there is a large amount of natural raw materials that a person could use for good. One tenth of all medicines used by people are made on the basis of compounds extracted from the rainforests. However, we still know little about the plants of these forests. The more important fact is that the atmosphere we depend on is partly due to the exchange of nitrogen and carbon dioxide that occurs in plants that convert sunlight into energy. Therefore, tropical forests are sometimes called the "lungs" of the earth.

TropeThermal forests absorb solar energy in large quantities. Now, when they are massively destroyed, the reflectivity of the earth's surface changes. This disrupts heat exchange and leads to a change in atmospheric conditions and the rhythm of precipitation. This affects climate change around the globe. In 1987, 200,000 km of rainforest were burned in Brazil. Measurements have shown that 500 million tons of ozone and carbon dioxide have entered the atmosphere.

Tropical forest threat

Almost all rainforests are located in third world countries. Their inhabitants consider the forest a sourceincome - the sale of industrial wood finances hospitals and schools, and also supports the economic development of the country. The number of people on our plan is constantly growing. To survive, people need food and cultivated land. They also use the wood to build and heat their houses. Forests are cut down around each new settlement, and the land is given over to agricultural fields. As soon as the land ceases to be fruitful. people move further into the depths of the forests. 300 million people annually destroy 7 million hectares of forests.

What we can do

The rainforests could have been saved by agricultural reform, but such fundamental changes should have been made sooner. Forests cannot be left untouched, because man needs their riches.

Therefore, it is necessary to find a way to restore the destroyed territories.

Ø It is necessary to support the actions of environmentalists based on pressure on the government of individual states.

Published: December 1, 2010 at 08:13

Climate talks are currently taking place in Cancun, Mexico. Perhaps they will discuss the compensation that should be received by developing countries that take care of their rainforests.

The silver fir trees in Carmanach National Park, on Canada's Vancouver Island, are considered the tallest silver fir trees in the world. In the local forests, located in a fertile river valley, there are outstanding oldest specimens of these trees.

Paul Alaback

2. This photo shows Duncan Channel, a large inlet on Kupriyanov Island, part of the Tongass National Park in southwest Alaska. The local nature is a bizarre mosaic of peat bogs, streams and forests.

Paul Alaback

3. Silvery spruces in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska. Located at a latitude of 59 degrees north latitude. these forests are on the western border of the silver spruce distribution zone in North America.

Paul Alaback

4. In the rainforests of Chall Huaco, near Bariloche, Argentina, a tree species called "lenga" (Nothofagus pumilio) prevails.

Paul Alaback

5. In these forests in southern Chile, mainly Chilean araucaria grows. This is a very interesting ancient plant that has been present on the planet since the time of the dinosaurs. The forests are located in the Conguillo National Park near the city of Temuco.

Paul Alaback

6. Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve in the Mexican state of Kitana Roo covers an area of more than 1 million acres. It is the largest protected stretch of coastline in Mexico and is home to thousands of species of plants and animals. It is located near Cancun and is under UN protection.

Erika Nortemann/2010 The Natur

7. Alejandro Hernandez Cabalero, Nuevo Becal bark cutter, uses a machete to remove bark from a eucalyptus tree on the edge of Mexico's 1.8 million-acre Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in the state of Campeche, north of the Mexican-Guatemalan border.

Mark Godfrey/TNC

8. Danaid monarch butterfly on a flower in the Mexican state of Kitana Roo. Millions of these butterflies come to Mexico during the winter.

9. Residents of the commune of Betania in the state of Kitana Roo, Mexico, use a portable sawing machine during logging in November 2010. After that, the boards can be taken out of the forest without causing damage to it. Committee for the Protection of Nature in conjunction with the "Organizacion de Ejidos Productores Forestales de la Sona Maya S.K." (Organizacion de Ejidos Productores Forestales de la Zona Maya S.C.) aims to support sustainable forest management in Betania. The Committee for Nature Protection allowed the machine to be used for two years and provided local residents with training on how to use it.

Erika Nortemann/2010 The Natu

10. In order to turn their "environmentally harvested" wood into a final product, members of the commune of Betania have created a woodworking industry. In the past, the inhabitants sold standing timber to logging companies, but now, trained in forestry and carpentry, they do all the work themselves and sell their goods at a higher price without intermediaries.

Erika Nortemann/2010 The Natu

11. Elias Cahuich cuts a sapote tree to extract a sticky milky sap called "chicle" in the forests near the commune of Veinte de Novembre, on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

Ami Vitale

12. Clear waters in the mangrove forests in the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve in the state of Kitana Roo, Mexico.

Erika Nortemann/2010 The Natu

13. A small boat carries tourists through the clear water canal that connects Pes Maya to the ocean, north of Cancun, Mexico. Maya Dog is a 64-acre passageway to the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Lynn Mc Bride/TNC

14. In the commune of Betania, many families live in traditional thatched houses with no running water or sewerage, and cook over open fires.

Erika Nortemann/2010 The Natu