Tropical forests - protection from the greenhouse effect. Abstract: The world's green cover is in danger Is it worth saving the rainforest project
Photos from open sources
The Amazon Delta is considered to be the lungs of our planet. Dense impenetrable forests growing on the banks of the mighty South American river produce colossal volumes of oxygen dispersed throughout the Earth. (website)
However, this state of affairs is rapidly changing. The governments of Colombia, Brazil and Peru are condoning their countries' deforestation of the Amazon at a catastrophic rate in order to get quick money. Officials do not care that it will take centuries for the rainforests to recover to their former extent. And will someone let them recover when asphalt is being laid here and there and various structures are being erected?
Defenders of nature invariably protest against deforestation, year after year, but these protests do not produce any effect on the authorities. According to civil servants, several tens of square kilometers of cut down trees will not harm the environment. Fortunately, this irresponsible attitude of South Americans towards the Amazonian forests may soon change. And this will happen not thanks to the efforts of Greenpeace and other green vigilantes, but due to the fact that Indian tribes cut off from civilization live in the virgin jungle, which will certainly perish without “their home”.
A tribe of savages who have not been touched by civilization
A few years ago, Professor José Carlos Morales provided the world scientific community with an amazing video that excited the minds of not only scientists, but also ordinary people from all over the world. A footage taken near the Envira tributary of the Amazon in Brazil shows a tribe that has never interacted with the modern world. It is possible that the helicopter, from which this video was filmed, seemed to the Indians a terrible flying creature or some kind of magical thing. The helicopter with José and BBC journalists flew up to a distance of a kilometer to the settlement, but the savages quickly noticed it.
Photos from open sources
According to Morales, this is one of the few tribes that survived in the Amazonian forests. It is hard to believe that there are communities on our planet that have not developed for centuries, but this is true. The vast rainforest allows the Indians to live a full life, perhaps not even suspecting the existence of our civilization.
The savages spend the night in large huts and plant gardens with cassava, a root plant resembling potatoes. In the forest, the Indians collect bananas and papaya fruit, somewhat similar to a melon. It is possible that they also hunt.
The video below has become a real sensation. Until recently, Morales and his colleagues could not prove to the Brazilian authorities that tribes really live in the Amazon forests, which will certainly die out if the deforestation of the Amazon does not stop. At the same time, it is impossible to interact with savages in any case, since there is always a possibility that the chicken pox or flu familiar to us may be fatal for them.
The Brazilian government recently promised that it would not allow such a genocide. The only way out, scientists say, is to leave them alone and let them live the way they have lived all this time. And for this, you will have to leave alone their home, that is, the Amazon rainforest.
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. ABOUT 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.
Tropical forests are disappearing very quickly. But the good news is that many people want to save the rainforests. The bad news is that saving rainforests is no easy feat. It will take the efforts of many people working together to ensure the survival of the rainforest and its wildlife for your children to appreciate and enjoy the fruits of our efforts.
Some ways to save rainforests and, more broadly, ecosystems around the world should focus on "TREES":
Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save the rainforest.
Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cleared.
Encourage people to live in a way that does not harm the environment
Create natural parks to protect rainforests and wildlife
Support companies that use practices that minimize damage to the environment
Education is the backbone of saving the world's rainforests. People need to see the beauty and understand the importance of these forests in order to want to protect them. It is necessary to give environmental education both in Western countries like the United States and in countries where there is a tropical forest like Bolivia and Madagascar.
In the United States, people need to understand their role in the destruction of the rainforest. For example, by buying some products like mahogany, a person contributes to the reduction of tropical forests in other countries. If we, as Americans, want to know something about the environment, we can understand what exactly we lose when the rainforest disappears. We may also make purchasing decisions and support companies and organizations that help the rainforest.
Locals in rainforest countries sometimes don't know why forests are so important. Through educational programs, these people can learn that forests provide basic resources (like clean water) and are home to plants and animals that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Few children in a place like Madagascar know that lemurs cannot be found in America. And they are very happy to know that lemurs live only in their homeland, in Madagascar.
An international team of ecologists and economists assessed the long-term development of the population engaged in deforestation of tropical rainforests. The poorest part of the population lives in these critical areas for the ecology of the planet. For them, the export of wood is almost the only way to quickly raise their standard of living. But, as it turned out, the further use of the agricultural areas cleared from the forest turns out to be unprofitable: farmers leave the already cultivated land, and the standard of living returns to its original low levels. It turns out that the very idea of raising the economy in forest areas is untenable not only from an ecological, but also from an economic standpoint.
Everyone knows that tropical rainforests are an irreplaceable reserve of the planet's biodiversity, a powerful climate factor, and an important participant in the global carbon cycle. At the same time, we must not forget that the rainforest is also just a place where people live. And it is quite natural that the inhabitants of this natural zone use the resources given to them for their own life support. It must be emphasized that people living in rainforest villages are usually the poorest part of the population, and their life expectancy is lower than that of the whole country. So the task of raising the standard of living in these areas is very urgent. And wood is now one of the most quoted resources on the world market. Therefore, the felling of rainforests with the subsequent export of timber has become the basic concept for raising the economy of these regions.
The territories vacated after deforestation are put under pastures and agricultural crops. It is believed that in this case, the initial rise in the economy and living standards is provided by income from the sale of timber. Then, having roads and a developed social infrastructure (schools, medical institutions, shops), residents must maintain the achieved high level through the development of agriculture. That's the theory. But how does this concept translate into practice?
Scientists from England - from the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, the University of East Anglia - France at the National Center for Scientific Research, Portugal and Brazil have calculated the economic benefits of deforestation in the long term. As an example, they looked at the economic performance of various regions of Brazil, where approximately 40% of all rainforests remaining today are located. For calculations, scientists used data on the social development of areas in which deforestation took place in different years. Naturally, the earlier logging work began, the larger the area of clearings. All areas were divided into groups depending on the area of cut forests. There were 7 groups in total. The very first group consisted of areas with primary forest where logging had not yet begun, and the last group included almost completely deforested municipalities.
The standard of living of the population in these seven groups was compared according to three indicators: income per capita, average life expectancy, level of education (in fact, the number of schoolchildren). The index calculated on the basis of these three indicators was considered the main characteristic of the standard of living of the population (Human Development Index - HDI).
It turned out that in areas with the highest logging activity (C-E), the standard of living does increase in all three indicators. Roads are being built there, social institutions are being developed, teachers and medical workers are coming there with the appropriate support. The number of residents is also increasing, partly due to migrants attracted by high wages. What is happening is exactly what is expected according to the basic concept of economic development. But where logging stops (groups F and G), there is a decline in living standards.
fresh anecdote
The growth of agriculture in the territories freed from forests is recorded mainly in groups with active logging activities. But in the extreme group G, where logging stopped ten years ago, crop yields are gradually falling. This is probably due to a decrease in the fertility of the land, because yields are getting smaller despite the increase in sown areas. Even animal husbandry turns out to be unprofitable - instead of 4-5 heads of cattle, farmers end up with only one or two cows.
It turns out that the concept of economic development in forest areas is untenable. It is able to provide a quick, but short-term and unstable improvement. A rise is inevitably followed by a fall. Scientists still find it difficult to answer whether the economic failure is a natural consequence of the general theory of economic development, or whether it is a feature of the development of this particular area with rainforests. But in any case, the pointlessness of clear-cutting forests in the rainforest zone is obvious. The task for economists is also clear - to develop an alternative concept for increasing the standard of living of the population in forest areas.
I sometimes have mixed feelings about the spectacle when entire alleys are destroyed on a grand scale to lay some small urban communication. :(No one thinks about the fact that a tree is also life, on which, in fact, the fate of mankind depends ...
Why are tropical forests disappearing?
Most of these forests are located on the territory of the so-called third world countries. In principle, this is the key factor, because the local population not only considers forests to be the main source of income, but even the minimum environmental standards are not observed at the state level. Almost the entire economy of such countries is tied to the export of timber, which finances the social sector. In addition, the human population is growing extremely rapidly, which entails clearing for settlements and agricultural needs. When the productivity of the site falls, new territories are released from the forest, and this is repeated every time. In general terms, we can distinguish the following negative factors that affect the "lungs" of our planet:
- construction raw materials - the annual felling area is up to 5 million hectares;
- animal husbandry - by burning forests, entrepreneurs get new pastures;
- mining - sometimes a real treasure is hidden under the forest - rare metals and bauxites. For example, in Brazil, huge areas of forest were destroyed for this reason.
What needs to be done to save tropical forests
In my opinion, in view of the last point, it would be relevant to encourage those companies that, by extracting minerals, at least minimize the damage, and even better, restore damaged ecosystems. Secondly, it is necessary to promote the idea of saving forests all over the world. Humanity must know what it is losing and explain it to future generations. By the way, in some countries this has long been practiced, for example, in Bolivia and the Republic of Madagascar.
In addition, a World Organization should be created, whose tasks would include the development and implementation in practice of programs for the restoration of the tropical forest.
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