Reducing deforestation. Deforestation as an environmental problem

Together with the post-Soviet degradation of forestry and« optimization» forestry infrastructure, annual forest fires have intensified. But the problem of illegal logging is no less catastrophic.

Below we publish a report with the results of our own research by CEPR experts.They conducted an in-depth expert survey in two “forest” regions of the country- in the Kirov region and the Republic of Karelia. At the same time, the situation with illegal logging is similar in other constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including in the regions of Siberia and the Far East. Moreover, illegal logging in Russian regions is “impossible without the support of the authorities,” or at least its individual representatives. Damage from illegal logging experts estimate tens of millions of rubles annually. INThe CEPR study involved people whose professional activities are directly or indirectly related to the forestry industry.

The logging industry is one of the most important sectors of the Russian economy. According to UN statistics, half of the territory of our country is covered with forests, and total area Russia's forests (851 million hectares) make up one fifth of the forest area of planet Earth. Two thirds of these forests are suitable for use in the timber industry.

Russia is one of largest producers and timber exporters - fifth place in the world, second place in Europe .

According to the Federal Customs Service, the share of exports of timber and pulp and paper products to non-CIS countries in 2016 was 3.3%, and to the CIS countries - 4.4%. According to the UN database UN Comtrade, the share of exports of wood, charcoal, and wood products in 2015 was 1.8%. According to experts, the cost of Russia's forest resources exceeds the cost of resources such as oil and gas.

In 2015, according to the UN, the volume of official logging in Russia amounted to 206 million cubic meters. meters, that is, 5.5% of global volumes, this is the fifth place among countries in the world. However, despite the enormous resource potential, the efficiency of the Russian timber industry is extremely low. According to estimates from a representative of the Union of Timber Industrialists and Timber Exporters of Russia, the Russian timber industry is characterized by a low technical level of production, a technological lag behind global trends, low profitability and unsustainable financial position enterprises in the industry, poorly developed road and industrial infrastructure, low level of forestry engineering. That's why the timber industry in Russia is low-income- according to experts, the producer’s income from one cubic meter of wood is several times less than the average on the international logging market.

A separate serious problem for the Russian timber industry is illegal logging and subsequent sale of illegally obtained timber. According to estimates by the World Wildlife Fund Russia and World Bank up to 20% of wood harvested in Russian Federation, is of illegal origin. If, for example, we rely on the previously indicated data that Russia produced 206 million cubic meters in 2015. meters of wood, then the volume of illegal forest products, according to these expert estimates, will be 40–50 million cubic meters. meters of wood.

Damage to the budget is estimated at approximately 13–30 billion rubles annually(data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), in 2013, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Sergei Donskoy called the figure 10 billion rubles annually. Experts believe that illegal logging is most common in export-oriented regions, rich in forest resources, especially in the regions of Siberia. In 2013, non-profit international organization The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has published an investigation into a scheme to legalize illegally harvested timber and then sell it to China. Environmentalists' assessments of the scale of illegal timber production are very serious: for example, they believe that 50% to 75% of oak exported to China is of illegal origin. There are other independent expert assessments.

Thus, the head of the Forestry Program of the World Wildlife Fund, Elena Kulikova, claims that every fourth wooden product in Russia is of “dubious origin”. Director of the Amur branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Russia, Yuri Darman, emphasizes that two thirds of the volume of valuable tree species in the Far East is harvested illegally.

The damage from illegal logging is not only the country's economy, but also nature. Scientists from the World Resources Institute, the Maryland Institute and representatives from Google studied several hundred thousand satellite photographs of the Earth's surface and calculated exactly how much forests are destroyed in every country in the world every year. Russia was in first place - in the period from 2011 to 2013, an average of 4.3 million hectares of forest disappeared annually in our country. This figure can be compared with Canada, which was in second place with a result half as much - 2.4 million hectares annually. Scientists have also calculated that if all logging is stopped immediately, it will take at least 100 years to restore the forest in Russia.

At the same time, according to Rosstat, in last years there are no trends towards an increase in the scale of reforestation (and this takes into account the fact that 2016 was declared the Year of Reforestation):

Center for Economic and political reforms spent own research into the problem of illegal logging. We conducted an in-depth expert survey in two “forest” regions of the country - in the Kirov region and in the Republic of Karelia. At the same time, the situation with illegal logging is similar in other constituent entities of the Russian Federation, including in the regions of Siberia and the Far East.

Our study involved people whose professional activities are directly or indirectly related to the forestry industry. Let us present the main results.

HOW URGENT IS THE PROBLEM AND WHAT ARE THE DYNAMICS OF THE SITUATION?

The experts interviewed confirmed: there really is a problem, and it is extremely pressing. The majority of respondents in both regions note that the problem has existed for a long time - it arose back in perestroika times, after the start of privatization processes.

Respondents' opinions on whether the scale of this phenomenon is growing or not differed. The majority of respondents from Karelia are still inclined to believe that illegal logging has occurred relatively less frequently in recent years, especially when compared with the 1990s, although they emphasize that it is difficult to give accurate estimates of the dynamics. In the Kirov region, assessments vary: some experts insist that the scale of the phenomenon has only been growing in recent years, others refer to official data on a decrease in the scale of illegal logging, as well as to the gradual results of the fight against poacher logging (in particular, the importance of adopting the Forestry Code is emphasized in 2006), the accumulation of experience in methods of this fight among law enforcement agencies and foresters. One of the experts from the Kirov region says that in recent years it has been possible to attract and punish larger number violators.

Experts also make the following interesting observation: those involved in illegal logging learned to better circumvent the laws. The scale of the problem remains large and difficult to pinpoint, but the methods used by perpetrators have become more sophisticated.

One of the respondents reported on the experience of reducing the scale of the problem in one of the districts of the Republic of Karelia due to the fact that most of the area of the district is leased, and the tenants take on the function of protecting the territory, and they perform this function effectively. Tenants control the logging carried out by contractors, preventing illegal logging, as well as the logging process. According to the expert, the absence of large-scale deforestation in this area is confirmed by images from space taken as part of monitoring in 2015–2016.

However, the majority of respondents noted that one of the types of illegal logging is not poacher logging, but actions of official tenants or subtenants of plots, who often go beyond the boundaries of their plots, and also use other illegal schemes for cutting down and selling forests. Moreover, most experts from the Kirov region believe that it is the official tenants who are behind the most large-scale illegal logging (see the section “HOW DOES IT WORK?”).

SCALE OF ILLEGAL LOGGING

First of all, experts appreciated how many cubic meters of forest in their region are cut down annually. Most experts could not give exact figures: however, they agree that the recorded cases and the figures announced at the official level do not cover all illegal logging. In addition, in fact, no one systematically monitors or counts the above-mentioned cases of violations of the boundaries of the leased areas. According to experts, small-scale poaching in the vast majority of cases is not taken into account, much less generalized.

One of the experts from the Kirov region gave his rough calculations, suggesting that the real numbers could be even higher. According to his calculations, approximately 50 thousand cubic meters of wood are cut down in the region per year. A representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Republic of Karelia cites a figure of about 10.8 thousand cubic meters of wood for 2016.

When assessing the annual financial damage experts also encountered objective difficulties: some emphasized that it is necessary to count not only the amount for which the forest was cut down, but also include unpaid taxes and illegally obtained profits.

Some interviewees provided a range of assessments. Thus, a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Republic of Karelia estimated the financial damage from illegal logging in the region in 2016 at 80 million rubles. Experts from the Kirov region announced different figures: 70 million rubles, 140 million; one of the respondents emphasized that taking into account unpaid taxes and illegally obtained profits, this amount could be many times higher.

However, more often experts limited themselves to general assessments(For example, « million dollar damage» ) and provided examples of specific, recently identified cases illustrating the scale of illegal logging and timber trading activities. Examples:

“Consider, if a month ago a violation was discovered in the Uninsky district, about 4 thousand cubic meters were cut down illegally, and there are up to 7 such illegals in the region...»

“Recently there was a case in Pitkäranta - the head of the urban settlement lowered 100 carriages of commercial timber to the left” (respondent from Karelia);

“They periodically voice it after some trials that the damage for any specific case is estimated in millions, and general figures under lock and key. Let's say there was information that in December last year a forest on an area of 1 hectare was cut down. According to official published data, the damage amounted to more than two million rubles. There are such individual stories and data, but the overall damage is unknown.” (respondent from the Kirov region);

“There is evidence from noisy processes that the damage amounts to millions. I can imagine the total amount of damage in the region as a whole... I know that many “black lumberjacks” operate in the Sovetsky district, there are even some legal disputes, but I also know that all this ends in favor of those who have money »

ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE

Experts almost unanimously recognized that illegal logging has an extremely negative impact on ecological situation, And The problem is broader than wood depletion.

Deforestation inevitably entails a wide range of environmental problems. Due to illegal logging, which is inevitably indiscriminate and even barbaric, vegetation and animal world- flora and fauna become poorer, soil erosion occurs, and other undesirable consequences occur. For example, experts from the Kirov region say that due to deforestation over the last decade there has been an increase groundwater in the Vyatka River, shallowing of small rivers, waterlogging of soils. According to one of the respondents from the region, the situation in this regard is especially unfavorable in the Vernekamsky, Luzsky, Nagorsky and Luninsky districts of the region.

A separate problem is the untimely removal of wood, as well as the garbage that remains after cutting down. In a situation with illegal logging clutter problem forests is especially acute: loggers everywhere leave behind some of the cut down wood. According to experts, when pirate logging occurs, sawn wood is often taken out, and the rest is not disposed of, but simply remains in the forest and litters it. Then it dries out and causes fires and air pollution. One of the experts from the Kirov region identified a number of areas in which this problem is most serious: Urzhumsky, Uninsky, Nagorsky, Podosinovsky districts.

As a rule, large tenants who run schemes for cutting down and selling forests do not care at all about forest restoration. It is necessary that these processes be in the same chain, and insufficient attention to reforestation poses serious long-term risks.

Experts reported that Illegal logging is also carried out in especially protected areas of forests, for example, along water bodies. Thus, experts from Karelia spoke about deforestation in specially protected areas, mentioning, in particular, the Ladoga region. Some experts believe that “black loggers” tend to cut down forests in protected zones, since the quality of the wood there may be higher.

It is also reported about felling of valuable tree species. One of the experts from the Kirov region listed the areas of the region where the damage from cutting down valuable forest is especially severe: Lebyazhsky, Podosinovsky, Luzsky, Afanasyevsky, Shabalinsky, Malmyzhsky, Darovsky, Kilmezsky districts. Another respondent spoke about the cutting down of valuable tree species in the green zone in the Kirovo-Chepetsk region.

Also, according to one of the respondents from Karelia, residents of the region complain about deforestation along the roads, but in this case we are more often talking about formally legal deforestation by tenants.

HOW IT WORKS?

First of all, you need to take into account that, as mentioned above, very often they play one or another role in illegal logging large investors renting large areas forests in the region.

Investment projects involve preferential, profitable terms for renting forest areas. Large investment companies actively use this, they even received an informal nickname « forest lords» . Once they lease a large plot, they often sublease the plots at inflated prices, without caring about the control and obligations assumed during the lease. A common option that they use is to hire contractors to cut down forests, and then sell this forest to them or sell it through them. The contractor is hired under one contract, and then the cut wood is sold to him under another. Large investors themselves, as a rule, remain in the shadows; all negotiations and relationships with foresters are built by the subtenant.

In order to operate the industries created in accordance with the investment project, part of the felled forest is still used for these productions (according to the expert, the subtenant is given a list in advance of what they must deliver to the sites of the investment enterprises). The rest of the forest is sold to the side.

According to one of the experts from the Kirov region, « only a third[of the large investors who received lease plots for investment projects] legally fulfills their obligations, two-thirds resell the forest to black dealers. They cut it down and sell it through their own channels.” . Another expert gives a more pessimistic assessment, saying that there are less than 10% of investors who fulfill their obligations.

One of the respondents cited as an example the situation that took place in the Kirov region. A large investor leased large areas of forest for the implementation of a dozen investment projects, which involved the creation of wood processing enterprises and providing jobs for residents of the region. However, in fact, less than half of the projects were implemented. Most of the projects remained “on paper”. According to the expert, the investor’s main activity was subleasing the forest at an inflated price, without holding auctions. In fact, the region lost good forest plots without receiving the effect of implementing the initially prescribed projects, and the investment company received super profits.

Participate in illegal logging and forestry, which have formal rights to cut down for their own needs and sanitary processing and often use these rights to cut down forest for sale, but they need to additionally organize export and marketing. Also often agricultural enterprises who have forest plots and must use them for their economic needs, instead additionally trade in timber.

It was also noted above that often tenants go beyond the allocated territory. For example, one of the experts gave an example when an entrepreneur received official permission to cut down a forest near security zone, however, he deliberately outlined the scope of work for the loggers wider than permitted, and part of the forest was cut down in the protected zone.

A respondent from Karelia described another scheme: buying up benefits, making it possible to obtain timber for construction. Benefit buyers get the opportunity to cut down one large area of forest. After such a transaction, beneficiaries are in fact deprived of the opportunity to build a house or dacha.

An expert from Karelia says that in the border zone it is common practice of exporting felled forest abroad on timber trucks at night and that there are special corridors. Often, export documents are issued in this case to joint ventures. Experts also say that cars usually drive in front of the timber truck, checking the path and making sure that they will not encounter law enforcement officers.

Finally, for small-scale logging, individuals are often hired through informal channels to carry out poaching logging. Experts say that they are the ones who are most often caught, punished, and it is due to them that the percentage of crimes solved in reporting increases.

Forest districts may also be subject to sanctions, but, according to some respondents, in this case “they catch those who don’t share” . According to experts, the most dangerous and practically unpunished chain in practice is associated with large companies.

Part of the felled forest is exported as round timber, and part is used for processing at sawmills. Wood processing is carried out on a much smaller scale, preferring to sell round timber. A respondent from the Kirov region reported that existing enterprises, engaged in wood processing, mainly work on old equipment; to update them, huge funds are needed, which could only be available from « forest lords» , who, in turn, are not interested in such investments while they have the opportunity to make large profits in an easier way.

Experts admit: enterprises created by “forest lords” as part of the implementation of investment projects with benefits are not capable of generating any comparable profits. Therefore, companies choose illegal logging, tax evasion and export of timber to markets.

Experts give different estimates of the rates of return from legal and illegal logging; most estimate the difference between them to be minimal 2.5–3 times.

The forest comes true to other regions and abroad: for example, experts from the Kirov region talk about supplies to Tatarstan and large supplies to China. It is noteworthy that one of the experts notes that in official reports the volume of wood supplies to China from the region is underestimated; in reality, more is exported there. He also mentioned that many Chinese work in the region's logging operations.

WHO PARTICIPATES IN THE SCHEME AND WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE AUTHORITIES?

According to experts, a variety of actors are involved in illegal logging: large companies, local tenants, forestries. Often involved in felling local residents, many of whom are unemployed (for example, in Karelia the unemployment rate according to Rosstat as of January 2017 is significantly higher than in the Russian Federation as a whole, and the highest among the regions of the Northwestern Federal District in particular - 9%, in the Russian Federation as a whole - 5.4%, in general for the Northwestern Federal District - 4.3%).

Poacher logging on a relatively small scale is a phenomenon of a separate order. Thus, a respondent from the Kirov region spoke about the situation with small-scale poaching in the region. In forested areas high level unemployment, many leave the region to work on a rotational basis, while others try to make money by engaging in illegal logging. People unite in small groups, often register an individual entrepreneur for one person, set up small sawmills and cut down forests using poaching methods. The expert notes that in Lately They began to restore order: for example, on the border with Tatarstan, where the export of round timber in large quantities previously flourished, strict control and checkpoints were established, and poaching is carried out in these places on a much smaller scale than one or two years ago.

Illegal logging is most often directly involved in local entrepreneurs. Visitors are involved in the schemes through connections with local entrepreneurs; Often visitors turn out to be returning locals. On a serious scale, those who have a timber industry or great experience work in this area. Respondents from Karelia also indicate that in their region entrepreneurs from St. Petersburg are actively involved in this activity.

Most experts agree: without the support of authorities or at least individual representatives of authorities more or less large-scale illegal logging operations would be impossible. Experts point out that big business necessarily strives enlist the support of the authorities. In some cases, government officials may act initiators or active participants in the process. In the Kirov region, respondents mentioned that representatives of authorities at the regional government level could be involved in the schemes (we were talking about former members of the regional government). However, according to experts, even if government officials do not actively participate in specific schemes, they at least systematically turn a blind eye to them, the principle of mutual responsibility often works.

In general, experts refer to specific experience confirming the connection between entrepreneurs involved in illegal logging and the authorities:

“There was a case in the Urzhum region, when, on a signal from local residents, the police went out, established a large-scale theft of timber, even took it to court, but then everything stopped. It turned out that the locals were cutting down timber for an entrepreneur from another region, and he was selling the timber to Tatarstan. The fact of the theft and the amount of loss in the millions were established, but no one was punished.” (respondent from the Kirov region);

“Everyone understands perfectly well. This logging is going on in the municipalities - don’t they see it? But there are documents, a call from above: don’t touch, don’t go in there, we all know. That's all. And the topic is closed" (respondent from Karelia);

“There are documents that excuse the cutters from punishment. They catch small fish, which sometimes chop without documents, hoping for chance.” (respondent from the Kirov region);

"Behind last year About two hundred criminal cases were opened, but in only a third of these cases illegal cutters were punished; again, among them were not the main organizers, but intermediaries. Is this possible without the support of the authorities?” (respondent from the Kirov region).

FIGHTING ILLEGAL LOGGING

The fight against illegal logging has a long history - since the 1990s, a legal framework has been gradually formed and improved technical methods. Today, even space technology- photographs of the territory are taken from space.

However, experts note that the fight is mainly carried out point-by-point: law enforcement agencies respond to specific reports of violations received from citizens, conduct an inspection raid, and punish violators.

For example, a representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Republic of Karelia emphasized the importance of the following methods: patrolling the territory by forest rangers, promptly responding to messages from citizens by calling the forest protection hotline in the region; He, in particular, spoke about the successes of the fight against illegal logging in the Ladoga region. A representative of one of the forestry departments of the republic also emphasizes such measures as patrols and constant raids together with the police.

At the same time, as mentioned above, such measures are usually aimed exclusively at combating small-scale poaching, and not with much larger-scale deforestation, which involves medium and large entrepreneurs and which is a much more serious problem requiring systemic measures.

If we turn to the statistics on the consideration of cases under Art. 260 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation " Illegal logging forest plantations" in the court of first instance for Russia as a whole, we will see that, for example, for the period 2011-2014. the number of cases has increased:

But even if the statistics on catching “black lumberjacks” show an increase in indicators, you need to understand that this is happening mainly due to individual small violators. According to experts, it is precisely such actions that law enforcement agencies receive complaints about directly, but citizens, if they know about big market operators, are silent.

Experts from the Kirov region spoke about attempts by the new regional authorities to apply systemic measures to combat illegal logging. According to those interviewed, a course was taken to control the system of distribution of forest resources and to lease plots only through an auction. The work of exchange electronic trading platforms has been organized for exchange trading in the timber market Kirov region became a leader among Russian regions. After the introduction of auctions, the price per cubic meter of timber rose significantly at auction, which greatly reduced the chances of entrepreneurs to successfully implement popular schemes for the resale of timber. There was also an example of the seizure of a plot of land from an investor-tenant who engaged in dishonest activities as part of the implementation of an investment project. According to experts, all these steps have been taken in the right direction, but so far they are not enough. In addition, the problem of resistance to the new policy of regulating the issue on the part of local authorities in the regions of the region arose.

WHAT TO DO?

- The root of the problem is corruption. It is impossible to solve the problem with targeted measures and catching minor violators or performers who are at the very bottom of the “hierarchy”. Now the system actually works to persecute small poachers while simultaneously creating convenient conditions for carrying out various schemes for mass deforestation and sale of timber by large entrepreneurs.

Moreover, schemes for illegal logging often directly involve those who are called upon to combat this phenomenon - forestry departments and law enforcement agencies. Large-scale systemic changes are needed, which cannot be achieved without the political will to different levels authorities.

- Necessaryput the work of large investment companies under real control. Failure to comply with the terms of the agreement should entail the deprivation of all benefits received under it. Existing system encouraging investment projects in practice serves not development goals, but the plunder of regional forest resources. Now large companies have almost unlimited access to the forest. The possibility of increasing timber tariffs for these companies and conducting sales only through auctions should be considered.

- In the same time small and medium-sized enterprises need benefits (primarily tax ones), which will make it more profitable for them to work legally rather than go into the shadows. Reasonably structured benefits for such enterprises could provide an incentive to stop participating in illegal schemes.

- Government bodies at all levels should be interested in establishing independent control over the industry. Everything must be tracked and recorded in open sources: from work on plots to transactions for the sale of timber, and first of all, the activities of large companies should be taken under control. All information should be as organized, accessible and transparent as possible.

Involvement in illegal logging large number people is a consequence of the negative socio-economic situation in the regions, low incomes and - most importantly - high unemployment. Targeted prosecutions and punishments of individual violators mainly only lead to people looking for new ways to circumvent the law and law enforcement agencies. It is necessary to create jobs, develop infrastructure, work to improve the standard of living of the population, give the territories the opportunity to develop, stimulate them to make it profitable for them to earn taxes and restore order. Only such measures, affecting the socio-economic environment as a whole, can radically change the situation with small-scale poaching.

- Russian economy needs a shift in emphasis from resource extraction to manufacturing. This is an extremely important task for the forestry industry. Thus, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in 2014, in the structure of Russian exports of wood and wood products, 69% were sawn timber and unprocessed timber, and wood carpentry - only 2%.

Now there is a stream of timber exported from the country, and a significant part of the forest is cut down in a barbaric, chaotic and illegal manner. Thus, the country is not just selling Natural resources abroad - it also does not receive a significant part of the income from these sales, the timber is simply stolen, and at active participation states. The primary task is to combat illegal logging. However, in strategic plan An equally important task is the transition from exporting raw materials abroad to processing wood within the country. It can only be accomplished through government incentives, since at present there are no conditions in the market under which it would be profitable for entrepreneurs to invest in the retraining of enterprises.

NOTES

According to the World's Richest Countries portal.

See G. P. Panichev. Strategy for the development of the forestry complex for the long term. Forest Bulletin 4/2013.

According to the Gcourts portal, which accumulates data on court decisions in the Russian Federation.

Environmental problems in a forest can arise due to various circumstances, which can be either natural or the consequences of human activity. The second circumstance has recently become the main source of these problems. Human different ways affects the biosystem, which is the forest. This is pollution, changes in structure and composition, depletion of animal and plant resources, but the main thing ecological problem- deforestation, both for economic purposes and due to negligence.

Over the past 8,000 years, the number of forests on the planet has decreased by half. Today, forests occupy 38 million km 2 of land. More than 50% of this is rainforests and only 7% are planted by humans. That is, he destroyed half, and returned only such a small part to nature. The largest known and documented destruction of forests, the consequences of which are still visible today, is the cutting down of forests for military purposes by the Roman army of Vespasian during the siege of Jerusalem in the 60-70s.

Concept, sources, etymology

Peoples have a lot of proverbs and sayings about the forest. But the main one, from the point of view of the use and restoration of forest resources, is somehow forgotten. Although it is addressed to a man, historically it calls for reason and is dedicated to true human wisdom. It sounds like this: “A real man in his life must plant a tree, build a house...” This is precisely the main thing that a “real” man must do. For the house in those times and in those places when and where this wisdom was born was built from wood. But if you spend it, you must replenish it. So that the son whom the man must raise also has something to build a house for his family from. And a “correctly” raised son will definitely plant a tree himself. And so on. So to speak, “the circulation of real men and trees,” but in essence - the restoration of forest resources as the basis of life.

It is believed that a forest is an ecological system whose main form of life is the tree. But if we turn to the etymology of the word “forest”, it refers more likely to a leaf than to a tree. Similar-sounding words in other languages, including older ones, mean pasture or pasture. Where there are no trees, but there are leaves of grass, bushes, and so on. That is, what animals, and humans themselves, eat. And this is quite understandable, because a person probably named this or that object or phenomenon from the point of view of the usefulness of its qualities. The same statement is true now, when, thanks to the achievements of science, it has become known that it is the leaves - the green mass - that have chlorophyll and produce oxygen, that is, the basis for life chemical element. While tree trunks, fallen withered grass and leaves and peat and coal formed from them are “preservatives” of carbon.

Classification and zoning

Forest wealth is distributed between countries in the following way: Russia is the richest in forests - 809 million hectares, Brazil has 520 million hectares, Canada - 310, USA - 304, China - 207 million hectares.

Forests are classified according to several criteria. Fundamental is the method of its origin. Depending on this, there are virgin and artificial forests. In addition, they are divided into evergreen - tropical, coniferous, hard-leaved and deciduous - monsoon, dry tropical and deciduous temperate climate. The distribution of forest types by climate coincides with their distribution by natural zones.

The forest zone is considered to be the climate zone in the northern hemisphere: Europe, Asia and North America, With warm summer, cold winter, average annual precipitation up to 600 mm. and located on podzolic and marshy soils. Forests can also be found outside their “own” zone. They are common in transition zones - forest-steppe, forest-tundra and forest-savannah. Ecological problems in forest zones have one significant feature. It is most pronounced in places where it borders on others, including transitional ones. If trees in such places stop growing for some reason, then, as a rule, forest zone Here, in a natural way, is no longer restored. The reasons for this phenomenon are both abiotic factors and the influence of the flora and fauna of the “neighboring” zone. It is difficult for tree shoots and seeds to break through a dense layer of turf and grass without being eaten by rodents, birds, worms and other living organisms of the tundra, steppe or meadow.

The forest zone begins in the north with rare trees forest-tundra, to the south they turn into coniferous taiga, which gives way to mixed forests, then and finally to deciduous forests. One of the varieties of the latter are broad-leaved forests. These grow in Europe, North America, East Asia, Chile and New Zealand. They contain such types of trees as: hornbeam, linden, ash, elm, maple, oak and beech. From the name of the tree species it is clear that deciduous forests environmental problems - this is their high demand for the needs economic activity person.

Resource use and deforestation

The bulk of environmental problems of forest resources extend and affect primarily the biosphere. Because problems arise when and where they are exhausted forest resources. The forest affects all layers of the Earth's biosphere. In the hydrosphere - it participates in the water cycle. Promotes the accumulation and slowdown of snow melting, retains water: soil, melt and sediment, thereby maintaining and regulating the water balance. It forms soils. Enriches them with nitrogen, promotes the formation and accumulation of humus. Forest shapes atmospheric processes. Affects weather and climate. Performs windproof functions. He is the main store of carbon.

Man has been using forests for his economic needs since time immemorial. There he found the main sources of food - animals, plants, mushrooms and larvae. Then it began to be used for cooking, heating, and housing construction. Now it is also a raw material for the pulp, paper and chemical industries. In addition to the direct use of wood, people began to free land from forests for agricultural production.

The current environmental problem is deforestation. This method is used when clearing land from tree cover for pastures, construction of housing and roads, wastelands, and so on. As you can see from the goals of this process, called “deforestation,” they do not include planting new trees. The consequences are easy to predict - climate change in these zones, change or destruction species composition flora and fauna, Negative consequences for the health and life of the person himself. The rate of deforestation is 1.4 million km 2 per 10 years.

And again folk wisdom: “We are chopping the branch on which we are sitting.” Neither add nor subtract.

Video - How timber is stolen in Russia

In many regions of Russia, illegal and uncontrolled cutting of trees is carried out systematically. According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates, Russia is losing about $1 billion due to illegal logging. In the Arkhangelsk region alone, last year inspectors recorded 359 cases of illegal logging, the losses from which amounted to 410,500,000 rubles ($12 million). You can find enough detailed information about changes in forestry that have occurred in recent years.

The highest level of illegal logging is observed in the north-west of Russia and the Far East. Increasing restrictions on timber harvesting in China has increased the demand for Russian timber. So the timber from the Far East is shipped to China, where sawmills and their Western customers destroy the valuable hardwoods of which we have less and less. The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) states that “80% of valuable timber is cut down illegally in the Far East.”

Half of all timber imported from Russia to the EU goes to Finland. Sweden, Germany, Great Britain and Italy are also major importers of wood from Russia.

Systematic destruction of forests causes significant damage wildlife, destroys the ecosystem, displaces animals from their original habitats. Intensive logging, according to WWF, threatens the existence of such animals as capercaillie, white-backed woodpecker, Amur tiger And amur leopard. Ash, linden, oak and cedar are disappearing. Also, deforestation is one of the main reasons for the increase in the greenhouse effect.

Despite the scale of the problem, lack of human resources, low salaries of foresters, lack of control directly in the forests and gaps in legislation make it difficult to prevent such criminal acts. Companies, under the guise of cutting down diseased trees, harvest healthy, valuable wood. Some tenants of plots transfer the right to cut to other companies, which harvest more than the permitted volumes, and the tenants then buy the wood from them along with the surplus. Poachers need to be caught by the hand so that law enforcement can bring them to justice. When the trees are removed from the place where they were cut down, it is no longer possible to present anything to the poachers. Sale of timber has become the main source of income for unscrupulous foresters and officials. In addition, many people resort to deforestation due to poverty and unemployment in order to feed their families.

(42,528 views | 1 views today)

Tree growth rate. Growth Chart and Latest Research Whether there is a global warming climate and is it caused by human activity? Soil erosion. Invisible and destructive

Deforestation is the process of destroying trees, vines or shrubs. Mainly produced for the purpose of obtaining large quantity wood, and in some cases - for the renewal and improvement of forests, as well as to increase its productivity. Uncontrolled deforestation is becoming common cause deforestation, that is, the process of gradually converting an area occupied by forest into land such as wasteland or pasture. There are several types of forest felling: complete, sanitary, maintenance and main use fellings.

Is it possible to determine real speed deforestation?

This is quite difficult to do. The calculation of such data is carried out by the UN Agriculture and Food Company, which, as a rule, relies on official data received from the relevant ministries of the countries. Another organization, the World Bank in Peru, indicates that in Bolivia, eighty percent of harvesting is illegal, and in Colombia - about forty-two. Deforestation in Brazil and the Amazon is happening much faster than scientists thought. The rate of logging varies greatly by region. Now it is highest in developing countries that are located in the tropical zone (Nigeria, the Brazilian state of Rondonia, Mexico, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Guinea, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, China, Ivory Coast, Laos, Ghana and others).

How does deforestation affect the atmosphere?

Gradual deforestation contributes to the formation of more warm climate. Deforestation, which is located in the tropical zone, is responsible for approximately twenty percent of greenhouse gases. During their life, plants (trees, shrubs, grass) remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Burning and rotting trees release stored carbon into the atmosphere. To avoid this process, wood must be made into durable products and forests must be replanted.

How does deforestation affect the water cycle?

Trees feed through their roots groundwater. In this case, the water rises to the leaves and evaporates. Deforestation makes this process impossible, leading to a drier climate. Deforestation, among other things, negatively affects the ability of the soil to retain precipitation, as well as the penetration of moisture deep into the continents.

How does deforestation affect the soil?

Gradual deforestation reduces soil adhesion. This, in turn, can lead to landslides and flooding.

How does deforestation affect wildlife?

The main negative effect of logging is a decrease in the diversity of flora and fauna. In this case, the greatest damage is caused to tropical forests.

The problem of deforestation

Deforestation is a pressing problem that requires attention in many countries. Uncontrolled deforestation affects climatic, environmental and socio-economic characteristics, and also significantly reduces the quality of life. Gradual deforestation leads to a decrease in timber reserves and a decline in biological diversity. Many scientists believe that the most dangerous consequences of deforestation are increased

It's hard to overestimate. It's not for nothing that there are trees. They generally constitute a single ecosystem, which affects the life of various species, the soil, the atmosphere, water regime. Many people have no idea what kind of disaster deforestation will lead to if it is not stopped.

The problem of deforestation

IN this moment the problem of cutting down trees is relevant for all continents of the earth, but this problem is most acute in countries Western Europe, South America, Asia. Intensive destruction of forests leads to the problem of deforestation. An area cleared of trees turns into a poor landscape and becomes unsuitable for life.

To understand how close the disaster is, you should pay attention to a number of facts:

more than half have already been destroyed, and it will take a hundred years to restore them;
now only 30% of the land is occupied by forests;
Regular cutting down of trees leads to an increase in carbon monoxide in the atmosphere by 6-12%;
Every minute, an area of forest the size of several football fields disappears.

Causes of deforestation

Common reasons for cutting down trees include:

wood has a high value as construction material and raw materials for paper, cardboard, manufacturing of household items;
forests are often destroyed in order to expand new agricultural land;
for laying communications and roads

In addition, a large number of trees suffer as a result, which constantly occur due to improper handling of fire. They also occur during the dry season.

Illegal deforestation

Quite often, cutting down trees occurs illegally. Many countries around the world lack institutions and people who can control the process of deforestation. In turn, entrepreneurs in this area sometimes commit violations, annually increasing the volume of deforestation. It is also believed that wood supplied by poachers who do not have a permit to operate also enters the market. There is an opinion that the introduction of a high duty on timber would significantly reduce the sale of timber abroad and, accordingly, would reduce the number of trees cut down.

Deforestation in Russia

Russia is one of the leading wood producers. Together with Canada, these two countries contribute about 34% of the total material exported to the world market. The most active areas, where trees are cut down, this is the territory of Siberia and the Far East. As for illegal logging, everything is resolved by paying fines. However, this does not contribute in any way to the restoration of the forest ecosystem.

The main result of cutting down trees is deforestation, which has many consequences:

climate change;
environmental pollution;
ecosystem change;
destruction of a large number of plants;
animals are forced to leave their usual habitats;
deterioration of the atmosphere;
deterioration in nature;
soil destruction, which will lead to;
emergence of environmental refugees.

Permit for deforestation

Companies that cut down trees must obtain a special permit for this activity. To do this, you need to submit an application, a plan of the area where the felling is taking place, a description of the types of trees that will be cut down, as well as a number of papers for coordination with various services. In general, obtaining such permission is difficult. However, this does not completely rule out the illegality of deforestation. It is recommended that this procedure be tightened while the planet's forests can still be saved.