How to save tropical. Save the rainforest

The standard of living of the population in these seven groups was compared according to three indicators: per capita income, average life expectancy, and the 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, there come teachers, medical workers with appropriate support. The number of residents is also increasing, partly due to migrants attracted by high wages. Exactly what is expected to happen basic concept 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 economic failure is a natural consequence general theory economic development or is it a feature of the development of this particular territory 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.

Subject : Past and present through the eyes of an ecologist

Goals : to acquaint students with the consequences of human influence on nature, environmental problems that need to be addressed at the present stage; to develop the cognitive activity of children, a sense of respect for the world around them.

Equipment : slides and photographs illustrating the life of primitive people and the consequences of human activity; slides on the topic "Ocean pollution", "Tropical deforestation".

During the classes

1. Organizational moment, message of the topic and objectives of the lesson.

Writing on the board "Past and present through the eyes of an ecologist."

We have been given the opportunity to become ecologists,

Solve environmental problems.

Nature gives miracles to people,

We are forever in debt.

We must pay a debt to nature,

After all, otherwise we will not be able to survive on our own.

II. Checking homework.

What did we talk about in the last lesson? Now we will check how you learned this topic. I will give you tests, you will circle the correct answer.

(Testing)

At present, we know how primitive people lived, how they looked, what they did. Who told us about it? (About ithistorians have told us.)

Let's remember: did primitive people live in our era or before our era? (Primitive people lived before our era, because the countdowntime in our era goes from the birth of Christ.)

Well done! But it is not by chance that today we started talking about primitive people.

Sh. Work on the topic.

1. Working on learning new material.

The life of ancient people depended on the vagaries of the surrounding nature.
(Viewing slides and pictures from the life of ancient people.)

What did people use to build houses? (Tree branches:their houses are like huts.)

Still people lived in caves. Man needs food to live. How was food obtained? (Hunted, collected edible fruits,roots.)

And if there was a drought or a forest fire, or the hunt was unsuccessful, then they were threatened with starvation. And so our distant ancestors bowed before the forces of nature and took from nature only everything that was necessary for life. But time does not stand still, it moves inexorably forward.

People's lives have changed. They had fields, farms, factories. Various machines were created, houses were built. And it began to seem to people that they no longer depend on nature, that they are stronger than it. Moreover, man decided to conquer nature. Armed with technology, he imagined himself omnipotent, decided that everything on the planet was under his control.

What do you think, what did the conquest of nature lead to? (The conquest of nature has led to air and water pollution, soil destruction, destruction of forests, and the disappearance of many species of animals and plants.)

People began to understand that they do not dominate nature, but simply destroy it.

What do you think will happen if nature dies? (Man is connected with nature by many threads. Having destroyed nature, man himself will die.)

What should a person be for nature: a son or a conqueror?

Correctly. It is impossible to be conquerors, because we ourselves are part of the vast and beautiful world of Nature. And this means that the meeting of the environmental council of the fourth class will take place today. There are three items on the agenda of our meeting, three ecological problems which we need to discuss.

How to protect the ocean from pollution?

How to save tropical forests?

How to get rid of garbage?

So the first problem is How to protect the ocean frompollution?" Let's listen to the speaker.

- 1ststudent: Every year, a huge amount of oil and oil products, waste from various industrial enterprises, wastewater from fields and farms, household waste containing toxic substances, solid waste. Birds die from oil slicks, gas exchange is disturbed, fry die. Plastic waste - bottles, cans, nets - is also a serious danger. In 1972, 30 dead whales were found in Brazil. The cause of their death was plastic wrap. Together with water, she got into the respiratory tract of whales. Dangerous household waste containing toxic substances. These substances accumulate in the body of fish, birds and other animals. Eating such animals can lead to the death of people. (The story is accompanied by a slide show or illustrations.)

What are the main causes of ocean pollution?

Slide Reasons Oil products

pollution plastic waste

ocean Wastewater from fields and farms

Household waste containing toxic substances

radioactive waste

I would like to add that 80% of ocean pollution is the result of

man on dry land. Very dangerous radioactive waste. The situation is especially difficult in the Mediterranean and on the coast of the North Sea.

What measures are being taken to protect the oceans? Let's hear the next speaker.

2ndstudent: Effective chemicals are used to destroy traces of oil products. Special "sponge vessels" work, they suck up oil slicks along with water, collect solid garbage, plastic waste. The timing and size of the production of fish and other marine life are established. The "Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature" and the "Red Book of the USSR" were created.

What ocean protection measures did you hear about in your comrade's report? (Special “sponge ships” have been created. Chemical preparaty. Restricted catching of fish and animals.)

- What measures would you propose to protect the oceans? (Designedship ships that would not need fuel oil. Set filterson drain pipes at plants and factories, etc.)

Measures to protect the oceans:

Effective chemicals

"Sponge ships"

Fishing restriction

Purification facilities at enterprises

- Let's move on to the second question. Second problem "How to save rainforests?". Let's hear a report on the problems of tropical forests.

3rdstudent: Tropical forests are disappearing in hot countries. These forests are one of the wonders of nature. It is home to two-thirds of all plant and animal species on Earth. The dense, lush vegetation of the jungle releases a particularly large amount of oxygen into the air. It is these forests that are called the lungs of our planet. In connection with cutting down, burning, uprooting forests for agricultural plantations, food chains are disrupted to obtain wood, which negatively affects all types of plants and animals, including humans, because we have our own specific place in this chain. This will lead to a decrease in oxygen in the atmosphere, increased soil erosion, a decrease in its fertility, and the extinction of plants and animals.

What problems have arisen in tropical forests? (Tropical forests are mercilessly cut down, burned, uprooted.)

What is the purpose of doing this? (To expand the margins, up tobe more wood.)

- What does this lead to? (The food chains are broken, thethe amount of oxygen, the soil is destroyed, plants die andanimals?)

- Deforestation can lead to climate change, desertification, food shortages.

More than 50% of tropical forests have already been destroyed on our planet. What do you think needs to be done to save them? (Prohibit deforestation of tropical forests, create nature reserves, National parks take forest areas under protection.)

So let's summarize our work. What measures should be taken to save tropical forests?

Measures to protect tropical forests.

Prohibit deforestation of tropical forests.

Take forest areas under protection.

To create nature reserves and national parks on the territory of tropical forests.

Your statements show that you care about the problems of the jungle, and you think about the future of our planet. I hope that in the future, thanks to you, we will avoid environmental disasters.

Let's move on to the third issue: "How to get rid ofgarbage? I suggest you study this problem yourself, and then start the discussion.

Children read to themselves the material on p. 49, 50 textbook.

Where does garbage come from? (People throw away unnecessary murubbish, empty bottles, food waste.)

How to get rid of garbage? ( Garbage can be sorted and then recycled. Waste sorting plants already exist in the Baltics. Some subjectsyou can be reused, such as glass jars and bubuttocks. Paper is recycled and then made into paper again. Ferrous metals are recycled.)

How to get rid of garbage?

Sort waste and then recycle.

Recycling of waste.

Well done! You have done an excellent job today in solving the ecological problems of the Earth.

2) Physical education

One, two - above the head,

Three, four - arms wider,

Five, six - sit down quietly.

Let's sit and rest

And then we'll start again.

3) Work in workbook.

with. 15, #1 Read.

What is an environmental problem? (Environmental pollutionenvironment.)

- What environmental issues are of concern to you? Write it down.( Air pollution, extinction of plant and animal species, river pollution, polluted streets of our village, climate warming, drought, acid rain, ozone holes.)

4. Fixing.

What do you think, my young environmentalists, can the planet get sick? (Of course it can. We already talked today about what leads toocean pollution, deforestation.)

- Can one person heal the planet? (No, here you need towork for everyone.)

Yes, environmental protection is the task of all mankind. How people solve this problem, you will learn by reading the article "Heal the planet together" on p. 50-52.

After reading, you should find answers to the following questions:

· What are international agreements for environmental protection?

· What kind international organizations created for the protection of nature?

· What are the international environmental days?

(The children read the article.)

We answer questions. We fill out task No. 2 on page 15 in a notebook.

V. Summing up the lesson

If people destroy the environment, will they be able to survive? ( If people lose environment they won't survive on their own. After all, man is a part of nature, he is connected with nature by invisible threads. Ocean pollution, rainforest destruction, growing piles of rubbish are all signs of imminent danger.)

Complete tasks (p. 53).

Complete task No. 3 in the workbook (p. 16).

The current state of the climate on the planet is changing day by day. More ozone holes appears 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

AT different regions 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:

1. upper level - consists of giant trees, up to 60 m high;
2. middle level - consists of trees up to 30 m high, the crowns of such trees are usually intertwined, forming a dense dome;
3. 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 account for most of 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.

Primarily, the developed countries could reduce tariffs on imports of the above-named 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. On the this 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 in order to locals were able to get out of the shackles of poverty and stopped cutting down forests for their meager economy in order to somehow make ends meet.

Unfortunately, long-term investments tend to incur losses 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 that tropical forests be preserved and restored, but so far they do not accept in this process active participation, 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 can somewhat improve economic situation 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 the payment of wages and insurance to the population employed 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.

I sometimes have mixed feelings about the spectacle when entire alleys are destroyed on a grand scale to build 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. AT 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, it must be created World Organization, whose task would be to develop and implement rainforest restoration programs.

slide 2

We were looking for answers to the following questions:

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

View all slides