Three types of biodiversity and what they represent. Types, role, decline and protection of biological diversity
The biological diversity of the planet includes genetic intraspecific, species and ecosystem diversity. Genetic diversity is due to the diversity of traits and properties in individuals of the same species; an example is many varieties herbaceous bellflower– more than 300 species and subspecies of woodpecker - about 210 (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1 Genetic diversity of bluebell and woodpecker
Species diversity is the variety of species of animals, plants, fungi, lichens and bacteria. According to the results of research by biologists published in the journal PLoS Biology in 2011, the number of described living organisms on the planet is approximately 1.7 million, and total number species are estimated at approximately 8.7 million. It is noted that 86% of land inhabitants and 91% of ocean inhabitants have yet to be discovered. According to biologists for full description unknown species will require at least 480 years of intensive research. Thus, the total number of species on the planet will be unknown for a long time. The biological diversity of ecosystems depends on natural and climatic conditions; ecosystems are distinguished by structure and function, by scale from microbiogeocenosis to the biosphere (Fig. 2).
Fig.2 Biological diversity of natural terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
Biological diversity is the main natural resource of the planet, which provides the opportunity sustainable development and has important environmental, social, aesthetic and economic importance. Our planet can be imagined as complex multicellular organism, which, through biological diversity, supports the self-organization of the biosphere, which is expressed in its restoration and resistance to negative natural and anthropogenic influences. Biological diversity allows for regulation water flows, control the erosion process, form soils, perform climate-forming functions and much more.
Genetic intraspecific, species and ecosystem diversity are interconnected. Genetic diversity provides species diversity, the diversity of natural ecosystems and landscapes creates conditions for the formation of new species, and an increase in species diversity increases common gene pool biosphere of the planet. Therefore, everyone certain type contributes to biological diversity and cannot be without (c)beneficial or harmful. Each individual species will perform certain functions in any ecological system, and the loss of any animal or plant leads to an imbalance in the ecosystem. And the more species become extinct due to natural cause, the greater the imbalance. In confirmation of this, we can cite the words of the domestic scientist Nikolai Viktorovich Levashov, that “... an ecological system is nothing more than a balance between all forms and types of living organisms and their habitat...”. One cannot but agree with these words.
The distribution of species across the surface of the planet is uneven, and their biological diversity is natural ecosystems largest in tropical rain forests, occupying 7% of the planet's surface and containing up to 70-80% of all known to science animals and plants. This is not surprising, since tropical forests contain many plants, which provide huge amount ecological niches and, as a consequence, high species diversity. On initial stages formation ecological system planets and before today The natural process of the emergence and disappearance of species has occurred and continues to occur. The extinction of some species was compensated by the emergence of new species. This process was carried out without human intervention very for a long time. This fact is confirmed by the fact that in different geological eras there was a process of extinction and appearance of species, which we can judge from the found fossils, prints and traces of life activity (Fig. 3).
Fig.3 Fossils of ammonites and shells bivalves, which lived on the planet approximately 150 million years ago, in the Jurassic period
However, currently under the influence human factors There is a reduction in biological diversity. This became especially noticeable in the twentieth century, when, under the influence of human activity, the rate of extinction of species exceeded the natural rate, which led to the destruction of the genetic potential of the biosphere of our planet. The main reasons for the decline in the planet's biodiversity can be considered hunting and fishing, forest fires(up to 90% of fires occur due to human fault), destruction and change of habitats (construction of roads, power lines, indiscriminate construction of residential complexes, deforestation, etc.), pollution chemicals components of nature, introduction of alien species into unusual ecosystems, selective use natural resources, introduction of GMO crops into agriculture(when pollinated by insects, genetically modified plants spread, which leads to displacement natural species plants from the ecosystem) and many other reasons. To confirm the above reasons, we can cite some facts of violations of natural ecosystems, of which, unfortunately, there are a huge number. Thus, on April 20, 2010, the largest man-made disaster occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, caused by an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil platform in the Macondo field (USA). As a result of this accident, about 5 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico over 152 days, resulting in the formation of an oil slick with a total area of 75 thousand square kilometers (Fig. 4). Based on the most conservative estimates, it is unknown how much was actually poured out.
Ecological consequences for the bay ecosystem and coastal areas difficult to assess, since oil pollution disrupts natural processes, changes the living conditions of all types of living organisms and accumulates in biomass. Petroleum products have a long period of decomposition and quickly cover the surface of water with a layer of oil film, which prevents the access of air and light. As of November 2, 2010, 6,814 dead animals were collected as a result of the accident. But these are only the first losses, how many animals have died and will still die and plant organisms, When toxic substances will fall into food chains- unknown. It is also unknown how such a man-made disaster will affect other regions of the planet. The natural ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico and its coasts is capable of self-recovery, but this process may take many years.
Another reason for the reduction in biological diversity is deforestation for the construction of roads, housing, agricultural land, etc. The construction of a high-speed highway can be cited as a confirming fact. highway Moscow – St. Petersburg through the Khimki forest. The Khimki forest was the largest undivided natural complex, part of the forest-park protective belt of Moscow and the Moscow region and allowed for the preservation of high biological diversity (Fig. 5). In addition, it served as the most important regulator of atmospheric air purity, a recreational natural complex for more than half a million residents of nearby settlements capable of providing a favorable environment for living.
Fig.5 Khimki forest before the construction of the expressway
As a result of the construction of the expressway, irreparable environmental damage was caused to the Khimki Forest Park, expressed in the destruction of the only corridor passing along the floodplain of the river. Klyazma and connecting the Khimki forest with neighboring forests (Fig. 6).
Rice. 6 Construction of an expressway through the Khimki forest
The migration routes of such animals as elk, wild boar, badger and other organisms have been disrupted, which will ultimately lead to their disappearance from the Khimki forest. The construction of the road subsequently led to fragmentation forest area, which will cause a further increase in unfavorable edge effects on natural ecosystems(chemical pollution, exposure to acoustic noise, decay of forest walls adjacent to the highway, etc.) (Fig. 7). Unfortunately, there are a huge number of such examples throughout the country and around the world, and all together this causes irreparable environmental damage to biological diversity.
The fact of reduction in biodiversity is also confirmed by research, which can be found in the works and. According to the report World Fund wildlife The planet's overall biodiversity has declined by approximately 28% since 1970. Considering that a huge number of living organisms have not yet been described and the fact that only known species, it can be assumed that the decline in biodiversity mainly occurs in regional level. However, if a person continues to develop in a technocratic and consumer way and does not take real action when the situation changes, then there is real threat global biodiversity, and, as a consequence, the possible death of civilization. A decrease in the diversity of life leads to a decrease in maintaining the functions of the biosphere in its natural state. Ignorance and denial of the laws of nature often leads to the false belief that the loss of one species of animal or plant in nature is interchangeable. Yes, this is true if it is caused by the natural course of evolution of living matter. However, today “intelligent” human activity has begun to predominate. I would like to remind you of one of the laws of ecology of the American ecologist Barry Commoner: “Everything is connected to everything.” The law shows the integrity of the ecological system of the living organisms and habitat that form it. I would like to end my short reflection with the words of the Bulgarian aphorist Veselin Georgiev: “Take care of the nature in yourself, and not yourself in nature.”
Biodiversity concept
Living organisms on our planet have gone through a long and complex path of development. During evolution, changes occurred in the external and internal structure of living organisms, and the system of relationships between groups of organisms, between organisms and the environment changed. As a result natural selection living organisms developed qualities that helped them survive in a changing environment.
The result of such a long evolutionary path has been the diversity of representatives of the living nature of our planet. They have different life forms, belong to different kingdoms.
Today it has been proven that all living organisms have single origin. This statement is supported by the unity chemical composition living organisms, their cellular structure.
But at the same time, some living organisms are very different from others. Thanks to the presence of these differences, the biological diversity of living matter on our planet was formed.
Definition 1
Biological diversity is the totality of all forms and varieties of organization of living matter in the biosphere.
Causes of biological diversity
The reason for biological diversity is the ability of living organisms to adapt to certain conditions environment– ability to adapt.
As a result of interaction with various environmental factors Various ecological groups of living organisms have formed on Earth:
- thermophilic,
- cold-resistant,
- photophilous,
- moisture-loving,
- drought-resistant,
- etc.
In the process of competition for territory and food, living organisms fought different way existence – attached, freely moving, sedentary, migrating. Plants developed life forms such as grasses, trees and shrubs. With more detailed adaptation to environmental conditions, new species of plants, animals and microorganisms arose.
To summarize the above, we can conclude that the cause of biological diversity is the result of the constant interaction of living organisms and the environment. IN lately on biodiversity great influence provided by human economic activity.
Types of biodiversity
When considering biodiversity, attention is most often paid to such aspects as genetic, species and ecosystem.
Definition 2
Genetic biodiversity is a collection of gene pools of different populations of the same species.
To ensure genetic biodiversity, it is necessary to create an ecological network. This will make it possible to preserve representatives of the species not only in individual protected areas (reserves), but also throughout the entire territory of the species’ distribution.
Definition 3
Species diversity is the totality of all species inhabiting a certain territory.
The task of man is to preserve all currently existing species. After all, the loss of at least one species is irreversible process. To preserve species diversity, protected areas are created.
Definition 4
Ecosystem biodiversity (landscape) is a set of unique and typical forest, mountain, swamp, steppe, sea, and river communities of living organisms.
The main object of environmental protection activities is ecosystems. They form the biogeographical features of each region of our planet.
Concepts of succession and agrocenosis
Biogeocenoses are a self-regulating system. Therefore, in the process of development of a biogeocenosis, its species diversity also changes.
Biodiversity or biological diversity is a term that describes the diversity of living organisms on Earth and the extent to which life varies. Biodiversity includes microorganisms, plants, animals, such as coral reefs, etc. Biodiversity is everything from towering trees to tiny unicellular algae, which cannot be seen without a microscope.
It also refers to quantity or abundance various types living in a certain region. Biological diversity represents the wealth available to us. It's about about the maintenance of natural areas consisting of communities of plants, animals and other living things that are changing or becoming extinct due to human influence, and destruction.
Elements and distribution
In biodiversity, every species, no matter how large or small, plays a role important role. Different species of plants and animals depend on each other, and these diverse species provide natural stability for all forms of life. Healthy and resilient biodiversity can recover from many disasters.
Biodiversity has three main elements:
- Ecological diversity;
- Species diversity;
Recently added new element- “molecular diversity”.
Biodiversity is unevenly distributed. It varies globally and regionally. Various factors that influence biological diversity include: temperature, altitude, precipitation, soils and their relationship with other species. For example, ocean biodiversity is 25 times less than terrestrial diversity.
Biodiversity is the result of 3.5 billion years. It has been subject to various periods. The final and most destructive stage of extinction is the Holocene extinction (era), which was influenced in part by human activity.
The role of biodiversity
All types are interconnected and dependent on each other. Forests provide homes for animals. Animals eat plants. Plants need healthy soil to grow. Fungi help decompose organisms to fertilize the soil. Bees and other insects transfer pollen from one plant to another, which allows the flora to reproduce. With less biodiversity, these relationships are weakened and sometimes broken, harming all species in the ecosystem.
Biodiversity has a number of functions on Earth, including:
- Maintaining ecosystem balance: processing and storage nutrients, combating, climate stabilization, protection, soil formation and protection, and maintaining environmental friendliness.
- Biological resources: provision medicines And pharmaceuticals, food products for the population and animals, ornamental plants, wood products, breeding stock, species diversity, ecosystems and genes.
- Social benefits: recreation and tourism, cultural value, education and research.
The role of biodiversity in the following areas will help to clearly define its importance in human life:
- Food: About 80% of the human food supply comes from 20 plant species. But humans use about 40,000 species of flora for food, clothing and shelter. Biodiversity provides food for the population of our planet.
- Human health: shortage is expected drinking water will create a serious global crisis. Biodiversity also plays an important role in drug discovery. Uses natural medicines most population of the Earth.
- Industry: biological sources provide many industrial materials. These include fiber, oil, dyes, rubber, water, wood, paper and food.
- Culture: Biodiversity provides recreational activities such as bird watching, fishing, trekking, etc. It inspires musicians, poets and artists.
Types of biodiversity
The main way to measure biodiversity is to count the total number of species living in a particular area. Tropical areas where it is warm climatic conditions all year round, have the greatest biological diversity. In temperate regions where warm summer is replaced cold winter, there is less biodiversity. Regions with cold or dry conditions, such as deserts, have even less biodiversity.
Generally, the closer a region is to the equator, the greater the biodiversity. At least 40,000 different plant species live in the Amazon South America, one of the most biologically diverse regions on the planet.
Warm waters of the western part of the Pacific and Indian Oceans are the most diverse marine habitats. in Indonesia is home to more than 1,200 species of fish and 600 species of coral. Many corals create, in which hundreds of species of organisms live, from tiny seaweed to large sharks.
In some regions of the world there is large number(species that exist only on certain territory). In the Cape region - a natural ecosystem South Africa- There are about 6,200 plant species that are found nowhere else in the world. Areas with a large number endemic species are called biodiversity hotspots. Scientists and organizations are making efforts special efforts to preserve life in these regions.
Biodiversity can also refer to the variety of ecosystems - communities of living things and theirs. Ecosystems include deserts, grasslands and tropical forests. Africa has tropical rain forests, alpine mountains and dry deserts. The continent has a high level of biodiversity, and Antarctica, almost completely covered ice cover- low.
Another way to measure biodiversity is genetic diversity. Genes are the basic units of biological information transmitted in living beings. Some species have up to 400,000 genes. (Humans have about 25,000 genes, and rice has more than 56,000.) Some of these genes are the same for all individuals within a species - they make a daisy a daisy and a dog a dog. But some genes vary within a species, which is why, for example, some dogs are poodles and others are pit bulls. That's why some people brown eyes, and others are blue.
Greater genetic diversity among species can make plants and animals more resistant to disease. Genetic diversity also allows species to better adapt to changing environments.
Declining Biodiversity
Over the past hundred years, biodiversity around the world has declined sharply. Many species have become extinct. Extinction is a natural process; some types naturally die out, and new species evolve. But human activity has changed the natural processes of extinction and evolution. Scientists estimate that species are currently going extinct hundreds of times faster than evolution would require.
The main cause of biodiversity loss is the destruction natural places habitat. Fields, forests and wetlands where they live wild plants and animals disappear. People clear land to plant crops and build homes and businesses. Forests are cut down for timber.
As habitats shrink, they can support life smaller quantity living organisms. Surviving creatures have fewer partners to breed with, so genetic diversity is reduced.
Global climate change is also a factor reducing biodiversity around the world. Warmer ocean temperatures are damaging fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs. One coral reef capable of supporting 3,000 species of fish and other sea creatures such as shellfish and starfish.
Invasive species can also affect biodiversity. When people introduce species from one part of the world to another, they often have no natural predators. These "non-native" organisms thrive in their new environment habitats and often destroy native species.
People all over the world are working to preserve biodiversity. Animals and plants are the best known endangered organisms. Thousands of protected areas have been created across our planet to protect plants, animals and ecosystems. Local, national and international organizations collaborate to conserve the biological diversity of regions threatened by development or natural disasters. People are also working to limit pollution and restore ecosystems. As ecosystems become healthier, their biodiversity increases.
"In the old days richest countries were those whose nature was most abundant" - Henry Buckle.
Biodiversity is one of the fundamental phenomena that characterizes the manifestation of life on Earth. The decline in biodiversity occupies a special place among the main environmental problems modernity.
The consequence of the disappearance of species will be the destruction of existing ecological connections and degradation of natural groups, their inability to self-sustain, which will lead to their disappearance. Further reduction in biodiversity may lead to destabilization of the biota, loss of the integrity of the biosphere and its ability to maintain the most important characteristics environment. Due to the irreversible transition of the biosphere to a new state, it may become unsuitable for human life. Man is completely dependent on biological resources.
There are many reasons to conserve biodiversity. This is the need to use biological resources to meet the needs of humanity (food, technical materials, medicines, etc.), ethical and aesthetic aspects, and the like.
However, the main reason for preserving biodiversity is that biodiversity plays a leading role in ensuring the stability of ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole (absorbing pollution, stabilizing the climate, providing conditions suitable for life).
The importance of biodiversity
To live and survive in nature, man has learned to use beneficial properties components of biodiversity for obtaining food, raw materials for making clothing, tools, housing construction, and obtaining energy resources. Modern economics based on the use of biological resources.
The economic importance of biodiversity lies in the use of biological resources - this is the foundation on which civilization is built. These resources are the basis of most human activities such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper industry, gardening and horticulture, production cosmetics, construction and waste recycling.
Biodiversity is also a recreational resource. The recreational value of biodiversity also has great value for organizing holidays. Main direction recreational activities- getting pleasure without destroying nature. We're talking about hiking, photography, bird watching, swimming with whales and wild dolphins, and the like. Rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs create opportunities for aquatic species sports, boat trips, swimming, recreational fishing. Around the world, the ecotourism industry is growing rapidly and includes up to 200 million people annually.
Health value
Biodiversity still hides many undiscovered medicines from us. For example, quite recently, ecologists using drones discovered it on one of the Hawaiian rocks.
For centuries, plant and animal extracts have been used by humans for treatment. various diseases. Modern medicine shows interest in biological resources, hoping to find new types of medicines. There is an opinion that the wider the diversity of living things, the greater the opportunities for discovering new drugs.
The ecological value of species diversity is a prerequisite for the survival and sustainable functioning of ecosystems. Biological species provide soil formation processes. Thanks to the accumulation and transfer of essential nutrients, soil fertility is ensured. Ecosystems assimilate waste and absorb and destroy pollutants. They purify water and stabilize hydrological regime, retaining groundwater. Ecosystems contribute to the preservation of atmospheric quality by supporting required level oxygen through photosynthesis.
The study and protection of biological diversity is critical for the sustainable development of civilization.
Reduced animal diversity and flora will inevitably affect human life, since biodiversity is the foundation of spiritual and physical health any nation. The value of biodiversity is enormous in itself, regardless of the extent to which it is used by people. If we want to preserve our mentality and national identity, we must preserve our nature. The state of nature is a mirror of the state of the nation. Preserving biodiversity is a necessary condition for the survival of humanity.
Source: Environmental blog(website)
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The diversity of species of organisms on planet Earth corresponds to the diversity of living conditions on it. Millions biological species is the main resource for the sustainability of the biosphere.
The species composition of living organisms on the planet is regulated by the processes of material and energy metabolism. Modern taxonomy includes five higher taxa in living nature, the representatives of which differ in the type of metabolic processes and role in nature: bacteria, protozoa, fungi, plants and animals. Each of these groups has primitive and more complexly organized representatives. They are all in high degree adapted to their habitat. The relationship between producers and consumers corresponds to the principle of optimization, i.e., the profitability of bioproductivity. Plants and other producers provide biomass sufficient for consumption by the entire biotic community. The plant biomass of terrestrial ecosystems is 90% processed by fungi and bacteria, 9% by small invertebrates and bacteria, about 1% of the energy of primary production is obtained by large animals.
Representatives of all biological species on the planet are interconnected, which is evidence that they belong to one system - the biosphere. Its stability provides support for the gene pool. Under the influence anthropogenic factors loss occurs different representatives living world. It affects the decline in numbers individual species, their changes caused by mutations lead to their complete disappearance.
Biological diversity is the main criterion and sign of the sustainability of an ecosystem. The task of preserving biological diversity and protecting the gene pool is assigned to nature reserves. It is assumed that they can complete their task if their area is at least 1/6 of the terrestrial area of the planet.
Ecosystems have a hierarchical organization, according to which ecologists (Whittaker, 1997) distinguish four levels of taxon diversity that reflect the hierarchy of biodiversity. The “alpha” level is characterized by the diversity of taxa within a given ecosystem or habitat (species diversity), the “beta” level is measured by the diversity of biocenoses within an ecosystem or landscape (biotope). The “gamma” level refers to larger units of landscape type and characterizes the diversity of the overall complexity of the structure of groups of sites. The “epsilon” level reflects regional biogeographic diversity related to micro-meso-macro combinations of ecosystems corresponding to tracts, localities and landscapes. Measuring diversity more high level ecosystems is a difficult task because the boundaries of communities and ecosystems are less discrete than they are at the species level. The Shannon-Weaver index is most often used to calculate diversity.
Technogenic impacts on natural ecosystems lead to a decrease in biodiversity, depletion of the gene pool, it is already reaching global scale. There is documented evidence of influence economic activity man to the animal world. Currently, there are about 1.3 million species of animals and 300 thousand species of higher plants on the planet. According to information International Union Nature conservation, since 1600, 94 species of birds and 63 species of mammals have become extinct on Earth. Even more of them are at risk of extinction. Similar data are provided in other sources.
On the territory of Russia, 312 species of mammals have been identified, which is about 6% of the world’s fauna. Over the past 200 years, 5 species of them have become extinct, and another 6 species have ceased to be found on the territory of Russia (Mokievsky, 1998). Data for the Moscow region indicate that out of 285 species of birds living in the region, 15 have stopped nesting over the last 100 years, and another 20 are under threat of extinction. The reasons for the decline in the number of birds in the Moscow region (Zubakin, 1990) by only 12% are presumably due to pollution, higher value have habitat degradation, disturbance factor, destruction. Other groups of living organisms are more sensitive to environmental pollution. This shows up on different levels ecosystem organization.
Soil microorganisms and their species composition are sensitive to soil pollution. A diagnostic sign is a decrease in microbiological activity (decreased activity of the enzymes invertase, dehydrogenase, urease, etc.), total number microorganisms. A deep restructuring of the soil microbiota is evidenced by a decrease in species richness and species diversity of microorganisms. For example, in areas contaminated with heavy metals sod-podzolic soil, in the gray soil there was a decrease in the number of some types of microorganisms (representatives of the genus Bacillus are sensitive), an increase in dominants, among which a number of species of micromycetes were noted (they are often representatives of the pigmented species Penicillium skryabini, purpurogenum, etc.), and some types of microscopic fungi. It was noted that the diversity of the species composition of epiphytic yeasts on plants grown on sierozem contaminated with metals is reduced by 40%. With extremely high pollution, almost complete death of microorganisms occurs (Levin et al., 1989). The presence of residual quantities of pesticides in soils in high doses causes both a reversible decrease in the diversity of the species composition of microorganisms and more dangerous irreversible changes, i.e., the disappearance of some species on contaminated soils (Byzov et al., 1989).
Pollution (chemical, physical, biological) of the environment is a mechanism of direct toxic impact on biodiversity. An example is the acidification of water bodies, which causes negative impact on the respiration and reproduction of fish due to the increased concentration of free aluminum ions in the waters. Water acidification is accompanied by the disappearance of many species of diatoms and green algae, as well as some representatives of zooplankton, from water bodies.
Under the influence of pollution, the species diversity of higher plants decreases. Increased sensitivity to atmospheric pollution sulfur dioxide exhibit coniferous trees(cedar, spruce, pine). When contaminated, they are marked various damages, premature drop of needles, decrease in biomass, suppression of reproductive activity, decrease in growth, decrease in life expectancy and, as a result, death of trees occurs, which is reflected in changes in the species composition of forest lands, in a decrease in their species diversity.
The high sensitivity of lichens to atmospheric air pollution has become the basis for effective lichen indication of atmospheric air when environmental monitoring. In areas polluted by various pollutants (sulfur oxides, metals, hydrocarbons), the species diversity of lichens sharply decreases. The initial death of more sensitive, less resistant species of lichens (first the bushy, then leafy and then crustacean forms disappear) ends with their complete disappearance.
In almost all technogenically disturbed landscapes, a change in the structure of the biogeocenosis is observed. For example, in the territory exposed to aerosol emissions from the Severonickel plant, a four-tier biogeocenosis, originally represented by woody, shrubby, herbaceous vegetation and moss-lichen cover, over the 30 years of operation of the plant, first lost lichens, then spruce and pine. At a distance of 20-30 km from the plant, the biogeocenosis consisted of open forest with fragmentary grass and shrub cover, and in the immediate vicinity of the plant a technogenic wasteland formed.
The decline in biodiversity at the landscape level occurs not only due to pollution, but also due to urbanization, agricultural development, deforestation, etc. Over the past two decades, steppe landscapes, swamp systems were damaged everywhere.
Much damage has been caused to forests. Forests have been damaged Central America, Southeast Asia, temperate zone. For example, in Greece and England, where the forest area is small (about 1000 thousand hectares), about 65% of the forests are degraded. In Germany, Poland, Norway (with total area forests 6000-8000 thousand hectares) at least 50% of forests are degraded. For last decades forest area decreased by 200 million hectares. This poses a danger to the biosphere, since forest ecosystems perform an important environment-forming function. Forest products and biomass are a supply of organic matter and energy stored by plants during the process of photosynthesis. The intensity of photosynthesis determines the rate of CO 2 absorption and oxygen release. Thus, when 1 ton of plant products is formed, on average 1.5-1.8 t CO 2 is absorbed and 1.2-1.4 t O 2 is released. Forests have a high dust absorption capacity; they can deposit up to 50-60 t/ha of dust per year. Forest biomass cleans the air of pollutants. This occurs due to the deposition of dust on the surface of the leaves and trunks of plants, as well as due to the inclusion of substances contained in it in metabolic processes, accumulation in the composition organic matter. After the death of the latter, they enter the composition of soil organic matter, and after their mineralization - into the composition of other soil compounds.
The decline in biodiversity is dangerous not only because of the degradation of ecosystems, but because of the imbalance in the biosphere. The quality of nature can be “automatically” controlled only by the biota, i.e. the totality of all organisms living on Earth. Biological diversity is the main criterion and sign of the sustainability of an ecosystem. It is impossible to artificially create a habitat for humans. Only biota can restore the state of the environment disturbed by humans (including through the spread of pollutants), and ensure normal quality of water, air, soil, and food, and only if biological diversity is ensured.