What was the forest for primitive man? First of all, it is a source of food. And also the beginning of work: gathering for women, hunting and fishing - for men. Thus, the distribution of work between members
tribe. The forest determined the national character of architecture: for the ancient Slavs, a log structure became a typical building. To this day, in rural areas they build houses from this material, and its choice is due to environmental friendliness.
What is the forest during the Great Conquests? Excellent protection against the expansion of regular troops, as a rule, having battle tactics in open spaces. Free tribes living in woodlands, with small associations, could completely defeat a well-trained and trained army. And many years later, during the Great Patriotic War, troops of the Soviet government continued to operate in the forested areas in the occupied territories of Belarus and Ukraine in the forests.
What is the forest today? Of course, these are the "lungs" of our planet. It is they who are most involved in the oxygen cycle in the Earth’s atmosphere. Due to the huge mass of forests, the necessary proportion of this gas is maintained, which is able to ensure the vital activity of living beings.
Nevertheless, in recent decades there has been an increased accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the appearance of the greenhouse effect. Only a forest ecosystem can solve these problems and give a chance to the population of the planet to find a way to restore balance.
The fuller the biomass of vegetation, that is, the more saturated the forest layers, the greater the concentration of carbon dioxide. Due to this, plant masses are able to remove from the atmosphere this substance harmful to living creatures and prevent the development of the greenhouse effect. In forest ecosystems, 92% of carbon dioxide is concentrated.
What is a forest for human activities? Of course, it remains a source of food: honey, game, mushrooms, berries. The "forest source of energy" - firewood is still relevant. The material for building houses and other buildings - wood - to this day successfully competes with others, due to its environmental friendliness, comfort and coziness. It is also a raw material source of various industries. Also important is the participation of forests in the regulation of natural processes: windbreaks help maintain the fertility of the earth.
But, unfortunately, from year to year the volume of deforestation is growing, exceeding the natural and artificial restoration of the forest. In many countries where they are serious about environmental issues, they not only systematically plant plantations, but also completely prohibit any felling in some areas. Whether private or industrial. Thanks to such sanctions, the biomass of forests in these countries is not reduced. For example, in Germany there is a "primeval forest", the age of trees in which reaches four hundred years. It never carried out any cutting work. Probably, the Russians should seriously think about their forest.
