Protection of rare and endangered species of animals. How to preserve rare species of plants and animals in the Nazarovsky district Justification of social significance

General Director of ANO " Far Eastern leopards» Elena Gangalo – about the holiday and more

On the occasion of March 3rd world day wildlife CEO autonomous non-profit organization “Far Eastern Leopards” Elena Gangalo gave an interview to the organization’s website. Last year, which was celebrated as the Year of the 100th anniversary of Russian nature reserves and the 5th anniversary of the Land of the Leopard National Park, the most remarkable fact can be considered “excellent recruitment”: the birth of 15 kittens was noted among Far Eastern leopards.

In preparation for the field season, “winter route censuses of animals are carried out in all specially protected natural areas of Russia.” Employees of specially protected natural areas Far East carry out monitoring of large wild cats, tigers and Far Eastern leopards. In particular, their numbers will be clarified.

With the creation of the new federal reserve “Leopardovy” in 2008, and even more so after the organization of the “Land of the Leopard” national park with an area of ​​262 thousand hectares in the Primorsky Territory, significant work has been done. According to Elena Gangalo, the systematic efforts of state environmental authorities, scientific and public environmental organizations over the past decade have brought tangible results: the reported number of leopards “has begun to grow.” Covering southwestern Primorye and adjacent areas of China, the population of these animals has reached 90 individuals (of which 42 individuals are in China). Research by scientists and their support from the Far Eastern Leopards Foundation will continue.

Noting the stages of formation of the Far Eastern Leopards ANO, the organization's general director Elena Gangalo noted that the ANO was established in 2011, and its supervisory board is headed by Sergei Ivanov, the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation on environmental issues, ecology and transport. As Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, he “actually supervised this topic, in every possible way supporting the initiatives of scientists and conservationists to save the leopard in the Far East. It was Sergei Borisovich who took the initiative to create the Far Eastern Leopards Autonomous Non-Profit Organization.”

By the time work began to protect Far Eastern leopards in Primorye, there was the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve (small in area), the Barsovy federal nature reserve and the Borisov Plateau regional nature reserve. But they had different departmental subordination and did not initially have environmental status. Gradually, a model of a new structure was built, and finally, by decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of April 5, 2012, it was created national park"Land of the Leopard" Work on organizing protection, providing a food supply, and preserving lands suitable for their habitat made it possible to achieve comfortable conditions for increasing the number of taiga cats. Taking into account the new litters, the number of leopards reached 90 animals. Today, the “Land of the Leopard” is also home to one of the largest groups of Amur tigers in the Far Eastern specially protected natural areas: about 30 individuals.

Today, with the participation of the Far Eastern Leopards ANO, research work and animal population monitoring are carried out both in federal protected areas and in adjacent areas. The number of camera traps now reaches almost 400, the observation area is 360 thousand hectares. There is nothing like this in Russia anymore.

The aspect of combating threats to leopards from humans, manifested in the form of poaching and forest fires, is seen as very important. According to Elena Gangalo, the organization she leads provides the inspector staff for the Land of the Leopard protection service. modern technology, equipment and ammunition. In September 2017, in the village of Barabash, the new central estate of the Land of the Leopard National Park was inaugurated - “a complex of buildings built according to a special project within the framework of the federal targeted investment program.” A considerable part of the funds for the implementation of the plan was transferred to the Far Eastern Leopards Autonomous Non-Profit Organization. The estate has become a modern scientific, environmental, educational and educational complex, which involves holding various conferences, scientific seminars and many other events.

Somewhat earlier, in March 2016, the Narva road tunnel began operating. Being located on the highway separating the Land of the Leopard National Park and the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve, it “was built for the first time in our country precisely with the aim of minimizing the impact of the highway on the populations of large predators - the Far Eastern leopard and the Amur tiger.” And this project has fully justified itself, because with its help it is possible to ensure almost unhindered communication between the two territories, and along this eco-duct tigers and leopards move from one of them to the other.

Two plots of land in the Khasansky district of Primorsky Krai with a total area of ​​12 thousand hectares were donated to the Far Eastern Leopards ANO in 2017 by a large businessman. These territories “will be part of the Land of the Leopard National Park” as a cluster for scientific research and educational tourism."

Among other important work, Elena Gangalo named activities to popularize the idea of ​​conserving the Far Eastern leopard - interaction with the media, organizing exhibitions and other events, including important place takes up the environmental festival “Leopard Day” held in Moscow in August 2017, and the filming of the documentary “Leo80. The story of a leopard" and other events. In collaboration with International Foundation animal protection ANO "Far Eastern Leopards" held an action (PrimReporter has already reported about it) to decorate the urban area in Vladivostok by the famous South African graffiti artist Sonny.

Speaking about the prospects and problems being solved by the Far Eastern Leopards ANO, the general director of the organization noted the need for systematic efforts to maintain success - overcoming the survival line of the subspecies - and create a “sustainable population of the Far Eastern leopard numbering at least 120 individuals in natural conditions,” which can guarantee it survival.

In addition to combating poaching and forest fires, maintaining a sufficient food supply for the leopard (the relevance of these problems remains), and “preventing the death of wild animals from various diseases” is also topical, since the risk of a sudden epizootic remains, which “could destroy the fruits of all our efforts in a short time.” To this end, the task is being put forward to begin cooperation “with the best specialists both in our country and in the world.”

Another question is about the expansion of territories related to the prospect of the leopard returning to other territories of Primorye. It is possible that leopards will be reintroduced into the areas of the Lazovsky Nature Reserve, the Ussuriysky Nature Reserve and its environs; there is even talk of expanding the territory of the Land of the Leopard national park.

An important aspect of protecting the Far Eastern leopard is the real the international cooperation. As part of interaction with scientific and environmental structures of the PRC, the issue of creating “an extensive trans-border (Russian-Chinese) reserve that preserves the habitats of Far Eastern leopards and Amur tigers is being explored.”

Similar work, according to Elena Gangalo, began back in 2011. Since then, when a draft agreement between our countries on the creation of a transboundary reserve within Russian territory (in the area of ​​Lake Khanka) was approved, some results have been achieved, but then this process has stalled. However, according to the head of the Far Eastern Leopards Autonomous Non-Profit Organization, “now is the time to return to this issue.” This, firstly, is due to the intensification of cooperation between Russian and Chinese specialists in the study and monitoring of large cats in border areas. The second factor is the reorganization of the network of protected areas on the border of China with the Primorsky Territory: the PRC has created a single national tiger and leopard park with an area of ​​1.5 million hectares in the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang. That's why Russian specialists They believe it is advisable to “immediately begin discussions with Chinese colleagues on proposals for the creation of a Russian-Chinese transboundary reserve.”

A separate issue raised in an interview with the head of the organization, Elena Gangalo, published on the website of the Far Eastern Leopards ANO is the possibility of perpetuating the memory of one of the famous researchers and creators of the protected area system, Professor N.N. Vorontsov, who made a significant contribution to the work on protecting the nature of the Far East and, in particular, Primorye.

A separate point in the dialogue is devoted to the possibility and world practice of creating “non-state national funds that accumulate voluntary donations and implement significant projects aimed at preserving natural heritage" Elena Gangalo highly appreciated the existing international ecological structures(WWF, Greenpeace, IFAW), but pointed out that “the absence of a specialized national fund is felt.”

In Russia today there are also non-profit organizations that collect extra-budgetary funds to support activities for the conservation of specific rare species of animals (“ANO “Far Eastern Leopards”, ANO “Center” Amur tiger"" and others), but there is a need and desire to "move from non-state support for the protection of individual flag species to more systematic work on the conservation of rare species in general." It is time to talk about the feasibility of creating a national non-governmental charitable foundation in Russia, specializing in the field of conservation of biological and landscape diversity. At the same time, his priority could be the tasks of protecting and restoring populations of “endangered animals and flora, and their key habitats, primarily within the boundaries of protected areas.”

In order to implement such a plan, Elena Gangalo outlined the need to support this type of activity from the business community: this practice is quite widespread in the world, and it is being developed in Russia. Moreover, “this is not just a tribute to time or fashion, it is a tool for increasing competitiveness.” We are talking about the “company’s environmental rating” as an important indicator of business performance. The topic of social and environmental responsibility of business is becoming increasingly popular when communicating with potential investors and attracting new clients. The so-called “green reputation” is increasingly becoming “one of the most effective elements sustainable development".

As Elena Gangalo emphasized, “...for a serious business, environmental responsibility should not be only part of the image policy, it should be based on real, tangible actions, projects that produce concrete results. In this regard, the topic of contributions to the conservation of rare and endangered animal species is very rewarding both from the point of view of image and from the point of view of specific results.”

Therefore, the general director of the Far Eastern Leopards ANO believes that the project of preserving and restoring the population of the rarest cat in the world, implemented by the organization, is almost ideal for this. Today this organization works with the most successful companies in Russia such as Gazprom, Gazprombank, Sibur, SUEK, Sberbank, Russian Railways and others. The project implemented by Primorye ecologists together with the Rossiya airline seems unique: starting in the spring of 2017, the “Leolet” takes to the skies: the Boeing of the Rossiya airline with the image of the Far Eastern leopard carries more and more passengers.

Such achievements allow us to look into the future with optimism.

Speaking about the environmental topic, we cannot ignore the results of the Year of Ecology - as assessed by the Far Eastern Leopards ANO, as reported by the RIA Novosti agency shortly before the New Year.

Thus, a unique exhibition “Eco-Treasures of Russia” was held. The fourth all-Russian festival “Primordial Russia” took place, organized public lesson at the school, where conservationists told students about the amazing rescue of the Leo 80M leopard and introduced students to the work to conserve the Far Eastern leopard population.

On August 27, a big holiday was held in Moscow’s Krasnaya Presnya Park - “Leopard Day”, in which 30 thousand people took part. And within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, “the already traditional race for the protection of Red Book cats took place and a charity auction was held in support of projects for the protection of endangered and rare species of animals of the Far East.”
In the Year of Ecology, the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Land of the Leopard National Park took place, in which a new ecological route, the Leopard Path, was opened.

In a word, good traditions are continued and developed.

TO rare and endangered species These include animals whose numbers are so small that their continued existence is threatened. They need careful protection. Most of the rare and endangered species in our country belong to commercial species. In the past they were widespread and numerous. The predatory use of animal resources in Russia has led to end of the 19th century- beginning of the 20th century many species have become rare or are on the verge of extinction. Under Soviet rule, they were taken under protection and hunting for them was prohibited. In places where the most valuable species were preserved (bison, river beaver, sable, kulan, muskrat), nature reserves were organized.

The main task of protecting rare and endangered species is to, by creating favorable conditions for their habitat, achieve such an increase in their numbers that would eliminate the threat of extinction. It is important to restore the natural reserves of animals in order to include them in the number of commercial animals.

In Russia, a lot of painstaking work has been carried out to restore the numbers of river beaver, sable, elk, and saiga, which were on the verge of extinction. Currently, their numbers have been restored and they have again become a commercial species.

All rare and endangered species of animals, like plants, are included in Red Book, created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN). The Red Book, first published in 1966 and translated into Russian in 1976, included 292 species and subspecies of mammals, 287 species and subspecies of birds, 36 species of amphibians and 119 species of reptiles, of which 16 species of animals and 8 species of birds live in our country. In 1978, the Red Book of the USSR was published, which included (species and subspecies): mammals - 62, birds - 63, reptiles - 21, amphibians - 8.

The Red Book of Russia (1983) includes (species and subspecies) of mammals - 65, birds - 108, reptiles - 11, amphibians - 4, fish - 10, mollusks - 15, insects - 34.

The lists of species included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (1997) with additions (1999) include the following species: invertebrates - 154, fish - 44, amphibians - 8, reptiles - 21, birds - 124, mammals - 65, insects - 94, shellfish - 41.

Listing a species in the Red Book is a signal of the danger that threatens it and the need for urgent measures to protect it. Each country in whose territory a species included in the Red Book lives is responsible to its people and all humanity for its conservation.

To preserve rare and endangered species, nature reserves and sanctuaries are organized, animals are resettled in areas of their former distribution, fed, shelters and nesting sites are created, and protected from predators and diseases. When numbers are very low, animals are bred in captivity and then released into suitable conditions. These measures are producing positive results.

Here are some species whose numbers have been restored through enormous efforts:

Bison(Bison bonasus) - large bull weighing up to 1 ton (Fig. 14, A). In the past it was distributed in the forests of Western, Central and South of Eastern Europe, in the east - to the river. Don and the Caucasus. By the beginning of the 20th century. In their natural state, bison were preserved only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha (727 heads) and in the Caucasus (600 heads). The last free bison in Belovezhskaya Pushcha was killed in 1919, in the Caucasus - in 1927. There are only 48 bison left, living in zoos and acclimatization stations.

This is the lower limit of the species' abundance. The beast was on the verge of extinction. Work has begun to restore the bison. It was most actively carried out in Poland and in three nature reserves of the USSR: Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Prioksko-Terrasny and Kavkazsky. By 1975, there were 320 in Poland, 155 purebred Belovezhskaya bison in the USSR, and more than 500 bison in the Caucasus. Successful work for bison breeding made it possible, in 1961, to move on to the creation of free herds. By 1981, the number of bison in the USSR reached 830, in the world more than 2000 (Red Book of the USSR, 1984).

Saiga antelope (Siga tatarica) - a small antelope weighing 23-40 kg (Fig. 14, b). Previously, it was distributed over vast territories of steppe and forest-steppe regions of Europe, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. herds of saigas were common in the steppes of Eastern Europe and Asia, back in early XVIII V. were found in Moldova and west of the Dniester. The plowing of the steppes forced the saiga out of many areas. The reduction in numbers was facilitated by intensive hunting for meat, skins and horns, which were sold to China as medicinal raw materials.

By the beginning of the 20th century. The saiga has survived in the remote areas of the right bank of the Lower Volga and in Kazakhstan. In 1919, a law was passed banning saiga hunting. By this time, only a few hundred of its individuals remained. As a result of protection, the number of saiga antelopes reached commercial levels by the end of 1940, and fishing was allowed in the early 50s. The saiga population has stabilized; Every year from 100 to 500 thousand individuals are harvested, which provides the national economy with about 6 thousand tons of meat, 20 million dm 2 of leather and medicinal raw materials.

Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica) is the largest subspecies (body weight up to 272 kg), distinguished by long thick fur. In the past he was an ordinary inhabitant of the Ussuri taiga. Excessive hunting and trapping led to a reduction in its numbers in the late 1930s to 20-30 individuals. In 1947, tiger hunting was prohibited. In the 1950-1960s, there were already 90-100 individuals; since 1960, capturing tigers for zoos has been allowed. Currently, the tiger is found in the Primorsky and eastern regions Khabarovsk Territory. The length of the range from north to south is approximately 100 km, from west to east - 600-700 km. In 1969-1970 150 tigers were counted, in 1978 - 200 tigers. Outside Russia, in China and Korea, apparently no more than 100 individuals have survived. There are 844 individuals in zoos around the world (1979).

Polar bear(Ursus maritimus) - the largest representative of the family and the entire order carnivorous mammals(body weight up to 1000 kg). The species' habitat is the circumpolar region, limited by the northern coast of the continents, the southern limit of the distribution of floating ice and the northern border of warm sea currents. Over the past few centuries, the total area and boundaries of the species’ permanent habitat have changed little. The exception is the European sector of the Russian Arctic, where industry has long existed polar bear. There are no longer polar bears on the coasts of the Kola and Kanin peninsulas, Timanskaya, Malozemelskaya and Bolshezemelskaya tundras. It is still regularly found on islands and ice fields of the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas.

In addition to Russia, the polar bear is distributed in the Arctic sectors of Norway, Greenland, Canada and the USA (Alaska). Total number In the early 1970s, there were approximately 20 thousand polar bears, including 5-7 thousand in the Soviet Arctic. At the end of the 70s, the number of the species reached 25 thousand individuals. For conservation purposes, in our country, since 1938, the shooting of bears from ships has been prohibited, and since 1956, hunting has been closed everywhere. On Wrangel Island, in one of the places where mass polar bears breed, a reserve was organized in 1976. In 1975, an international agreement on the protection of polar bears came into force.

Kulan(Equus hemionus) is an odd-toed animal of the equine family, a semi-donkey (Fig. 14, c). Lived in desert regions of Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

Northern sea otter(Enhydra lutrix lutrix) is a medium-sized sea animal (body weight up to 40 kg), one of the subspecies of the only species and genus endemic to the northern part of the Pacific Ocean (Fig. 14, d). Previously found near the reefs and rocks of the Commander Islands and the northeastern coast of Kamchatka. It is believed that before the start of intensive fishing in the 18th century. its total number was 15-20 thousand individuals. They hunted sea otters for their thick, elastic and warm fur. By the end of the 19th century. he was almost exterminated. Preserved in small quantities near the Commander and Aleutian Islands. The ban on sea otter fishing in our country was announced in 1924 with a population of 350 individuals, and currently it is 2.5-3 thousand individuals.

Siberian Crane, or white crane(Grus leucogeranus), - a large bird (body weight from 5 to 8 kg), endemic Russia, an endangered species (Fig. 14, e). Breeds in two separate areas - in the north of Yakutia and in the lower reaches of the Ob. Winters in China, India and Northern Iran. The reduction in numbers is believed to be due to deteriorating conditions in wintering areas (drying out water bodies, reduction in food supply, competition with other species). The total number is catastrophically low - about 250 birds. The Yakut population is relatively stable, while the Ob population continues to decline. Shooting the Siberian Crane on the territory of our country was prohibited. Migrating birds are protected in the Astrakhan Nature Reserve and in the Thana-Bharatpur National Park of India. Several nurseries have been created for raising Siberian Cranes from eggs and then releasing the grown birds into the wild. One of these nurseries exists in Russia (Oka Nature Reserve), two - abroad.

Bustard(Otis tarda) is one of the largest birds of our fauna (body weight 16 kg). Distributed in the lowland and mountain steppes of North-West Africa, Europe and Asia. The main wintering grounds are in Transcaucasia, Northern Iran, Southwestern Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Within the entire range, the number of bustards has been steadily declining since the beginning of this century, but especially sharply since the 50-60s. The number of individuals has decreased tenfold and now amounts to approximately 3 thousand in Russia, the European subspecies O. tarda tarda - 13.3 thousand.

The main reason for the sharp decline in numbers is the widespread deterioration, and in some places, the complete disappearance of suitable biotopes. Plowing of the steppes and grazing of livestock in the few remaining areas of the virgin steppe deprived the bustard of lands suitable for nesting. In Russia, hunting bustards is prohibited. To preserve and restore the numbers of this species, reserves have been created in the Saratov region and Buryatia. In Hungary, Austria, the German Democratic Republic and Poland, there are stations for incubating eggs from abandoned clutches with the subsequent release of reared birds into farmlands.

Little Bustard(Otis tetrax) is a medium-sized bird (body weight 600-950 g) (Fig. 14, f). Distributed in the steppes and semi-deserts of Southern Europe, the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa to the foothills of Altai and Kashgaria. In our country, it is found in the steppe regions of the European part, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia. Winters in North Africa, Western Asia, India, in small quantities in the Crimea, Transcaucasia, Central Asia. Little bustard numbers are declining everywhere.

So, in 1978-1980. There were 4,800 individuals, but over ten years their number fell by 40%. The main reasons for the decline in the number of this species are the same as for the bustard. Hunting for little bustard is prohibited. To preserve its populations, it is necessary to strictly protect nesting sites, areas with high grass that cover nests and incubating birds, and the creation of nature reserves in these areas; Bird wintering areas need protection.

Rare and protected species and subspecies of animals in our country include the muskrat, the Atlantic walrus, the red-footed ibis, the barnacle goose, the red-breasted goose, the scaly merganser, the relict gull, the Tibetan sajja and some others.

In other countries, they protect the Przewalski's horse (Mongolia), the wild Bactrian camel (Mongolia), the Indian rhinoceros (India, Nepal), the giant panda (PRC), the Asiatic lion (India), the koala (Australia), the Californian condor (USA), and the hatteria ( New Zealand) and other animals.

Protection of the most important animal groups

Protection of aquatic invertebrates. Sponges- marine and freshwater animals that lead an attached lifestyle and form colonies in areas with hard rocky soil. The seas and oceans are inhabited by littoral to a depth of 6 thousand m. Their ability to filter water is remarkable. Sponges are captured and used to feed bacteria, unicellular algae, and protozoa; mineral particles are released and settle to the bottom. The great role of sponges in biological treatment water: a freshwater sponge 7 cm long filters 22.5 liters, and a colony of a marine organosilicon sponge with 20 mouth openings filters 1575 liters of water per day.

The number of sponges has recently decreased due to overharvesting (the skeletons of glass sponges are used as decorations, and the tomato sponge is used for medicinal purposes), disruption of bottom biocenoses, and water pollution. To preserve the role of sponges as biofilters, it is necessary to reduce their fishing, use fishing gear that does not cause damage to aquatic ecosystems, and also reduce the entry of various pollutants into water bodies.

Coral polyps- marine colonial organisms. Of particular interest is the order of madrepore corals - the largest group of the coelenterate type. Representatives of this order have a powerful external calcareous skeleton. It is constantly growing, and the skeletons of individual polyps merge into a single monolith, the diameter of which can reach 8-9 m. Madrepore corals form coastal, barrier reefs and horseshoe-shaped islands - atolls. They are inhabited by many animals - polychaetes, mollusks, barnacles, echinoderms, fish. Coral reefs are unique oases of relatively unproductive biocenoses of the ocean.

The prosperity of corals is possible only under certain conditions: with a constant salinity of sea water (3.5%), high temperature (not lower than 20 ° C), good aerial radios and illumination. Pollution sea ​​water, disturbances in lighting and aeration cause the death of coral polyps and promote the reproduction of animals that destroy coral reefs. Thus, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia suffered greatly from the invasion of large starfish(d = 60 cm) called crown of thorns (Acauthaster plansi). It is believed that their mass reproduction is associated with a decrease in the number of the natural crown of thorns - one of the species of gastropod mollusks Charonia tritonis with a beautiful shell, which scuba diving enthusiasts get for souvenirs.

For the population of tropical countries, the vast space occupied by coral reefs is a huge natural lime factory. Tiny polyps extract CaCO e from sea water and deposit it in their bodies. Madrepore corals are widely used by people to build houses, piers, embankments, paving streets, as a raw material for producing high-quality lime, for polishing wooden and metal products, making jewelry, and souvenirs. The economic use of coral reefs must be local and strictly controlled. The destruction of coral islands during testing of atomic and thermonuclear weapons is unacceptable. Strict protection of the unique biocenoses of coral islands is necessary.

Shellfish- a type of marine and freshwater (less often terrestrial) invertebrate animals, which are characterized by a hard calcareous shell covering the body. Distributed in seas, oceans and fresh water bodies. Bivalves feed on plankton, passing a large amount of water with suspended particles through the mantle cavity, sedimenting them, purifying the water and contributing to the accumulation of bottom sediments. Shellfish serve as food for fish, birds and mammals, as well as a delicacy for humans. They catch oysters, mussels, scallops, squid, cuttlefish, and octopus.

There is a fishery for pearl mussels and mother-of-pearl shells. The volume of fishing is increasing: before the Second World War, 5 million quintals were mined per year, in 1962 - 17 million quintals, which amounted to 50% of the production of marine invertebrates, or 4% of all marine products (Akimushkin, 1968). By 1980, the share of shellfish in marine fisheries reached 6%. However, water pollution, disruption of bottom biocenoses (oyster banks) by fishing gear, and overfishing have sharply reduced shellfish stocks. Much attention is paid to the cultivation of mollusks to restore their numbers in natural communities and obtain biological products. Mussels, oysters, and scallops are successfully farmed in Japan, Spain, France, Holland and some other countries. There is experience in breeding shellfish in Russia.

Crustaceans different by lifestyle, body shape and size (from fractions of a millimeter to 80 cm). Representatives of this class are very numerous: marine plankton at different latitudes and depths it consists mainly (up to 90% by weight) of crustaceans; their share is also large in fresh water plankton.

Crustaceans play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. Organic matter in water bodies is created mainly by unicellular microscopic algae. The crustaceans that feed on them are, in turn, eaten by fish. Thus, they act as intermediaries, making organic matter created by algae accessible to fish. In addition, crustaceans use dead animals as food, ensuring the cleanliness of the reservoir.

The existence of many marine and freshwater fish largely depends on crustaceans. Some fish (for example, herring) feed on them all their lives, others use them after hatching and then move on to other food. Some crustaceans are bred to feed fish fry. For the largest mammals - baleen whales - crustaceans serve as the main food. Humans use representatives of the class of crustaceans for food. Fishing for shrimp, crabs, lobsters, lobsters and some other species has been developed.

Thanks to its large size and good taste qualities Representatives of the order of decapods are of greatest commercial importance. In 1962, about 1 million tons of crustaceans (shrimp, crabs, lobsters, lobsters) were caught worldwide. Their fishing [is developed in China, the USA, India, Japan. In Russia, Kamchatka crab is fished, the stocks of which have been undermined by intensive fishing and, without special measures to limit it, cannot be restored due to slow growth and reproduction.

Thus, for the majority of commercial and those marine invertebrates whose numbers are declining, protection, rational use (regulation of catch rates, acclimatization, captive breeding) and control of water pollution are necessary.

Pollinating insects. About 80% of all flowering plants are pollinated by insects. The absence of pollinating insects changes the appearance of vegetation. In addition to the honey bee, the income from pollinating plants is 10-12 times higher than the income from honey and wax, pollen is carried by 20 thousand species of wild bees (of which 300 are in central Russia and 120 in Central Asia). Bumblebees, flies, butterflies, and beetles take part in pollination.

Unfortunately, environmental pollution and other anthropogenic factors have recently sharply reduced the number of pollinating insects. Near large industrial centers it has become relatively difficult to find even common pollinators. The protection of pollinating insects is the most important measure for increasing the productivity of crops and preserving the diversity of wild plants. It is necessary to strictly dose pesticides and use them only to suppress the mass reproduction of pests. Plants on which pollinating insects develop should be preserved.

Entomophagous insects, destroying pests, are extremely diverse. In Russian agriculture, 11 types of entomophages are used against 20 types of plant pests.

To protect them from destruction, anthills are covered with caps made of mesh, fenced, and covered with spruce branches. Sometimes ants are artificially dispersed.

Great benefit in exterminating agricultural and pest pests forest plants bring different types ground beetles, lacewings, ladybugs and etc.

Nurse insects belong to the family of beetles and Diptera. These are numerous and widespread groups of carrion beetles, dung beetles, calorie beetles and flies, numbering thousands of species

From the family of carrion beetles, a group of burying beetles can be distinguished. The black gravedigger (Necrophorus humator) forages for carrion in groups. These beetles can perceive the smell of carrion from several hundred meters away. They bury the corpses of small animals (rodents, birds) in the ground, and the females lay eggs there, from which larvae hatch that feed on carrion. The larvae of dung beetles and dung beetles feed on dung, which is dragged into burrows and earthen passages by adult beetles before laying eggs.

The number of this beneficial group of insects has sharply declined due to excessive and improper use of pesticides. To restore it, it is necessary to reduce the use of chemicals and more often resort to biological control methods.

Fish conservation. IN protein nutrition of humans, fish ranges from: 17 to 83%. World fish catches are rapidly increasing due to the development of the edge of the continental shelf and the depths of the open sea, where up to 85% of fish are now caught, as well as due to the use of new species. The permissible annual removal of fish from the World Ocean is estimated at 80-100 million tons, of which more than 70% is currently caught. In inland waters of most countries, including Russia, fish catch has reached its limit, stabilized or began to decline.

Over the past decades, stocks of the most valuable commercial fish (sturgeon, salmon, and small fish) have declined sharply. Among the many factors influencing the decrease in fish stocks, and therefore the catch, the following are of greatest importance.

Overfishing- a phenomenon common in many marine and inland waters. At the same time, young fish that have not reached sexual maturity are caught, which reduces the population size and can lead to the extinction of the species. Combating overfishing is the most important task of fisheries, protection and rational use of fish resources.

Pollution of marine and freshwater bodies of water with various substances has become widespread and on an ever-increasing scale. Pollution with industrial wastewater containing salts of heavy metals, synthetic detergents, etc. is especially dangerous for fish. radioactive waste and oil. In recent years, great work on cleaning Wastewater. Emergency measures have been developed for emergency oil spills. However, these measures are clearly not enough or they are applied too late, when pollution reaches catastrophic proportions.

Hydraulic structures. Dams block access of migratory fish to spawning grounds, disrupting natural reproduction. To eliminate this adverse effect, the most reliable measure is the construction of special fish hatcheries in the lower reaches. Here, fish that approach the dam are used for artificial insemination and breeding of fry, with their subsequent release into the rivers.

Fluctuations in water levels in reservoirs, sometimes reaching 8 m, have a negative impact on the state of fish stocks. Dams retain nutrients that serve as the basis for the development of phytoplankton and other organisms, thereby reducing food supplies for fish.

The reduction in the volume of fresh river water entering the seas increases the level of their salinity in the pre-estuarine areas and negatively affects the fish living here.

Shallowing of rivers reduces fish stocks. It is the result of deforestation of banks and watersheds, as well as the diversion of water for irrigation. Measures have been developed to increase water levels in rivers and inland seas, which has great value for fishing, agriculture, climate mitigation, etc.

A drastic measure to increase the water level in reservoirs is the afforestation of river banks, which requires constant care and a long time.

The most important measures for the protection of freshwater fish include the protection of spawning grounds, wintering pits, and the fight against winter death. To increase the biological productivity of reservoirs, work is being done to acclimatize fish, invertebrate animals and plants that serve as their food.

Particular attention is paid to the protection and reproduction of fish stocks in inland waters. Every year, millions of juveniles of valuable fish species, including sturgeon, are released into rivers and lakes. It is necessary to continue to build fish breeding facilities and effective fish protection devices at water intakes and dams.

Protection of amphibians and reptiles. These two groups of animals include a small number of species ( amphibians- 4500, reptiles- 7000), but are important in natural biocenoses. Amphibians are carnivores; among reptiles there are also herbivorous species.

Amphibians, feeding on insects and other invertebrates, regulate their numbers and themselves serve as food for reptiles, birds and mammals. The importance of amphibians for humans is due to the fact that some of them are consumed as food (giant salamander, pond salam, edible salam, Chinese salam, bullfrog, etc.), and are widely used in laboratories for biological experiments. According to incomplete data, 1 million individuals per year are caught for this purpose in our country. India exported 25 million frogs in 1970, and Italy exported 47 million frogs in three years (1968-1970). High cost of frogs (about 20% more expensive the best varieties fish) has led to their overfishing in many countries. In the USA, their numbers fell by 50%, and the populations of pond and lake frogs in Italy, France, Romania, and Bulgaria sharply decreased.

Considering the great practical importance and role of amphibians in the biological control of the number of pests of forest and agricultural plants, measures have been taken in many countries to protect them. Decrees have been issued prohibiting the capture and destruction of amphibians. During the period of migration of frogs to spawning ponds, special signs are posted near the highway, requiring drivers to be careful; driving on these roads at night is prohibited. From economic use and pollution are protected by the spawning grounds of amphibians. To the Red Book IUCN European proteus, giant salamander, etc. are included. If previously 4 species of amphibians were listed in the Red Book of Russia (1983), now there are 8 (1999).

Reptiles, no less than other groups of animals, suffer from overfishing. Great damage was caused to the populations of crocodiles, turtles, monitor lizards and some snakes. Turtles and their eggs are used as food in many tropical countries. On the Amazon and Orinoco islands (South America), 48 million arrau turtle eggs are harvested annually; soft-skinned turtles are eaten in Japan and China. Due to overfishing, the number of green (soup) fish has catastrophically decreased and is on the verge of destruction. sea ​​turtle and bissa.

Reptiles suffer greatly during anthropogenic transformations of natural landscapes. To preserve “living fossils”: hatteria, elephant tortoise, giant Komodo dragon, reserves have been created, strictly protected areas on small islands off

New Zealand, the Galapagos and the islands of Komodo and Flores. In Costa Rica, a nursery has been established for breeding and raising green turtles in artificial nests and then releasing them into the sea. On the Zapata Peninsula (Republic of Cuba) there is a nursery for breeding Cuban crocodile. The creation of the IUCN Red Book, the Red Book of Russia and the red books of some other countries was important for the protection of reptiles.

Snakes are beginning to disappear at an ever-increasing rate. They suffer from the draining of swamps, changes in vegetation cover, and the widespread use of pesticides that destroy small animals that snakes feed on. Snakes are caught for venom used in medicine. Serpentariums (nurseries) have been created in which snakes are kept (but not bred) to repeatedly obtain venom from them. Naturally, the systematic capture of snakes causes significant damage to their natural populations. To protect snakes in most European countries It is prohibited to catch them without special permits. The Red Book of Russia, published in 1983, includes 11 species of reptiles, including 6 species of snakes; currently (1999) there are 21 species, including 13 species of snakes.

Protection and attraction of birds. In addition to poultry farming and fishing, the importance of birds in the national economy is the extermination of forest and Agriculture. Most birds are insectivores and insectivores-herbivores. During the nesting season they feed the chicks mass species insects, including many pests of cultivated and forest plants. To combat insect pests, birds are attracted by hanging feeders and artificial nesting boxes, which are most often used by hollow nesters - tits, flycatchers, redstarts, wagtails.

Birds of prey are of great interest for pest control in agriculture. Previously, they were exterminated, considering them competitors of humans in the hunting industry. Later, when the true role of birds of prey in regulating the number of prey in biocenoses was clarified, they were placed under protection and shooting was prohibited. They try to disturb the birds less, protect their nests, make artificial nests and perches. Positive results are obtained from the experience of breeding in captivity and releasing into the wild individuals of species that are on the verge of extinction. However, the restoration of the number of birds of prey is slow.

The use of pesticides (DCT, hexachlorane, etc.) in agriculture and forestry caused great harm to birds of prey. Their concentration is greatest in the body of birds of prey occupying the upper trophic levels, which negatively affected their reproduction. Direct and indirect impacts from humans are detrimental to many species of birds of prey. The Red Book of Russia (1983) included 20 species of birds of prey, in 1999 - 25.

The most ancient way of using birds by humans is hunting. Commercial and amateur hunting with birds of prey - falcons, hawks, eagles - was widely practiced. Still hunting with birds of prey has not lost its importance in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and some European countries.

Birds are the object of commercial hunting, which occupies an important place in the economy of many countries. As a result of overhunting, a sharp reduction in hunting grounds, environmental pollution, and the use of pesticides, the reserves of game birds have been greatly reduced and continue to decline.

In our country, measures are being taken to protect game birds: establishing deadlines and standards for shooting, banning hunting of rare species and predatory methods of hunting, combating poaching, implementing biotechnical measures aimed at increasing the capacity of land, increasing the density of the bird population, protecting nests from ruin, etc. To increase the reserves of game birds, in addition to reserves, reserves are organized where hunting is prohibited for several years, hunting farms are created in which hunting is regulated in accordance with the number and the possibility of restoration of commercial species.

Some species are promising for captive breeding. Pheasants are successfully bred gray partridges, quails, mallards and release them into hunting grounds. Hunting farms and pheasant farms in Poland raise up to 100 thousand pheasants per year, of which 50 thousand per year are released into hunting grounds. In the Krakow Voivodeship alone, about 300 hunting farms are engaged in game breeding. In France, about 2 thousand hunting farms raise game. In just one year (1968) they supplied about 2 million pheasant eggs and chicks, over 1 million partridge eggs and chicks, 1.6 million quail and 1 million duck eggs. These farms release 2.5 million pheasants and 0.4 million partridges into hunting grounds per year.

Mammal conservation. Representatives of the class of mammals, or animals, play an important role in biocenoses and serve as an object of fishing. Breeding ungulates is the basis of animal husbandry; rodents and carnivores are used in fur farming. The most important terrestrial mammals for fishing are rodents, lagomorphs, and carnivores, and aquatic ones are cetaceans and seals.

Considering that no more than 15% of the land area is used for agriculture, the relevance of finding ways to exploit the phytomass of non-agricultural lands through game animals is obvious.

The most important measure for the protection of game animals is strict compliance with hunting laws, which stipulate the timing and methods of obtaining them. Hunting is regulated by the Regulations on Hunting and Game Management. It indicates the species of animals and birds the hunting of which is prohibited or permitted under licenses. It is prohibited to hunt animals in nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and green areas of cities. Mass hunting of animals, hunting from cars, airplanes, motor boats, destruction of burrows, lairs, nests is not permitted. Standards for shooting or catching have been established for each species of animal. Violation of laws and hunting rules is considered poaching and entails administrative, financial and criminal liability.

All of these measures are aimed at the protection and rational use of mammals. Recently, more attention has been paid to the protection of wild animals.

On the territory of Russia there are 245 species of mammals, of which 65 species were included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation in 1983, in 1999 this number did not change (together with protected subspecies - 89).

Legal protection of wildlife

The protection and rational use of wild animals are determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, regulations and other legislative acts. The most significant of them are considered to be the laws of the Russian Federation “On the Protection of the Natural Environment” (1992) and “On the Animal World” (1995). According to the latest law “ animal world is the property of the peoples of the Russian Federation, an integral element of the natural environment and biological diversity of the Earth, a renewable natural resource, an important regulating and stabilizing component of the biosphere, fully protected and rationally used to meet the spiritual and material needs of citizens of the Russian Federation "

This law provides for the procedure for the use of game animals, monitoring of wild animal populations, measures for the protection and restoration of rare and endangered species.

The legal norms of fisheries in Russia are determined by the Regulations on the protection of fish stocks and on the regulation of fish farming in water bodies of the USSR, approved by the Council of Ministers of the USSR in 1958, and by the “Fisheries Rules” published for each republic and basin. They prohibit fishing with explosives, firearms, toxic substances, prisons, nets, fishing at dams and locks. The rules determine the timing and areas of commercial fishing, and the size of the meshes in the nets.

In the system of animal protection measures, one of the central places is given to maintaining the Red Book Russian Federation and the Red Data Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation as the most important element promoting the conservation of biodiversity.

In accordance with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation “On the Red Book of the Russian Federation” (1996), it is maintained by the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection (included in the Ministry of Natural Resources since the summer of 2000) with the participation of federal bodies of the natural resource block and RAS. The procedure for maintaining it is regulated by the Regulations on the procedure for maintaining the Red Book of the Russian Federation, approved by the State Committee for Ecology of Russia (October 1997) and registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia (December 1997).

As of November 1, 1997, 415 species of animals were included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (including 155 species of invertebrates, 4 cyclostomes, 39 fish, 8 amphibians, 21 reptiles, 123 birds and 65 mammal species ). Compared to the previous Red Book of Russia (1983), the number of animal species has increased by 1.6 times. At the same time, 38 species of animals were excluded from the new Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, the state of their populations, thanks to the protection measures taken, currently does not cause concern.

At the end of 1997, red books were created in 18 subjects of the Russian Federation, and lists of rare and endangered species of animals and plants were compiled and approved in 39 subjects of the Federation.

Control questions

1. What role do animals play in the cycle of substances in nature and what significance do they have for humans?

2. What is the direct and indirect impact of humans on animals?

3. What species of animals have become extinct over historically documented time and what are the reasons for their extinction?

4. What is the essence of the rational use and protection of game animals?

5. What is the rational use and protection of fish resources?

6. Name rare species animals listed in the IUCN Red List.

7. How are rare and endangered animals protected in our country? How are aquatic invertebrates protected?

8. What measures are used to protect beneficial insects?

9. What is the difficulty of protecting amphibians and reptiles?

10. How are insectivorous and birds of prey protected and attracted?

11. What measures are used to protect rare and endangered mammals?

Full title of the work topic
Direction	My small homeland
	Pavlov Mikhail Vladimirovich
Name of educational institution	Municipal budgetary educational institution "Average comprehensive school No. 14 Nazarovo Krasnoyarsk Territory»
Class	5 "B" class
Supervisor	Tyuleneva Svetlana Mikhailovna, biology teacher, Secondary School 14,

Relevance: Every day human economic activity is expanding. It includes more and more natural areas, and it often happens that only specially protected areas remain the last refuge for certain species of plants and animals whose lives are in danger. This is the Arga nature reserve, part of which is located on the territory of our Nazarovsky district.

Problematic question:How to preserve rare species of plants and animals in our region?

Methods: study of sources, questioning.

I conducted a survey among students of grade 5 “B” (21 students in total) in order to identify the opinions of classmates on this issue.

Hypothesis: If a reserve was created on the territory of the Nazarovsky district, then it is of great importance for the habitat and conservation of rare representatives of flora and fauna.

Target: Study of biodiversity and identification of rare species of plants and animals in the reserve.

Tasks:

• identify the purpose of creating the reserve;

• study its species composition;
• show the need for the existence of a protected area;
• find out what nature conservation measures are being implemented in the reserve.

Introduction

The state complex reserve "Arga" is a specially protected natural area of ​​regional significance. Date of creation: October 25, 1963. Located on the territory of the Achinsky, Bogotolsky and Nazarovsky districts, it includes the mountain range of the Arga ridge and a section of the floodplain of the river. Chulym. The total area is 89,885.0 hectares, including 489.3 hectares in the Nazarovsky district.

It was organized with the aim of protecting and reproducing game species, preserving and restoring the numbers of rare and endangered species of animals and birds valuable in economic, scientific and aesthetic terms, as well as protecting their habitats.

Species diversity

The flora and fauna of Argi is rich. 466 plant species from 76 families have been recorded here. The predominant families are cereals, sedges, rosaceae, asteraceae, legumes, umbelliferae, and borage.

Currently, 13 typical species of animals live on the territory of the reserve: elk, red deer, roe deer, fox, beaver, squirrel, hare, hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillie, mallard, teal, pintail.

Average number of characteristic representatives of the animal world, dynamics trends (for the period 2001-2012)
	view	individuals
Waterfowl	mallard
	teal
	pintail
	Shoveler
Upland game	capercaillie
	black grouse	2204
	grouse	2308
Ungulates	Siberian roe deer
	maral
	musk deer
	elk
	wild boar
	reindeer
Predatory	bear
	wolf	0,42
	fox
	sable
	ermine
Other characteristic species	white hare
	brown hare	0,92
	squirrel

Protected species

On the territory of the reserve live and are taken under protection (Regulations on the state complex reserve of regional significance “Arga” dated January 19, 2007):

1. rare and endangered species of animals listed in the Red Book of the Krasnoyarsk Territory:

• birds: white-tailed eagle, demoiselle crane, peregrine falcon, osprey, black stork, eagle owl, gray crane, curlew, godwit or marsh sandpiper, moorhen or marsh hen,
• bats: water bat, Siberian tubebill,
• fish: sterlet, sturgeon; lenok;

1. species of animals that need special attention to their condition on the territory of the Krasnoyarsk Territory: maral, Siberian roe deer; lynx, nelma; average curlew;
2. hunting species:elk, sable, Brown bear, badger, weasel, American mink, Eastern European beaver, capercaillie, black grouse;
3. rare and endangered plant species:

lady's slipper true, lady's slipper grandiflora, brunnera sibirica, lobaria pulmonata, foliage splendor, curly sparassis, incised violet, orchis capulata, feather feather grass, Ledebour's gill, Jonah's astragalus, spotted lady's slipper, winter's napkin, woolly larkspur.

The ridge itself is a unique landscape complex of island forests among the surrounding forest-steppe and is also under protection as a habitat for fauna.

“Arga” is a storehouse of medicinal raw materials. Here you can find birch and pine buds, chaga, bracken, rose hips, common blueberries, lingonberries, burnet, oregano, and sweet clover.

Special protection regime reserve

• management of hunting and hunting;
• clear and selective felling of forest plantations for timber harvesting;
• mining;
• carrying out blasting operations;
• timber rafting;
• mass gathering medicinal plants, with the exception of the procurement and collection by citizens of these resources for their own needs;
• burning grass;
• industrial fishing;
• washing any Vehicle within the coastal protective strip of water bodies;
• clogging with household, construction, industrial and other waste and debris;
• travel and parking of vehicles off public roads, etc.

Permitted types of activities and environmental management:

• economic activity not prohibited on the territory of the reserve;
• construction, reconstruction, major renovation objects on the territory of the reserve can be carried out on projects that have received positive conclusions from state examinations in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;
• use of animal objects for scientific purposes;
• conservation, protection and reproduction of forests;
• sanitary and health measures on the territory of the reserve;
• selective felling of forest plantations;
• permitted types of fishing;
• rest of citizens in compliance with fire safety rules in forests and more.

Negative Impact to the reserve.

Despite the prohibitions, poaching of coniferous trees (mainly pine trees), plowing of land and grazing of livestock, collection of plants and fishing, including with nets, take place on the territory of the Arga reserve. Illegal hunting of animals has led to a strong reduction in the number of game species. Fires often (especially in spring) occur. Currently, the indigenous vegetation is severely damaged by logging and fires. The smoke components of the Achinsk Alumina Refinery and Nazarovo State District Power Plant (sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides) have a weak negative impact. The construction of power lines and other facilities on the territory of the reserve significantly disrupts the habitat of animals and plants.
Our offers

To improve the functioning of the reserve, it is necessary to stop deforestation, grazing, ban fishing, and strengthen the fight against poaching and stray dogs.

conclusions

Our hypothesis was confirmed: the Arga reserve is of great importance for the habitat and conservation of rare representatives of flora and fauna. Thanks to him, many species of useful, valuable and beautiful plants and animals are preserved and reproduced in our region.

Information sources:

• Consolidated list of specially protected natural areas of the Russian Federation (reference book). Part II.
  Potapova N.A., Nazyrova R.I., Zabelina N.M., Isaeva-Petrova L.S., Korotkov V.N., Ochagov D.M.
  M.: All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Nature (2006): 364
• Atlas of specially protected natural areas of the Siberian Federal District
  Kalikhman T.P., Bogdanov V.N., Ogorodnikova L.Yu.
  Irkutsk, Ottisk Publishing House (2012) : 384
• State cadastre of specially protected natural areas
• http://zakon.krskstate.ru/doc/5311

The main task of protecting rare and endangered species is to achieve such increasing their numbers, which would eliminate the danger of their extinction.

Rare and endangered species of animals (as well as plants) are included in the Red Books. The inclusion of a species in the Red Book is a signal of the danger that threatens it and the need to take urgent measures to save it. Each country in whose territory a species included in the Red Book lives is responsible to its people and all humanity for its conservation.

In our country, to preserve rare and endangered species, reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are organized; animals are resettled in areas of their former distribution, fed, shelters and artificial nesting sites are created, and protected from predators and diseases. When numbers are very low, animals are bred in captivity (in nurseries and zoos) and then released into suitable conditions.

Protection and restoration of the number of game animals

The preservation and restoration of the number of game animals is of particular importance. As you know, the value of game animals lies in the fact that they live off natural food, which is inaccessible or unsuitable for domestic animals; they do not need special care. From game animals people receive meat, furs, leather, raw materials for the perfume industry and medicines. For some peoples of the North, hunting wild animals is the basis of their existence.

Among game animals, fish, birds and animals are of greatest importance. Centuries of ever-increasing mining, as well as changes in their habitat, led in the first half of this century to a sharp reduction in their reserves. Of the mammals, the reserves of ungulates, fur and sea ​​animals. There was even an opinion that they could only be preserved in nature reserves. However, the successful restoration of the numbers of some species - elk, beaver, sable - made it possible to once again include them in the number of game animals.

Among game birds, waterfowl, vultures and bustards have suffered especially severely due to human fault. The number of geese, swans, and geese has decreased significantly. The red-breasted goose, little swan, white and mountain geese, Caucasian grouse, bustard and many other species are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (see the corresponding section Examples and additional information).

Security system protection of wild animals consists, on the one hand, of measures to protect the animals themselves from direct extermination or death from natural disasters, and, on the other hand, of measures to preserve their habitat. The protection of the animals themselves is carried out by hunting laws. They provide for a complete ban on hunting rare species and restrictions on the timing, norms, places and methods of hunting other commercial species.

Rational use reserves of game animals does not contradict their protection if it is based on knowledge of their biology.

It is known that in populations In animals, there is a certain reserve of non-reproducing individuals; they are able to increase fertility with low numbers and abundance of food. It is possible to achieve the well-being of game animal populations by maintaining a certain ratio of sex and age groups and regulating the number of predatory animals.

The protection of hunting grounds is based on knowledge of the habitat conditions necessary for the life of commercial species, the availability of shelters, suitable places for nesting, and the abundance of food. Often the optimal places for species to exist are nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

Reacclimatization of the species - This is its artificial resettlement in areas of its former distribution. It is often successful, since in this case the species takes its former position. ecological niche . Acclimatization new species require extensive preliminary preparation, including forecasting their impact on the local fauna and possible role in biocenoses . Experience acclimatization indicates many failures. The importation of 24 rabbits to Australia in 1859, which decades later gave rise to multimillion-dollar offspring, led to a national disaster. The multiplied rabbits began to compete for food with local animals. By settling in pastures and destroying vegetation, they caused enormous damage to sheep farming. Fighting rabbits required enormous effort and a long time. There are many such examples. Therefore, the relocation of each species should be preceded by a thorough study of the possible consequences of introducing the species into a new territory based on environmental assessment and forecast.

Timely measures taken make it possible to successfully maintain the required number of game animals and use them for a long time.

Depletion and pollution water resources Fresh waters make up an insignificant (about 2% of the hydrosphere) share of the total water reserves in nature. Fresh water available for use is found in rivers, lakes and groundwater. Its share of the entire hydrosphere is 0.3%. Freshwater resources are distributed extremely unevenly; often the abundance of water does not coincide with areas of high economic activity. In this regard, the problem of shortage and depletion of water resources and especially fresh water arises. It is aggravated by the ever-increasing volumes of its use. The problem of depletion of water resources arises for several reasons, the main of which are: uneven distribution of water in time and space, the increase in its consumption by mankind, water losses during transportation and use, deterioration of water quality and, as an extreme case, its pollution (rice). Main causes of pollution and anthropogenic freshwater depletion. The growth in fresh water consumption by the population on the planet is estimated at 0.5 - 2% per year. At the beginning of the 21st century, the total water withdrawal reached a volume of 12-24 thousand km3. Fresh water losses increase with the growth of per capita consumption and are associated with the use of water for domestic needs. Most often this is due to imperfect technology in industrial, agricultural production and public services. In some cases, lack of fresh water is associated with negative consequences of human activities Water losses and depletion of water resources are largely due to lack of knowledge natural conditions(geological-lithological and hydrogeological, climatic and meteorological, biological), internal patterns and mechanisms of ecosystem development. The deterioration of water quality and pollution is associated with the ingress of pollutants and products of human activity into rivers and other surface water bodies. This type of freshwater depletion is the most dangerous and is becoming increasingly threatening to human health and the state of life on Earth. Its extreme manifestation is catastrophic water pollution. Natural changes, including deterioration of water quality associated with contact with water and the transfer of various substances, occur constantly. They are cyclical, less often spontaneous, in nature: they occur during volcanic eruptions, earthquakes (rice), tsunamis, floods and other catastrophic phenomena. Under anthropogenic conditions, such changes in the state of water have unidirectional character. Recently, pollution of sea waters and the World Ocean as a whole (background pollution) has caused great concern. The main sources of their pollution are domestic and industrial wastewater (60% of large cities are located in coastal areas), oil and oil products, and radioactive substances. Of particular danger are oil pollution (rice) And radioactive substances. Enterprises in coastal cities throw thousands of tons of various, usually untreated, waste into the sea, including sewage. Polluted river waters are carried into the seas. Water pollution causes the death of marine animals: crustaceans and fish, waterfowl, and seals. There are known cases of death of about 30 thousand sea ducks, mass death of starfish in the early 1990s in the White Sea. There are frequent cases of beach closures due to dangerous concentrations of pollutants in sea water caused by numerous accidents of ships transporting oil and petroleum products. Unauthorized or emergency discharges of industrial and household waste are very dangerous for the environment (Black Sea in the Odessa region, 1999; Tisa river, Romania, 2000; Amur river, Khabarovsk, 2000). As a result of such accidents, river waters are rapidly polluted downstream. Contaminated sewage water can enter water intake structures. The degree of seawater pollution largely depends on the attitude of the states bordering the seas and oceans to this problem. All internal and marginal seas of Russia are experiencing powerful anthropogenic pressure, including numerous planned and emergency discharges of pollutants. The level of pollution of the Russian seas (with the exception of the White Sea), submitted to the State Report “On the State of the Environment of the Russian Federation”, in 1998 exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) for the content of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, mercury, phenols, surfactants ) on average 3-5 times

Contemporary water issues The problems of clean water and the protection of aquatic ecosystems are becoming more acute with the historical development of society, and the impact on nature caused by scientific and technological progress is rapidly increasing. Already in many areas globe There are great difficulties in ensuring water supply and water use as a result of qualitative and quantitative depletion of water resources, which is associated with pollution and irrational use of water. Water pollution mainly occurs due to the discharge of industrial, household and agricultural waste into it. In some reservoirs, the pollution is so great that they have completely degraded as sources of water supply. A small amount of pollution cannot cause a significant deterioration in the condition of the reservoir, since it has the ability of biological purification, but the problem is that, as a rule, the amount of pollutants discharged into the water is very large and the reservoir cannot cope with their neutralization. Water supply and water use are often complicated by biological obstacles: overgrowing of canals reduces their throughput, algae blooms worsen water quality and its sanitary condition, fouling creates interference in navigation and the functioning of hydraulic structures. Therefore, the development of measures with biological interference acquires great practical importance and becomes one of the most important problems of hydrobiology. Due to the disruption of the ecological balance in water bodies, a serious threat of significant deterioration of the environmental situation as a whole is created. Therefore, humanity faces the enormous task of protecting the hydrosphere and maintaining biological balance in the biosphere. The problem of ocean pollution Oil and petroleum products are the most common pollutants in the World Ocean. By the beginning of the 80s, about 6 million tons of oil entered the ocean annually, which accounted for 0.23% of world production. The greatest oil losses are associated with its transportation from production areas. Emergency situations involving tankers draining washing and ballast water overboard - all this causes the presence of permanent fields of pollution along sea routes. In the period 1962-79, as a result of accidents, about 2 million tons of oil entered the marine environment. Over the past 30 years, since 1964, about 2,000 wells have been drilled in the World Ocean, of which 1,000 and 350 industrial wells have been equipped in the North Sea alone. Due to minor leaks, 0.1 million tons of oil are lost annually. Large masses of oil enter the seas through rivers, domestic wastewater and storm drains. The volume of pollution from this source is 2.0 million tons/year. Every year 0.5 million tons of oil enters with industrial waste. Getting into marine environment, oil first spreads in the form of a film, forming layers of varying thickness. The oil film changes the composition of the spectrum and the intensity of light penetration into water. The light transmittance of thin films of crude oil is 1-10% (280 nm), 60-70% (400 nm). A film with a thickness of 30-40 microns completely absorbs infrared radiation. When mixed with water, oil forms two types of emulsion: direct - “oil in water” - and reverse - “water in oil”. When volatile fractions are removed, oil forms viscous inverse emulsions that can remain on the surface, be transported by the current, washed ashore and settle to the bottom. Pesticides. Pesticides constitute a group of artificially created substances used to control plant pests and diseases. It has been established that pesticides, while destroying pests, cause harm to many beneficial organisms and undermine the health of biocenoses. In agriculture, there has long been a problem of transition from chemical (polluting) to biological (environmentally friendly) methods of pest control. Industrial production of pesticides is accompanied by the emergence of a large number of by-products that pollute wastewater. Heavy metals. Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, arsenic) are common and highly toxic pollutants. They are widely used in various industrial processes, therefore, despite treatment measures, the content of heavy metal compounds in industrial wastewater is quite high. Large masses of these compounds enter the ocean through the atmosphere. For marine biocenoses, the most dangerous are mercury, lead and cadmium. Mercury is transported to the ocean by continental runoff and through the atmosphere. During the weathering of sedimentary and igneous rocks, 3.5 thousand tons of mercury are released annually. Atmospheric dust contains about 12 thousand tons of mercury, a significant part of which is of anthropogenic origin. About half of the annual industrial production of this metal (910 thousand tons/year) ends up in the ocean in various ways. In areas polluted by industrial waters, the concentration of mercury in solution and suspended matter increases greatly. Contamination of seafood has repeatedly led to mercury poisoning of coastal populations. Lead is a typical trace element found in all components of the environment: rocks, soils, natural waters, atmosphere, living organisms. Finally, lead is actively dissipated into environment in the process of human economic activity. These are emissions from industrial and domestic wastewater, from smoke and dust from industrial enterprises, and from exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. Thermal pollution. Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater by power plants and some industrial production. The discharge of heated water in many cases causes an increase in water temperature in reservoirs by 6-8 degrees Celsius. The area of ​​heated water spots in coastal areas can reach 30 square meters. km. More stable temperature stratification prevents water exchange between the surface and bottom layers. The solubility of oxygen decreases, and its consumption increases, since with increasing temperature the activity of aerobic bacteria decomposing organic matter increases. The species diversity of phytoplankton and the entire algal flora is increasing. Freshwater pollution The water cycle, this long path of its movement, consists of several stages: evaporation, cloud formation, rainfall, runoff into streams and rivers and evaporation again. Along its entire path, water itself is capable of purifying itself from contaminants that enter it - products of decay of organic substances, dissolved gases and minerals, suspended solids. In places where there are large concentrations of people and animals, natural clean water is usually not enough, especially if it is used to collect sewage and transport it away from settlements. If not much sewage enters the soil, soil organisms process it, reusing nutrients, and clean water seeps into neighboring watercourses. But if sewage gets directly into the water, it rots, and oxygen is consumed to oxidize it. A so-called biochemical demand for oxygen is created. The higher this need, the less oxygen remains in the water for living microorganisms, especially fish and algae. Sometimes, due to lack of oxygen, all living things die. The water becomes biologically dead; only anaerobic bacteria remain; They thrive without oxygen and, in the process of their life, emit hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous gas with a specific smell of rotten eggs. The already lifeless water acquires a putrid odor and becomes completely unsuitable for humans and animals. This can also happen when there is an excess of substances such as nitrates and phosphates in the water; they enter water from agricultural fertilizers in fields or from wastewater contaminated with detergents. These nutrients stimulate the growth of algae, the algae begin to consume a lot of oxygen, and when it becomes insufficient, they die. Under natural conditions, the lake exists for about 20 thousand years before it silts up and disappears. Excess nutrients accelerate the aging process and reduce the lifespan of the lake. IN warm water Oxygen is less soluble than in cold water. Some plants, especially power plants, consume huge amounts of water for cooling. The heated water is released back into the rivers and further disrupts the biological balance of the water system. Low oxygen content hinders the development of some living species and gives an advantage to others. But these new, heat-loving species also suffer greatly as soon as the water heating stops. Organic waste, nutrients and heat become an obstacle to the normal development of freshwater ecological systems only when they overload these systems. But in last years Ecological systems have been bombarded with huge amounts of completely alien substances from which they have no protection. Pesticides used in agriculture, metals and chemicals from industrial wastewater have managed to penetrate into food chain aquatic environment, which can have unpredictable consequences. Species at the beginning of the food chain can accumulate these substances in dangerous concentrations and become even more vulnerable to others. harmful effects. Polluted water can be purified. Under favorable conditions, this occurs naturally through the natural water cycle. But polluted basins - rivers, lakes, etc. - require much more time to recover. In order for natural systems to recover, it is necessary, first of all, to stop the further flow of waste into rivers. Industrial emissions not only clog, but also poison wastewater. Despite everything, some urban households and industrial enterprises still prefer to dump waste into neighboring rivers and are very reluctant to give up this only when the water becomes completely unusable or even dangerous. In its endless circulation, water either captures and transports many dissolved or suspended substances, or is cleared of them. Many of the impurities in water are natural and get there through rain or groundwater. Some of the pollutants associated with human activities follow the same path. Smoke, ash and industrial gases settle to the ground along with rain; chemical compounds and sewage added to the soil with fertilizers enter rivers with groundwater. Some waste follows artificially created paths - drainage ditches and sewer pipes. These substances are usually more toxic, but their release is easier to control than those carried through the natural water cycle. Global water consumption for economic and domestic needs is approximately 9% of total river flow. Therefore, it is not the direct water consumption of hydro resources that causes a shortage of fresh water in certain regions of the globe, but their qualitative depletion. Over the past decades, an increasingly significant part of the freshwater cycle has come to consist of industrial and municipal wastewater. About 600-700 cubic meters are consumed for industrial and domestic needs. km of water per year. Of this volume, 130-150 cubic meters are irrevocably consumed. km, and about 500 cubic meters. km of waste, so-called wastewater, is discharged into rivers, lakes and seas.

A lot depends on the presence or absence of plants on planet Earth. A person can live without food for up to forty days, without water - up to three days, but without air - only a few minutes. But it is plants that supply such an essential component as oxygen. Without the participation of plants, there would not be an existing atmosphere in the form in which it exists now. And, consequently, many air-breathing living organisms would not exist. Including humans.

Reasons for disappearance

Scientists warn that in the very near future, at least forty thousand species of tropical plants and approximately eight thousand species from temperate regions may disappear from the face of the Earth. The numbers impress (or should impress) each of us. This is why plant protection is necessary!

The main reasons have long been known. This is in the tropics, grazing of numerous livestock, the use of chemicals that affect the ecosystem, the destruction of natural insect pollinators, excessive harvesting medicinal herbs on an industrial scale. And if we summarize all of the above, then the destructive and sometimes thoughtless activities of man as a species living on the planet.

Ethical nature of the problem

The necessary protection of plants has a mainly ethical and moral aspect. After all, there is still no serious scientific substantiation of this problem. So far, biologists do not have answers to questions about what will happen if certain plant species become extinct, how the general gene pool of nature depends on this, and what the consequences and pace of such a “payback for evolution” will be.

Only a few scientists (for example, Vernadsky) substantiated not only the interdependence of man and nature, but also united them into one whole - the noosphere, for example. And all these issues (including, in particular, plant protection) require us to resolve in the coming years, while the general biosystem is still close to its natural norm.

What does this mean?

Plant protection primarily means supporting natural processes occurring in nature. It is necessary to help restore the disturbed balance and eliminate the consequences of the harmful effects of man, his unreasonable interference in the activities of our common ecosystem.

It’s no joke: over the past few decades, one plant per day has disappeared from the face of the earth, and one animal per year. A genocide of nature that is horrifying in its cynicism! Therefore, the protection of plants and animals that are disappearing from the face of the earth should become a priority task for humanity in the near future.

Red Book

Of course, it cannot be said that nothing is being done in this regard. From state-level documents protecting animals, one can recall the Red Book. Among plants, it already includes, for example, over four hundred species of flowering plants, about twenty species of algae, more than thirty species of fungi, about ten species of gymnosperms and ferns.

Among the endangered species are the famous common snowdrop, Crimean peony, Lessing's feather grass, and many others. These plants are under state protection. There is liability for their illegal cutting, destruction and use (according to the law).

Protection of rare plants: basic measures

Of these, the most relevant in modern world- isolation and protection of habitats. Nature reserves are being actively created and developed (but not to the extent we would like), National parks, reserves that ensure the continued existence of endangered plant (and animal) species. In many civilized countries, programs have been developed and are operating for the full reasonable use of natural resources humanity. After all, if we don't take action necessary measures In time, many plants will disappear completely from the face of the earth, and it will be impossible to fill these gaps.

Botanical gardens

Botanical gardens and experimental stations play a huge role in maintaining plant populations, studying and preserving endangered species. They contain certain necessary collections of living plants - representatives of local and exotic flora, contribute to the study and breeding of plants, the creation of new, more productive forms and species. Promising developments include research on plant acclimatization, adaptation to new living conditions in other natural belts. Botanical gardens also perform educational tasks and promote the achievements of the science of botany.

The role of plants in human life

Only in recent decades has humanity fully realized the role of plants in human life. Although the fact that not a single one should be allowed to disappear from the face of the Earth existing type, some scientists and educators have said for a long time.

With the destruction of greenery, people will lose a lot that contains the world. Plant protection, in turn, should prevent this. After all, this part is not only a necessary source of health, but also an aesthetic component of the world of art, which has inspired and continues to inspire many artists and writers to create masterpieces of art.

But the most important masterpiece is our common Motherland, whose name is planet Earth! And it is so necessary, especially recently, for all of us to take care of its green population, so that our descendants can enjoy the diversity of plant life.