Forms of negative human impact on the environment. Man and his influence on nature. The terrible consequences of oil spills, mining

As a biological species, man has been living in all areas of the globe since the anthropogenic era. At first mankind used nature unconsciously, then consciously. Usage natural resources at different levels of human development occurred in different ways (primitive, slave-owning, feudal, capitalist, socialist system). It was directly related to the growth in the number of people on Earth and scientific and technological progress (STP). If at first human actions were limited only to the extermination of large animals and the burning of forests, then later on he began to master previously unknown crafts, build cities, develop industry, agriculture, master science and technology.

According to some reports, 50% of the forest has been destroyed on the globe and 70-75% of the entire usable area has been developed. The above facts are only a small part of the negative impact of human activity on nature. As academician V. I. Vernadsky said, "man on the globe will be turned into a powerful geological force" and the fate of nature will depend on his consciousness. This truth is still relevant today. These actions are related to anthropogenic factors. Their main areas:

1. The influence of man as a biological species on nature. Man exterminates birds and animals for his food and existence. Its diet includes plant and animal foods. Therefore, in order to solve the problem of nutrition, a person is forced to develop the land, reduce the number of animals and birds.

2. A person performs all his actions consciously. In the process of mastering nature, he rationally uses the achievements of science, enriches and protects nature, growing cultivated plants and producing new types of animals. But these actions in some cases are not saved at their level and give a negative effect.

3. In the process of scientific and technical progress new substances are released into nature (chemical compounds, plastic, explosive substances, etc.). Thus, the face of nature changes and collapses.

4. One of the largest human actions are the development of industry, construction, the discovery of mines, the development of minerals. At the same time, complex construction, the use of technology, the development of production sites occur at the expense of natural ecosystems and the use of most of the usable area.

5. Great damage to nature, causes humanity in connection with the development atomic weapons and space exploration. As a result, individual ecosystems and landscapes have completely disappeared or become unusable.

The influence of anthropogenic factors can be divided into the following types:

1. Direct influence. In the process of life, a person destroys the natural biocenosis, developing the land, forests, using pastures for the construction of roads, factories, etc.

2. Indirect influence. In the course of using some natural resources, a person has an indirect impact on other resources. For example, as a result of deforestation, animals and birds disappear.

3. Complex influence. Pesticides, herbicides, and other toxic chemicals are used to control agricultural pests in fields and gardens. Poisons act not only purposefully on their objects, but also on all living things around.

4. Spontaneous actions. In some cases, a person commits negligence during rest, these include fires from bonfires, the destruction of animals, plants, etc.

5. Conscious actions. Every state on the globe to improve social conditions its people in a planned manner, on scientific basis, observing safety regulations and agrotechnical measures, uses natural resources. New technologies are being mastered to increase the productivity of useful varieties of cultivated plants. Nature reserves, national parks are being created, plants and animals are being protected - thus creating optimal conditions for a full-fledged life for people. Restoring nature by planting trees in industrial complexes, creating artificial reservoirs, parks, people create a cultural landscape in terms of aesthetics. But such humane actions are not relevant in all countries. They are connected with the policy of the state, its development, the level of science and culture. Such states include Switzerland, Finland, Canada, Japan, etc. But at the same time, in many countries many mistakes are made in dealing with nature. Undoubtedly, this is not done on purpose, but for the good of man. For example, if a man created atomic reactors for the production of energy, then how much suffering has been brought to mankind by its use for military purposes (Hiroshima, Nagasaki)! Failure in a nuclear reactor Chernobyl nuclear power plant shook all of Europe. The harm caused to man and nature from missiles used for military purposes is still being felt in different parts of the globe.

In Kazakhstan, the consequences of human influence on nature became especially noticeable during the development of virgin lands, the Aral, Syrdarya, Balkhash basins, the Kapchagai reservoir, the Semipalatinsk, Azgyr, Naryn, Saryshagan polygons. Some territories were classified as ecological disaster zones by the state decision.

It should be taken into account that man influences nature to solve the problems of shortage of products, energy, raw materials. The development of nature will never stop - this is a natural process. And its rational and competent use is our duty.

We must constantly remember that the nature that surrounds us now is also necessary for our future generations, because the center of life, the home of all mankind is one - this is the Earth!

1. A person uses natural resources to meet material needs.

2. Man tries to make the most of natural resources.

3. The influence of man on nature is different: positive or negative.

4. Ecological disaster zones appeared on Earth.

1. What are positive and negative human activities?

2. What is the direct and indirect influence of man on nature?

3. Why does man influence nature?

1. How does a person influence nature?

2. What changes does scientific and technological progress make in nature?

3. What actions should be taken by humanity to restore nature?

1. Why did V. I. Vernadsky compare people with "geological force"?

2. What impact does man have on nature?

3. How many types can anthropogenic factors be divided into according to the nature of their influence?

Payment for environmental pollution and other types of harmful effects on it is considered in the environmental law of Russia and foreign countries as one of the main economic incentives to ensure that enterprises-nature users whose activities are associated with such impacts on nature themselves take measures to reduce pollution. environment in accordance with legal requirements. Such measures may take the form of different forms. Users of natural resources who are not interested in regular high payments for excessive pollution can improve production technology, build efficient treatment facilities or ensure the high efficiency of existing facilities. Finally, a significant effect on reducing the levels of environmental pollution can be achieved by enterprises by increasing the demands on employees and ensuring compliance with labor and technological discipline.

Some general requirements regarding fees for negative impact on environment are defined in the Federal Law "On Environmental Protection" (Article 16). To types negative impact environmental charges for which fees are charged include:

Emissions of pollutants and other substances into the atmospheric air;

Discharges of pollutants, other substances and microorganisms into surface water bodies, groundwater bodies and catchment areas;

Pollution of bowels, soils;

Placement of production and consumption waste;

Pollution of the environment by noise, heat, electromagnetic, ionizing and other types physical influences;

Other types of negative impact on the environment.

The law did not define the form of payment for negative environmental impact. It states that such forms are determined by federal laws. To date, no such laws have been adopted. This issue was more correctly resolved in the previous Law - "On the Protection of the Environment" (1991), which provided for two types of payments per:

Emissions, discharges of pollutants, waste disposal and other types of pollution within the established limits;

Emissions, discharges of pollutants, waste disposal and other types of pollution in excess of established limits. At the same time, the limits are understood as the volumes of emissions and discharges established for enterprises-users of natural resources for a certain period of time. harmful substances into the environment and disposal of production waste.

The determination of the amount and collection of fees for environmental pollution are regulated at the federal level in sufficient detail by a document approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of August 28, 1992 (as amended by Decree of June 14, 2001 N 463), which is called "The procedure for determining the fee and its limit sizes for environmental pollution, waste disposal, other types of harmful effects.

The starting points in determining fees for negative environmental impacts are the basic standards for fees for emissions, discharges of pollutants into the environment, waste disposal and other types of harmful effects, as well as coefficients that take into account environmental factors.

Installed two types of basic payment standards:

For emissions, discharges of pollutants, waste disposal, other types of harmful effects within acceptable limits;

For emissions, discharges of pollutants, waste disposal, other types of harmful effects within the established limits (temporarily agreed standards). At the same time, the basic norms of payment for environmental pollution within the temporarily agreed norms were five times higher than payments for environmental pollution within the limits of permissible norms.

The norms of payment for emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air by stationary and mobile sources, discharges of pollutants into surface and underground water bodies, disposal of production and consumption wastes are established by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of June 12, 2003 N 344.

In accordance with the existing concept of payment for pollution, the basic standards of payment are established for each ingredient of a pollutant (waste), type of harmful effect, taking into account the degree of their danger to the environment and public health. For individual regions and river basins, coefficients are set to the basic standards of payment, taking into account environmental factors - the natural and climatic features of the territories, the significance of natural and socio-cultural objects. For example, the coefficient of the environmental situation and the environmental significance of atmospheric air in the northern economic region of the Russian Federation is 1.4, the central one is 1.9, the Ural region is 2, and the Far East is 1. The coefficients of the environmental situation and the environmental significance of atmospheric air, water bodies and soil could increase .

Norms of payment for emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air by stationary and mobile sources, discharges of pollutants into surface and underground water bodies, disposal of production and consumption waste for specially protected natural areas, including medical and recreational areas and resorts, as well as for the regions of the Extreme North and areas equated to them, Baikal natural area and zones of ecological disaster is applied using coefficients that take into account environmental factors and an additional coefficient of 2.

At the same time, differentiated payment rates are determined by multiplying the basic payment standards by coefficients that take into account environmental factors.

Payment for environmental pollution in amounts not exceeding the limits established for the user of natural resources allowable standards emissions, discharges of pollutants, volumes of waste disposal, levels of harmful effects are determined by multiplying the corresponding rates of payment for the magnitude of the specified types of pollution and summing up the products obtained by types of pollution.

Payment for environmental pollution within the established limits is determined by multiplying the relevant payment rates by the difference between limit and maximum allowable emissions, discharges of pollutants, volumes of waste disposal, levels of harmful impact and summing up the products obtained by types of pollution.

Payment for above-limit pollution of the environment is determined by multiplying the relevant rates of payment for pollution within the established limits by the excess of the actual mass of emissions, discharges of pollutants, volumes of waste disposal / levels of harmful impact over the established limits, summing the products obtained by types of pollution and multiplying these amounts by a fivefold multiplier.

If the user of natural resources does not have a properly issued permit for the emission, discharge of pollutants, waste disposal, the entire mass of pollutants is taken into account as over-limit.

Payments for maximum allowable emissions, discharges of pollutants, waste disposal, levels of harmful effects are made at the expense of the cost of products (works, services), and payments for exceeding them - at the expense of the profit remaining at the disposal of the nature user.

Payments for negative environmental impact are made on a quarterly basis.

An important question is where the payments for environmental pollution go. Previously, when the Federal Environmental Fund existed, in accordance with the Law of the RSFSR "On the Protection of the Environment", the funds collected for environmental pollution were transferred by users of natural resources in an indisputable manner in the amount of 90% to special accounts of off-budget state environmental funds and 10% to income the republican budget of the Russian Federation to finance the activities of territorial bodies government controlled in the field of environmental protection.

On the present stage distribution of payments for negative impact on the environment is regulated by the Budget Code of the Russian Federation of July 31, 1998. In accordance with it, 20% of the payment goes to the federal budget; 40% - to the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation; 40% - to local budgets. At the same time, the Code does not establish the targeted spending of these financial resources.

55. Environmental insurance: concept, features.

Ecological insurance is a new legal measure of environmental protection. It is a type of insurance regulated by the Law of the Russian Federation of November 27, 1992 "On the organization of insurance business in Russian Federation". Some general requirements for environmental insurance are established by the Federal Law "On Environmental Protection" (Article 18).

Environmental insurance is a relationship to protect the property interests of individuals and organizations in the event of environmental risks at the expense of special insurance funds.

Objects environmental insurance may be property interests that do not contradict the legislation of the Russian Federation:

Related to the life, health of the insured or the insured person (personal insurance);

Related to the possession, use, disposal of natural resources and other property (property insurance);

Associated with compensation by the insured for harm caused by him to the person or property of an individual, as well as harm caused to a legal entity (liability insurance)<85>.

In the Russian Federation, compulsory state environmental insurance. Such insurance in the Russian Federation is carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. Thus, in accordance with the Federal Law "On the Use of Atomic Energy", a certain circle of persons is subject to compulsory free personal insurance against risk radiation exposure at the expense of the owners or owners (users) of nuclear facilities (Article 18). This circle includes employees of nuclear installations, radiation sources and storage facilities seconded to these facilities, as well as citizens living, exercising labor activity or passing military service within the observation zone of nuclear installations, radiation sources and storage facilities. Under the Law, citizens of Russia are provided with the right to conclude a contract for voluntary insurance of a person and property against the risk of radiation exposure. Payments of sums insured for this type of insurance must be made regardless of the payments of sums for state social insurance and social security.

Federal Law of July 21, 1997 "On industrial safety hazardous production facilities"<86>establishes compulsory liability insurance for causing harm during the operation of a hazardous production facility (Article 15). An organization operating a hazardous production facility is obliged to insure liability for damage to life, health or property of other persons and the environment in the event of an accident at a hazardous production facility.

In the Russian Federation, there is also voluntary environmental insurance. The main document in the field of voluntary insurance is the Standard Regulations on the procedure for voluntary environmental insurance in the Russian Federation, approved by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Russian State Insurance Company on December 3 and November 20, 1992, respectively (hereinafter referred to as the Standard Regulations). On the basis of this Regulation, an insurance organization (insurer) provides insurance coverage of civil (property) liability to policyholders for damage caused to third parties as a result of sudden, unintentional and unexpected pollution of the environment in Russia.

Policyholders are enterprises of any form of ownership that are legal entities located on the territory of Russia, as well as outside it, but having production facilities on the territory of Russia.

The object of environmental insurance is the risk of civil liability, expressed in the presentation of property claims to the insured by individuals or legal entities in accordance with the norms of civil law on compensation for damage for pollution of land, water or air in the territory of a specific insurance contract.

The basis for the emergence of insurance relations is an insurance contract concluded between the policyholder and the insurer. Such an agreement is concluded on the basis of a written application of the insured and a questionnaire containing the details of the insured.

Insurance indemnity is paid in the amounts provided for by the current civil legislation, determined as a result of consideration of cases in a court or other prescribed manner. Insurance compensation includes.

Impact - the direct impact of human economic activity on the environment. All types of impact can be grouped into four types: intentional, unintentional, direct and indirect (indirect).

Intentional impact occurs in the process of material production in order to meet certain needs of society. These include: mining, construction of hydraulic structures (reservoirs, irrigation canals, hydroelectric power stations), deforestation to expand agricultural areas and to obtain timber, etc.

Unintended impact occurs side by side with the first type of impact, in particular, open pit mining leads to a decrease in the level of groundwater, to pollution of the air basin, to the formation of man-made landforms (quarries, heaps, tailings). The construction of hydroelectric power plants is associated with the formation of artificial reservoirs that affect the environment: they cause an increase in the level of groundwater, change the hydrological regime of rivers, etc. When energy is received from traditional sources (coal, oil, gas), the atmosphere, surface watercourses, and groundwater are polluted etc.

Both intentional and unintended impacts can be direct or indirect.

Direct impacts take place in the case of a direct impact of human economic activity on the environment, in particular, irrigation (irrigation) directly affects the soil and changes all the processes associated with it. Indirect impacts occur indirectly - through chains of interrelated influences. So, intentional indirect impacts are the use of fertilizers and a direct impact on crop yields, and unintended ones are the impact of aerosols on the amount of solar radiation (especially in cities), etc.

The impact of mining on the environment is manifested in a variety of ways in direct and indirect impact on natural landscapes. Biggest Violations earth's surface occur with open-pit mining, which accounts for more than 75% of mining production in our country.

Currently, the total area of ​​land disturbed during the extraction of minerals (coal, iron and manganese ores, non-metallic raw materials, peat, etc.), as well as occupied by mining waste, has exceeded 2 million hectares, of which 65% is in the European part countries. In Kuzbass alone, more than 30 thousand hectares of land are now occupied by coal pits, in the area of ​​the Kursk magnetic anomaly (KMA) - no more than 25 thousand hectares of fertile land.

It is estimated that up to 640 hectares of land are disturbed during the extraction of 1 million tons of iron ore, up to 600 hectares of manganese, and up to 100 hectares of coal. Mining contributes to the destruction of vegetation cover, the emergence of man-made landforms (quarries, dumps, tailings, etc.), deformation of sections of the earth's crust (especially in the case of underground mining).

Indirect impacts are manifested in changes in the groundwater regime, pollution of the air basin, surface watercourses and groundwater, and also contribute to flooding and waterlogging, which ultimately leads to an increase in the incidence of the local population. Among the air pollutants, dust and gas pollution stand out. It has been calculated that about 200,000 tons of dust are produced annually from underground mine workings; coal mining in the amount of 2 billion tons per year from about 4,000 mines in various countries of the world is accompanied by the release into the atmosphere of 27 billion m3 of methane and 17 billion m3 carbon dioxide. In our country, during the development of coal deposits by the underground method, significant amounts of methane and CO2 are also recorded, entering the air basin: annually in the Donbass (364 mines) and Kuzbass (78 mines), 3870 and 680 million m3 of methane and 1200 of carbon dioxide are emitted, respectively. and 970 million m3.

Mining negatively affects surface watercourses and groundwater, which are heavily polluted with mechanical impurities and mineral salts. Every year, about 2.5 billion m3 of polluted mine water is pumped to the surface from coal mines. In open pit mining, high-quality fresh water. In the quarries of the Kursk magnetic anomaly, infiltration from tailings impedes a decrease in the level of the upper aquifer of the horizon by 50 m, which leads to a rise in the groundwater level and swamping of the adjacent territory.

Mining production also negatively affects the bowels of the Earth, as they bury industrial waste, radioactive waste (there are 246 underground burial sites in the USA), etc. In Sweden, Norway, England, and Finland, storage facilities for oil and gas, drinking water are arranged in mine workings , underground refrigerators, etc.

Impact on the hydrosphere - man began to have a significant impact on the hydrosphere and the water balance of the planet. Anthropogenic transformations of the waters of the continents have already reached global proportions, violating the natural regime of even the largest lakes and rivers of the globe. This was facilitated by: the construction of hydraulic structures (reservoirs, irrigation canals and water transfer systems), an increase in the area of ​​irrigated land, watering of arid territories, urbanization, pollution of fresh water by industrial and municipal wastewater. At present, there are about 30,000 reservoirs in the world, which are under construction, with a volume of water exceeding 6,000 km3. But 95% of this volume falls on large reservoirs. There are 2442 large reservoirs in the world, and their the largest number falls on North America- 887 and Asia - 647.

In general, while the area of ​​reservoirs in the world is only 0.3% of land, but at the same time they increase river flow by 27%. However, large reservoirs also have a negative impact on the environment: they change the groundwater regime, their water areas occupy large areas of fertile land, and lead to secondary soil salinization.

In Russia, large reservoirs (90% of 237 in former USSR), having a surface area of ​​15 million hectares, occupy about 1% of its territory, but of this value, 60 - 70% are flooded lands. Hydraulic structures lead to the degradation of river ecosystems. AT last years in our country, schemes have been drawn up for improving the natural and technical condition and beautification of some large reservoirs and canals. This will reduce the degree of their adverse impact on the environment.

Impact on animal world- animals together with plants play an exceptional role in migration chemical elements, which underlies the relationships existing in nature. However, human economic activity has greatly influenced the animal world of the planet. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, since 1600, 94 species of birds and 63 species of mammals have become extinct on Earth. Animals such as the tarpan, aurochs, marsupial wolf, European ibis, and others have disappeared. The fauna of the oceanic islands has especially suffered. As a result anthropogenic impact on the continents, the number of endangered and rare species of animals (bison, vicuña, condor, etc.) has increased. In Asia, the number of such animals as the rhinoceros, tiger, cheetah, and others has declined threateningly.

In Russia, by the beginning of this century, certain animal species (bison, river beaver, sable, muskrat, kulan) became rare, therefore, reserves were organized for their protection and reproduction. This made it possible to restore the bison population, to increase the number of the Amur tiger and polar bear.

However, in recent years, the animal world has been adversely affected by the excessive use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, pollution of the oceans and other anthropogenic factors. Thus, in Sweden, the use of pesticides has led to the death of birds of prey (peregrine falcon, kestrel, white-tailed eagle, eagle owl, long-eared owl), larks, rooks, pheasants, partridges, etc. European countries. Therefore, with an increasing anthropogenic load, many animal species need further protection and reproduction.

Impact on the earth's crust- man began to interfere in the life of the earth's crust, being a powerful relief-forming factor. Man-made landforms arose on the earth's surface: swells, excavations, mounds, quarries, pits, embankments, waste heaps, etc. Cases of the earth's crust sagging under major cities and reservoirs, the latter in mountainous areas have led to an increase in natural seismicity. Examples of such artificial earthquakes, which were caused by the filling of basins of large reservoirs with water, are found in California, the USA, and on the Hindustan Peninsula. This type of earthquake has been well studied in Tajikistan on the example of the Nuker reservoir. Sometimes earthquakes can be caused by pumping out or pumping waste water with harmful impurities deep underground, as well as intensive oil and gas production at large fields (USA, California, Mexico).

Mining has the greatest impact on the earth's surface and subsoil, especially with open pit mining. As noted above, with this method, significant areas of land are withdrawn, the environment is polluted with various toxicants (especially heavy metals). Local subsidences of the earth's crust in areas of coal mining are known in the Silesian region of Poland, in Great Britain, in the USA, Japan, and others. Man geochemically changes the composition of the earth's crust, extracting lead, chromium, manganese, copper, cadmium, molybdenum, and others in large quantities.

Anthropogenic changes in the earth's surface are also associated with the construction of large hydraulic structures. By 1988, more than 360 dams (150–300 m high) had been built all over the world, of which 37 were built in our country. Shushenskaya hydroelectric power station marked cracks up to 20 m long). Most of the Perm region annually settles by 7 mm, since the bowl of the Kama reservoir presses against the earth's crust with great force. Maximum values and the rate of subsidence of the earth's surface, caused by the filling of reservoirs, is much less than in the production of oil and gas, large pumping of groundwater.

For comparison, we point out that Japanese cities Tokyo and Osaka, due to groundwater pumping and compaction of loose rocks, have dropped by 4 m in recent years (with an annual precipitation rate of up to 50 cm). Thus, only detailed studies of the relationship between natural and anthropogenic relief-forming processes will help to eliminate the undesirable consequences of the impact of human economic activity on the earth's surface.

Impact on climate - in some regions of the globe in recent years, these impacts have become critical and dangerous for the biosphere and for the existence of man himself. Every year, as a result of human economic activity around the world, the intake of pollutants into the atmosphere amounted to: sulfur dioxide - 190 million tons, nitrogen oxides - 65 million tons, carbon oxides - 25.5 million tons, etc. Annually when fuel is burned more than 700 million tons of dusty and gaseous compounds are also emitted. All this leads to an increase in the concentration of anthropogenic pollutants in the atmospheric air: carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, freons, etc. They have a significant impact on the global climate, causing negative consequences: "greenhouse effect", depletion " ozone layer", acid rain, photochemical smog, etc.

An increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has led to global warming climate: the average air temperature increased by 0.5 - 0.6 0C (compared to the pre-industrial period). By the beginning of 2000, this increase will be 1.2 0С, and by 2025 it may reach 2.2 - 2.5 0С. For the Earth's biosphere, such climate change can have both negative and positive environmental consequences.

The first ones include: the rise in the level of the World Ocean (the current rate of water rise is approximately 25 cm per 100 years). Negative Consequences: violations of the stability of "permafrost" (increased thawing of soils, activation of thermokarst), etc.

Positive factors include: an increase in the intensity of photosynthesis, which can have a beneficial effect on the yield of many crops, and in some regions - on forestry. In addition, such climate change may have an impact on river flow major rivers, and hence for water management in the regions. A paleogeographical approach (taking into account the climates of the past) to this problem will help predict changes not only in climates, but also in other components of the biosphere in the future.

The impact on marine ecosystems is manifested in the annual release of a huge amount of pollutants (oil and oil products, synthetic surfactants, sulfates, chlorides, heavy metals, radionuclides, etc.) into the waters of water bodies. All this ultimately causes the degradation of marine ecosystems: eutrophication, a decrease in species diversity, the replacement of entire classes of bottom fauna with pollution-resistant ones, mutagenicity of bottom sediments, etc. The results of the ecological monitor of the Russian seas made it possible to rank the latter in terms of the degree of ecosystem degradation ): Azov - Black - Caspian - Baltic - Japanese - Barents - Okhotsk - White - Laptev - Kara - East Siberian - Bering - Chukchi Seas. Obviously, the negative consequences of anthropogenic impact on marine ecosystems are most pronounced in the southern seas of Russia.

For solutions environmental issues seas within the framework of a special program of integrated environmental monitoring ocean, extensive research is already being carried out to predict the state of the natural environment in the basins of the southern seas.

Types and degree of human impact on nature

Anthropogenic impacts - human activity associated with the implementation of economic, military, recreational, cultural and other interests, making physical, chemical, biological and other changes in the natural environment.

Human impact on nature can be classified in various ways. For example, divided into destructive, stabilizing and constructive; direct and indirect; intentional and unintentional; long and short term; static and dynamic; area and point; deep and surface; global, regional and local; mechanical, physical, chemical and biological, etc.

Destructive (destructive) impact – human activity leading to the loss by the natural environment of its qualities useful to man. For example, the reduction of rainforests to pastures or plantations, as a result of which the biogeochemical cycle of substances is disrupted, and the soil loses its fertility in two to three years.

Stabilizing effect – human activity aimed at slowing down the destruction (destruction) of the natural environment as a result of both human economic activity and natural processes. For example, soil protection measures aimed at reducing soil erosion.

constructive impact – human activity aimed at restoring the natural environment, disturbed as a result of human economic activity or natural processes. For example, recultivation of landscapes, restoration of the number of rare species of animals and plants, etc. Destructive impact can be called negative (negative), and stabilizing and constructive - positive (positive).

Direct (immediate) impact – change in nature as a result of the direct impact of human economic activity on natural objects and phenomena. Indirect (indirect) impact - change in nature as a result of chain reactions or secondary phenomena associated with human economic activity.

Unintended Impact is unconscious when a person does not anticipate the consequences of his activity.

Intentional exposure is conscious when a person expects certain results of his activity.

Increasing use of natural resources due to population growth and development scientific and technological progress leads to their depletion and an increase in environmental pollution with production waste and consumption waste. That is, the deterioration of the natural environment occurs for two reasons: 1) reduction of natural resources; 2) environmental pollution.

Deforestation in the river basin (marked with crosses) leads to the drying up of small rivers - tributaries, a decrease in the level of groundwater , a decrease in soil moisture, a decrease in the water level in the river and lake. This, together with other factors, leads to a lack of water in the city, the death of fish, the development of cyanides (blue-green algae and other aquatic organisms) due to the increasing eutrophication of water bodies. Construction of a dam and irrigation system to store water in the river and normal mode moistening in the fields does not solve the problem of maintaining the level of groundwater and stopping the lake from drying out. On the contrary, the consumption of water for evaporation in irrigation systems and from the surface of the reservoir exacerbates the lack of river runoff into the lake, delays solid runoff, and water backwater by the dam causes flooding of the area, including in cities, and its swamping. Irrigation causes additional salinization of soils that require leaching, which means a greater consumption of irrigation water, with which organic matter and fertilizers are washed into the reservoir, which increases eutrophication.

It should immediately be noted that the higher the level of use of extracted natural resources, the lower the level of environmental pollution. Consequently, by solving the problem of rational use of natural resources, society, firstly, saves natural resources from depletion, and secondly, reduces environmental pollution.

The degree of human impact on nature. The depth of the environmental consequences of human impact on nature depends on several variables: population size, lifestyle and environmental awareness. This relationship can be described by the formula:

Population X Life style

Environmental consequences = –––––––––––––––––––––––

Level of environmental consciousness

The larger the population and the higher the lifestyle, the greater the depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution. And, conversely, the higher the ecological consciousness of the population, the less pronounced these negative processes.

In the absence of ecological consciousness, even a simple, "close to nature" lifestyle does not in itself lead to the absence of harmful effects on nature. An example of this is deforestation for crops and for the sake of firewood.

In this way, essential condition further progress of mankind - the cessation of the growth of its population, a change in lifestyle and an increase in environmental consciousness. Only by achieving population equilibrium, it is possible to further develop culture, technology, civilization as a whole.

For thousands of years man has been a part of nature. Without opposing himself to her, he took what was necessary for survival: food, material for dwellings, fuel. However, the further the human race went in technical inventions, the more it consumed resources, the more serious harm he inflicted on the environment.

Today, the issue of ecology has risen in front of the inhabitants of our planet closely. A whole range of problems threatens to change the earth beyond recognition, cause irreparable harm directly to a person, his health and well-being.

I must say that people themselves inflict damage on the quality of their lives. Much has already been destroyed, dozens of species of animals and plants have disappeared, but there is an opportunity to save what remains. To do this, it is important to responsibly treat various areas of your life. It is necessary to think about what will be left as a legacy to future generations, how our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, society will feel, whether they will have a chance to change something.

The technical sphere in the modern life of the planet

Today, the amount of technology produced by man (what is called techno-mass in science) for the first time in the history of our world exceeded biomass (that is, wild living organisms).

By analogy with biomass, the concept of which underlies the biosphere, there is a generalized concept of technomass, in which scientists invest the following components:

• mining devices;
• energy generating devices;
• devices processing raw materials;
• technology that creates consumer products;
• everything related to the development of devices for processing and storing information.

Autonomous multifunctional systems are distinguished into a separate category, which, for example, perform various actions in space, and “technical orderlies” - waste processing devices.

Thus, we can say that the technosphere copies the biosphere in structure. At the same time, until the last moment, all the industrial power of mankind was aimed at the maximum exploitation of natural resources. Lack of a humanistic component and insufficient interaction social sciences with exact results, nature is being driven into reservations, species are dying out, plant and animal life is practically destroyed in entire regions, and production wastes are landscapes.

The first step to solving a problem is recognizing it. Society needs to appreciate the horror of the state of nature, the role and impact of man on the environment. Only in this case is it possible to save what is left.

How does modern society harm nature?

• Each of us, to a greater or lesser extent, is focused on consumption. Each person has many things without which life seems impossible. Moreover, the industry needs to constantly expand the market. Therefore, with the help of advertising, we are inspired that old (whether good or not) things need to be thrown away and new ones purchased. This applies to cars and mobile phones, household appliances, clothes, shoes, furniture and much more.

Thus, production volumes are constantly increasing, new factories and plants are being built. Each of them must have treatment facilities, all basic technologies and forms of activity must be regularly updated, and money must be invested in order to minimize harmful emissions. This requires considerable financial costs, which the owners do not want to go to. As a result, the atmosphere is polluted, forests and water bodies die, and people acquire serious diseases.

The petrochemical industry emits hydrocarbon compounds into the air, metallurgy - heavy metals.

• Special substances emit ballistic and space rockets. Every military exercise, every flight to orbit costs us a part of our atmosphere, what we breathe and with what we exist.
• A separate word should be said about cars. Today, their number per capita, especially in cities, is becoming critical. This is evidenced by traffic jams, accidents, problems with parking spaces. But the most important thing is that exhaust gases - products of fuel processing - also rise up, polluting the air and creating a "greenhouse effect". In short, its result is an increase in temperature throughout the planet. This contributes to the melting of glaciers, climate change, frequent natural disasters. The main means of neutralizing the harm of cars is the adjustment of engines and the installation of special systems for cleaning combustion products, as well as the replacement of ethyl gasoline with other, environmentally friendly fuels.
• Human impact on the environment also lies in the active operation of thermal power plants. Oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, which are formed as a result of the fact that raw coal burns, along with other chemical compounds cause acid rain. They are dangerous for human society, and for the natural environment - oxidize soils and water bodies, contribute to the extinction of entire species of plants and living beings, negatively affect the skin, hair, condition internal organs person.

This situation can be corrected. This will require, first of all, considerable funds. However, the consequences of human economic activity for the environment are so catastrophic that such investments are the only way to save nature.

• It is necessary to replace old-style thermal power plants with new ones, which include mechanisms for the disposal of hazardous gas and dust waste.
• Cleaning of coal is required right after its extraction - even before it gets to the thermal power plant. Ideally, it should be replaced by the most environmentally friendly and safe fuel at the moment - natural gas.
• Deforestation. Modern society used to taking from nature without giving anything in return. Deforestation has become catastrophic, especially in those countries where this natural wealth initially there were many.

The most valuable timber of the rainforest is cut down South America. As for our country, unauthorized plots can be found in almost any region, and especially in the taiga.

The decrease in the number of forests is not only harmful for those animals that have lost their homes and are forced to migrate. The consequences of human economic activity for the environment in this case - climate change which will affect the quality of life for all of us. Also, a decrease in the area of ​​​​forests will contribute to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere.

Constant and systematic restoration of plantations, careful attitude to them, protection from felling and fires, from diseases - this is the recipe for preserving one of the main wealth - forests.

• A special word should be said about the garbage collection system in our country. She is at a low level. There are several reasons for this:
• Ignorance and illiteracy of each individual. Most of our cities are littered, many people throw food wrappers, bottles and cigarette butts right at their feet, teach their children this by their own example.
• Unorganized waste separation system. In European countries, society is set up and accustomed to the fact that garbage should be divided into biodegradable (food waste and paper), metal, glass, and plastic. Much of what is collected is sent for recycling. To do this, it is necessary to invest in the construction of factories, the purchase and adjustment of mechanisms, the main collection technologies. However, the result becomes noticeable soon.

All changes in the biosphere follow each other, they are characterized by chain reaction. Therefore, destroying, for example, some kind of animal, a person violates the state of the entire ecosystem of a forest, steppe or desert, interferes with the natural course of events that has existed for thousands of years. Failure to understand these connections leads to a significant change in the state of our planet and life on it.

The consequences of human economic activity for the environment are becoming more and more catastrophic every year. Therefore, it is important to develop a set of measures where every person, enterprise, state will be responsible for nature, as for our common Home, and do what they can, contributing to the life and well-being of the planet. After all, no money or the benefits of civilization can replace air, clean water, greenery and all the riches that nature generously shares with us.