What to do to save animals. What are some ways to preserve wild animals and plants? Threat to habitat and wildlife

April 26, 2013

No matter how much a person stands out for his intellect, achievements and feelings, he is just one of the representatives of the animal world. Thus, a person is simply obliged to help other representatives of this planet.

Another reason why a person should preserve and protect animals is his activity. Science knows a lot of examples when one or another species of flora and fauna disappeared due to unreasonable human actions. Modern people are too busy with themselves, with achieving their goals, that they do not consider it necessary to pay attention to the state of vegetation and the problems of animals. But the state of the environment is not worth mentioning, since every person is dissatisfied with the quality of water and air. However, few people are trying to change this state of affairs for the better. The result is a vicious circle: people continue to develop industrial production, pollute the environment, but at the same time, talk about the unfavorable environmental situation.

Today, it is possible to compile a huge list of species of vegetation and animals that have disappeared forever from the face of the earth. Now we are moving towards the loss of many natural resources.

Based on this more than deplorable situation, the conclusion suggests itself that global measures are needed to solve environmental problems. We are talking about a single law that would regulate the rights of animals and establish liability for their violation, the same in any country in the world.

Today there are many agreements and treaties that partially regulate this issue. And although, thanks to these documents, it was possible to preserve some species of endangered fauna, on a global scale this does not solve all problems.

As scientists note, humanity is not yet fully familiar with the entire complex structure of the ecosystem. And the main problem is that with the disappearance of any species, humanity will never know all the interactions of the ecological chain.

Today, it is known that the biodiversity of our planet is too great. And each species plays its own specific role. Therefore, one species cannot be destroyed to preserve another. Surely nature will not forgive this.

But humanity can still save itself, the world around us and all representatives of the animal and plant world. If he begins to act harmoniously and wisely now, not destroying, but increasing the gifts of the planet.

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Instructions

Many species of animals are disappearing due to the fact that humans indirectly affect their lives. The whole point is that people involuntarily take away their natural habitats, their feeding areas. Deforestation, drainage of swamps, plowing of steppes, pollution of the atmosphere, development of deserts, and clogging of rivers with industrial waste also negatively affect the number of animals. These human actions exterminate animals as effectively as using traps, poison or.

It is also necessary to eradicate this type of human activity such as poaching as soon as possible. It is because of poaching that many species of animals were included in the book, and some were forever wiped off the face of the earth. Until now, the numbers of some animal species continue to decline. Some people mistakenly believe that animals are becoming extinct only because humans hunt them. But this is fundamentally wrong. Without deliberate and rational hunting, regulating the number of animals and birds, animals such as deer, roe deer, saigas, etc. would hardly exist now.

The rational use of wildlife plays an important role. It is necessary to establish a framework for the use of animals, in particular fishing, hunting, etc.

And, of course, it is imperative to protect endangered species listed in the Red Book. When starting to protect them, it is necessary to thoroughly determine the living conditions of the species. The most effective form of animal protection is the creation of wildlife sanctuaries and reserves. Almost only on their territory it was possible to preserve such animals as saiga, kulan, Amur tiger, goral, sika and Bukhara deer. And, of course, zoos provide considerable assistance in rescuing and breeding rare animals.

Helpful advice

Start with yourself, don't kill innocent animals, donate at least a small amount to save endangered species and don't buy fur products.

To protect the natural balance on our planet, it is necessary to protect its flora and fauna from anthropogenic factors. There are government animal welfare programs that need to be followed.

Instructions

Remember, all your rallies and events to protect a particular species should not cause damage to other animals or plants. Therefore, plan all social movements carefully. Most animal organizations are created by local governments and state authorities, you can join one of them.

In some cases, acclimatization is necessary - programs to adapt animals to new natural living conditions. This may be a consequence of partial or complete destruction of the site. Therefore, in order to fully protect animals, it is necessary to preserve the natural landscape. Don’t cut down forests, plant plants at your place and in vacant lots.

The activity must not harm animals or worsen their living conditions. Try to drive your car less so as not to pollute the air with exhaust gases. Drive carefully so you can brake if an animal runs onto the road. Do not tear or trample plants; they provide food and shelter for many wild animals.

Big panda became the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) not at all because it looks so much like a cute teddy bear. For a long time, the giant panda was close to extinction and desperately needed protection. In 1961, when the panda first appeared on the WWF logo, the animals lived in such isolated and rare conservation areas that there was no accurate information about their numbers. To change the situation, we had to fight poaching—in China, killing a panda carries the death penalty—and develop an entire policy to protect the natural habitat of the giant panda. Now in China there are 67 separate “panda” reserves, with a total area of ​​14 thousand square kilometers. Thanks to a set of measures, the number of pandas has exceeded 2,000 individuals. In September 2016, the giant panda was downgraded to a "vulnerable" species and is now the best known animal to no longer be endangered.

Pterodroma axillaris, a species of seabird from the genus Typhoonidae. The small bird lived in New Zealand, 650 km east of Wellington, on the Chatham Archipelago. This is precisely what is causing her trouble: a broad-billed whalebird has settled in the same territory, driving Pterodroma axillaris out of its usual nesting sites. The suppression of Pterodroma axillaris reached such proportions that in 1995 their numbers dropped to 600 individuals. Fortunately, New Zealand wildlife lovers realized it in time: they simply collected all the representatives of the species and transported them to another island, where there are no broad-billed whalebirds and other competitors. Since 2015, Pterodroma axillaris has ceased to be listed as an endangered species, moving into the category of vulnerable.

Ursus americanus luteolus, baribal subspecies, black bear native to Louisiana. Baribal is the most common North American bear, found in more than half of the US states, but some of its subspecies, in particular the Louisiana Ursus americanus luteolus, have long been in danger of extinction. And all because baribal was (and remains) a popular object for hunting. After the famous story of Theodore Roosevelt, who refused to shoot a bear cub, touching Teddy bears appeared, named, in fact, in honor of the 26th President of the United States. But, alas, not everyone followed Roosevelt’s humane act: by 1992, there were only 150 Louisiana baribals living in the wild. Thanks to a set of conservation measures, over 20 years it was possible to preserve the species - today at least 700 Ursus americanus luteolus bears live in the forests of America, and since 2015 the species has not been considered endangered.

Sciurus niger cinereus, a subspecies of fox squirrels, They live on the Delmarva Peninsula, on the east coast of the United States. Perhaps, if not for the efforts of animal defenders, today we would write “inhabited” - in 1967, only 10% of the former population of Sciurus niger cinereus remained. The main difficulty was that its habitat extended over three states, covering mainly private areas, and the main threat to the squirrel was ordinary domestic cats. Can you imagine how much effort it took to convince pet owners that their cat should no longer “walk on its own” and they should control it? But a miracle happened: over 50 years, the number of fox squirrels reached 20 thousand, and in 2015 they were excluded from the category of endangered species.

Sea lion, or Steller's northern sea lion. The largest representative of the eared seal family lives on the cold rocky shores of Kamchatka and Alaska, the Kuril, Aleutian and Commander Islands. In 1990, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) listed sea lions as an endangered species. Unfortunately, NOAA does not have good statistics - by 2013, only one species considered endangered was conserved, and that was the California gray whale. But the sea lion, fortunately, joined the whale: if in 1979 there were only 18 thousand individuals, today at least 70 thousand sea lions live in the Pacific waters. In the Red Book of the Russian Federation, sea lions are included in the second category and are also a protected species.

White oryx, or Arabian oryx, is an antelope once widespread in western Asia. These marvelous antelopes roamed freely throughout the Arabian and Sinai Peninsulas and Mesopotamia. But their beautiful skin and tasty meat led to extinction. Oryx hunting was such a common occurrence that tourists shot antelope from the comfort of their cars. As a result, in 1972, wild white oryxes were completely exterminated. No matter how much they say that keeping wild animals in captivity is bad, here is an amazing story of saving a species, thanks specifically to “domesticated” antelopes. Several oryx individuals lived on the territory of the richest sheikhs, and with them an active program to restore the species began. It took years, a lot of work and a lot of money, but the program was a success: at least a thousand white oryxes currently live in the wild, and since 2011 the species has not been considered endangered.

Nerodia sipedon insularum, a subspecies of the North American grass snake, lives near Lake Erie. In 1999, the number of individuals reached a critical minimum, and it was urgently included in the list of endangered species. In just 12 years, by 2011, its population had recovered so much that it was removed from the conservation program altogether. What's the catch here? The fact is that his only threat was man. The harmless snake was unlucky for two reasons: its habitat coincided with the place of residence and recreation of people, and the sight of the snake struck fear in people. The snake was on the verge of extinction not because someone was hunting for its skin or meat - people blithely exterminated a living creature simply out of fear.

Gray wolf has caused heated debate within the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). In the 1970s, it was classified as an endangered species in the United States and was protected for 35 years. In 2011, the FWS reported that the gray wolf population numbered 5,500 and was not considered endangered. The claims of the scientific community boil down to the fact that the FWS identified the eastern wolf as a separate species. From the point of view of researchers, it is inappropriate to distinguish the eastern wolf as a separate species, just as it is inappropriate to remove the gray wolf from the category of protected endangered animals.

American brown pelican became endangered in the 1970s: naturally, due to the human factor. True, the culprit here is not direct extermination, but the massive use of the insecticide DDT, which poisons not only cotton pests, but also aquatic organisms. Eating toxic fish, small pelicans got sick, died and were unable to produce offspring - DDT disrupted calcium metabolism, which is why the birds were simply not able to hatch their chicks due to broken shells. Fortunately, the use of DDT and other harsh chemicals has been greatly reduced, which has actually saved the lives of American brown pelicans, and as of 2009 they are no longer considered an endangered species.

Indian rhinoceros, the largest of the Asian rhinoceroses, once inhabited vast territories - it could be found in South and Southeast Asia, in southern China and even in eastern Iran. This, however, was the case until man considered the rhinoceros an excellent trophy. Through the efforts of hunters, the number of Indian rhinoceros was reduced to 600. The deplorable situation was corrected by strict Indian laws aimed at combating poaching and the creation of special reserves. Today, the Indian rhinoceros is found only in southern Pakistan, eastern India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The number of individuals has reached 3 thousand - this is quite a bit, but still much more than 600. Since 2008, the Indian rhinoceros is no longer considered an endangered species, but a vulnerable species.

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 of 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%. Fresh water resources are distributed extremely unevenly; often the abundance of water does not coincide with areas of increased 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 events. 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 of the globe there are great difficulties in ensuring water supply and water use as a result of the 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. Once in the 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, harm 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 the environment during 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 populated areas. 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. Oxygen is less soluble in warm water 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 recent 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 enter the aquatic food chain, 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 other 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.

You can often hear about the need to protect rare species of animals, plants, fungi and other organisms. However, it is not always obvious to everyone: why is this still necessary? Forest anemone (Red Book of the Moscow Region). The photo was taken by A. Naumkin in one of the nature reserves near Moscow during the visit of the Moscow State University Extension Department, May 2012.

What species is considered rare and why does it become so?
An organic species is considered rare if its numbers have decreased so much that it is in danger of becoming extinct. Both on the planet as a whole, and within one country and in a specific region, for example, in the Moscow region. In recent years, in the Moscow region, the number of brown bears, flying squirrels, storks, gray cranes has significantly decreased... Not only animals, but also plants have become rare: Bieberstein tulip, leafless iris, lady's slipper and even some mushrooms, for example, ram mushroom or Coral hedgehog.
It should be noted that the decrease in numbers and even the extinction of less adapted species is a natural evolutionary process. However, it must be accompanied by the emergence of new, more adapted species, and this happens slowly.
But if natural biological processes are interfered with by human activity, some species can become extinct very quickly. So quickly that the biosphere will not have time to adapt to such sudden changes in species diversity. Anthropogenic factors leading to a decrease in the number of species include both direct extermination and destruction of habitat.

Chervonets unpaired (Red Book of the Moscow Region). The photo was taken by A. Naumkin in one of the nature reserves near Moscow during the visit of the Moscow State University Extension Department, June 2011.

What can be dangerous about the disappearance of several species of plants or animals?
It would seem that the disappearance of some organic species does not cause much harm to humans, especially if these species are not used in one way or another in economic activities. However, in reality this is not the case.
Firstly, the biosphere is a very complex system, and each organism plays its own role in it. The more different species an ecosystem contains, the greater the likelihood that, under negative influence (anthropogenic and otherwise), it will be able to remain in its original form.
The loss of any biological species, in addition to the immediate danger to the biosphere, threatens human existence, since existence within a disturbed environment often becomes impossible.
Secondly, to date, most animals and plants have not yet been sufficiently studied, and it is not known for certain what functions they could perform useful for humans. For example, modern science almost every day discovers new medicinal substances contained in certain animals or plants. In particular, the sponge Tethya crypta, according to recent data, contains compounds that are potent inhibitors of various forms of cancer.
Perhaps currently incurable diseases will become curable thanks to new discoveries of this kind. But for this it is necessary to protect all species on the planet from extinction. This is especially important because extinct species cannot be restored.
Coral hedgehog (Red Book of the Moscow Region). The photo was taken by M. Vetrova in one of the reserves near Moscow during the visit of the Moscow State University Additional Department, July 2013.

How they are trying to preserve rare species
The fate of rare biological species has been worrying people for quite some time. Research into this problem has been going on since about the middle of the last century. Since then, many rare species have been protected, and their lists are included in the Red Books.
For the comprehensive protection of ecosystems where rare species live, developed countries and regions are creating systems of various specially protected natural areas (SPNA), in which human economic activity is directly prohibited or limited by the protection regime.
However, for all the protection measures taken to work effectively, an organization is needed that could regularly conduct environmental monitoring and control compliance with the rules of the protection regime of protected areas. In the Moscow region, such organizations exist only in valuable natural areas of federal significance (Losiny Ostrov National Park, Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve), however, regional protected areas that are no less important for the Moscow region actually remain unprotected
Now we are collecting signatures for the creation of the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Areas (SPNA) of the Moscow Region. You can help create this organization. Let's save rare species of the Moscow region together!