The Biogeochemical Function of Forest
in the LandOcean System

A. P. Kazankin

NIIGORLESEKOL Kislovodsk Zonal Laboratory, Zapadnaya ul. 17, Kislovodsk, 357747 Russia

Received July 30, 1998

Abstract—A direct relationship between ion outflow of rivers and the amount of forests (AF) in a continent is
demonstrated. Attention is focused on excessive concentrations of Fe, Si, Cu, Zn, Al, Mn, Co, and Se, elements
important for the life of phytoplankton, which are increased in rivers by a factor of 2 to 100, compared to
oceans. Deforestation in areas of 2 10⁷ km² and further decrease in AF result in the reduced flow of chemical
elements to the ocean. This impairs the biological productivity of the ocean and disturbs the biogeochemical
state of the biosphere. These are additional arguments for restoring forest ecosystems, primarily in areas rich in
limestone and black shales.

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