Sustaining Ecosystems

Tropical Rainforest, Small Scale - Antarctica, Global Scale - Antarctica

Crocker Range Biosphere: **General Information**

* ^^**Borneo**^^
* ^^**East** of **Malaysia**^^
* Southeast of ^^**Asia**^^
* Made of **3 zones:** Core, Buffer, Transition

Crocker Range Biosphere: **Zones**

__**Core:**__

* %%**Protects natural vegetation**%%
* Environmentally sustainable
* Strictly for %%**long-term research, environmental education & tourism**%%

__**Buffer:**__

* @@**52** villages@@
* **Socially sustainable**
* @@**Preserves** cultural traditions - hunting@@

\

__**Transition:**__

* **400** villages
* ↑ **tourism** → **↑ money to protect Buffer & Core**
* Palm oil & rubber plantations **observed carefully**

Crocker Range Biosphere: **Threats**

__**Deforestation:**__

* ==**Habitat loss**==
* ==**Biodiversity loss**==
* ==**Flooding**==
* ↓ Trees to absorb rainfall

__**Mining:**__

* **Soil &** ==**Water contamination**==
* Toxic runoff
* ==**Communities displaced**==
* Encourages ==**deforestation & roadbuilding**==

Crocker Range Biosphere: **Sustainable Management**

__**Environmental Sustainability:**__

* **Legally protected**
* %%Prevents **poaching & deforestation**%%
* %%Zones **carefully monitored**%%
* %%**No long-term damage**%%
* %%**Environmental education**%%
* %%**Future** generations%% know how to %%**manage biosphere sustainably**%%
* %%**Preserves** endangered animals%% & vegetation
* %%**Endemic:** Clouded leopard%%
* **Endangered:** Orangutan

__**Economic Sustainability:**__

* Provides **medicine** & **cures**
* **Tourism** protects **buffer & core** zones financially

__**Social Sustainability:**__

* @@**Locals** can still live there@@
* @@**Preserve cultural practices**@@
* **New medicine** can @@**cure illnesses & save lives**@@

Union Glacier: **General information**

* **Antarctica**
* **North west - Ellsworth range**
* **Tourism** & Logistics hub
* Activities: walking, trekking, climbing, visiting penguin colonies

Union Glacier: **Sustainable**

* **Guidelines:** Tourists stay **5m away from wildlife**
* %%Some equipment is **solar-powered**%%
* %%**Reduce diesel**%%
* %%**Strict biosecurity measures**%%
* %%Prevent **cross-contamination**%%
* %%Guests encouraged to **cut down showering** %%- save water
* %%Waste **carefully** **contained & removed**%%

Union Glacier: **Not Sustainable**

* **5m still close**
* ==**Disturbing** wildlife==
* **Profit making company**
* ==**Sustainability** **not** primary objective==
* People ==travel **large distances**==
* ==**Aeroplanes: FOSSIL FUELS**== **>:[**
* ==↑↑ **Carbon footprint**==
* ==**Risk** of **environmental misconduct**==
* ==Could cause **huge damage**==

Antarctic Treaty: **Context**

* Signed in **1961**
* Initially **12** countries → Now **52** countries signed
* Regulates **human activity** in the Antarctic
* Resolve **political disputes** over territory

Antarctic Treaty: **Sustainability**

* %%Prohibits **military bases**%% & weapon testing
* %%Prohibits **nuclear explosions**%% & nuclear waste
* %%Prohibits mining of **mineral resources**%%
* %%Preserves **historical sites**%%
* Explorers huts
* **The Environmental Protocol**

Antarctic Treaty: **Limitations**

* ==**Tourism** still allowed==
* ==Impacts of **tourism**== e.g. Union Glacier
* ==Doesn’t protect **marine animals**==

Antarctic Treaty: **The Environmental Protocol**

* Came into %%effect in **1988**%%
* States %%Antarctica is a **natural reserve, dedicated to peace and science**%%
* Stresses need to %%**conserve Antarctica’s** **vegetation, reduce waste** & **prevent marine pollution**%%
* %%Promotes **international research**%%
* Ensures %%Antarctica is used for **peaceful purposes**%%
* Requires parties to %%give advanced notice on expeditions%%
* %%**No interference with wildlife**%%

**Threats** to **Antarctic**