Living world 4

What is a fragile environment?

environment thats easily damaged

Wilderness

unspoilt/remote regions of the world, no human modification/large scale human involvement.

Areas under extreme temp & inaccessibility used to keep tourism at bay. Modern transportation gives easy access, opened up to tourism & business opportunities.

Tourists - new exotic places

Energy & mining companies - to discover new natural resources

Why do we need to preserve/protect?

maintain genetic diversity.

scientific research - must have access to undisturbed animals /plant communities.

Things that are a risk for environments

- Risk of fire/ started deliberately/by lightning.

- Trees killed by oil spill

- River pollution

- Electricity pylons; resulted in tree clearance & environmental damage

- Oil leaked from broken pipelines

- River edge habitats polluted & destroyed; vegetation may never recover

Social; why cold environments need to be protected

- Fragile; easily damaged by human activities, tundra takes a long time to become established/recover.

- Cultural erosion, languages (used to be 20 NA languages spoken, now use english), native names replaced with english names.

- Traditions adopted from environment; inuits hunt and kill bowhead whales

Economic; why cold environments need to be protected

- Beauty and potential for adventure and tourism

- Outdoor laboratories for scientific research

Environmental; why cold environments need to be protected

- Opportunities for forestry and fishing

- Tourism; transport could lead to new non-native species impacting foods chains

- Biodiversity-birds, animals, and plant

- Natural resources; oil, gas, precious minerals such as gold.

- Snow & ice reflect sunlight & helps regulate earth's temp. Permafrost holds enormous volumes of methane

For economic development in wilderness areas

- Rich in resources - oil, minerals, fish & timber.

- Over 4 million live in Arctic in balance with environment.

- Technology & education now allows environment to be exploited with less impact.

Against economic development in wilderness areas

- Fragile and easily damaged environment

- Untouched natural environments provide important outdoor scientific laboratories

- rare plants and animals would be protected

How can the risk to cold environments be reduced?

technology, gov, conservation groups, education

Use of technology - trans alaskan pipeline

Crosses rivers, oil from ground very hot (melt permafrost), cracks caused by earthquakes can lead to leaks, herds might migrate across route of pipeline.

Pumping stations keep it moving, passes beneath rivers. Raised on stilts and insulated to retain heat, supported & flexible, flow of oil stops if there is a leak, raised to allow migration.

Conservation groups; WWF in canada

Works with local communities to manage critical ecosystems. Supports scientific research to help protect important species. Works with oil companies, local inuit organisations & gov regulators to plant sustainable future for arctic.

Successes of conservation groups

Bowhead whale sanctuary to be protected in nunavut:

- canadas newest proposed national wildlife area, critical habitat for threatened bowhead whales.

International organisations - arctic council

- International agreements influence what happens to cold environments & their ecosystems

- Represents 8 countries & indigenous people of arctic.

- Implements protection laws

International agreements - Antarctic treaty

- In 1959, antarctic treaty signed with territorial claims to anarctica. Aim to protect natural environment.

The treaty recognises importance of continent for scientific research, climate change, controls tourism & keeps disturbances to minimum.

Successes of the Antarctic Treaty

- Protocol on environmental protections to antarctic treaty, sets aside antarctica as a natural preserve.

National governments

Entirely responsible for managing their own ecosystems - difficult as they have to keep a variety of players/stakeholders happy.

State is running short of money due to low world oil prices, same wanted to produce more to increase income. Obama banned oil exploration from taking place in 12 million acres from arctic national wildlife refuge.

10% of all arctic land has some protection

Action by governments- alaska

National environmental policy act, ensures companies involved with oil protect natural environments & rights of natives.

Creation of western Arctic reserve - 9 million hectare protected wilderness - home to caribou, migratory birds, wolves, polar bears, drilling of oil prevented from this area.

Sustainable fisheries and protection of marine habitats, maintains alaskas commercial fishing industry, valued at 4.2 billion usd in sales impact.

Non-gov organisations

Inuit circumpolar council represents local indigenous people, protest on behalf of locals.

Campaign against pebble mine.

in 2014, greenspace sent campaigners to russias arctic circle to protect against oil exploration, gov arrested & imprisoned them.

Greenspace was a global sanctuary to be established in arctic, all resources off limits, no oil drilling/industrial fishing. Cal limit indigenous peoples cultures & traditions.