Cold Environments » Protecting Cold Environments

The value of cold environments as wilderness

A wilderness is a wild area that has been changed very little by people. Polar and tundra environments are some of the last big wilderness areas left on Earth. Few people live there, and there are very few roads, farms or towns.

These places are valuable for several reasons:

• Wildlife: they are home to species such as polar bears, Arctic foxes, caribou and lichens that are adapted to live in the cold.
• Science: scientists study ice, permafrost and the air to learn how the climate has changed in the past and may change in the future.
• Climate: huge areas of ice reflect sunlight back into space and help keep the planet cooler. Frozen ground also holds a large store of carbon.
• Tourism and culture: people travel to see the unspoiled scenery, and the land is home to peoples such as the Inuit and the Sami.

Key terms:

• Wilderness: a wild area that has been changed very little by people.
• Fragile environment: an environment that is easily damaged and slow to recover.

Remember, conservation means looking after the natural environment so it is protected for the future.

Why cold environments are fragile

Cold environments are fragile because the cold makes everything grow and recover very slowly. If a plant is crushed or a patch of ground is scarred, it can take decades to heal.

Food chains are also short, with few species. If one species is lost, others that depend on it can suffer. Pollution is slow to break down in the cold, so spilled oil can stay in the environment for a very long time.

That is why these environments are at risk from economic development such as mining, oil and gas drilling, fishing and tourism. Without protection, the wilderness could be lost.

Balancing development and conservation

Many countries want the money and jobs that come from the resources of cold environments. Conservation means protecting the environment. The challenge is to find a balance between the two. There are four main strategies.

Use of technology

Technology can let people use cold environments with less harm.

• Raised pipelines: the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline is lifted above the ground in places, so its heat does not melt the permafrost beneath.
• Insulation and careful waste handling: insulated buildings lose less heat. Waste can be flown out instead of being left behind.
• Monitoring: satellites and drones can track ice, wildlife and ships without people disturbing the animals.
• Cleaner energy: using renewable energy at remote bases reduces the fuel that has to be shipped in and burned.

The role of governments

Governments can pass laws that control how land is used. They can set up national parks and wildlife refuges, limit the number of tourists, and demand environmental checks before any mine or oil well is built. For example, in Alaska the US government protects the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to caribou, polar bears and many birds. There is a long-running debate about whether oil drilling should be allowed there, which shows the conflict between development and conservation.

International agreements

Antarctica does not belong to any one country, so protecting it needs international agreements, as you met in Effects and Management of Climate Change. The most important is the Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 and in force from 1961. Its main points are:

• Antarctica can only be used for peaceful purposes, with no military activity.
• Scientists from all countries can do research freely and share their findings.
• No new claims to own land in Antarctica can be made.

A later agreement, the Protocol on Environmental Protection (1991), bans mining in Antarctica and sets rules for waste, wildlife and tourism. Because the countries involved agree to follow these rules together, Antarctica has stayed largely free of mineral extraction.

Conservation groups

Conservation groups are organisations, often charities, that work to protect the environment. Examples include Greenpeace and WWF. They:

• campaign to make people and governments aware of threats
• put pressure on companies and governments to protect wilderness areas
• carry out research and raise money for wildlife protection

They do not have the power to make laws, but they can influence the people who do.

Exam-style question

(a) Give two reasons why cold environments should be protected. [2 marks]

(b) Explain how an international agreement can help to protect a cold environment. [3 marks]