Human impacts on fragile cold environments

Question 1

Oil spills in Siberia, Russia

Answer 1

• Arctic - oil and natural gas = lots and valuable
• 2/7 Arctic basins are in Russia.
• 87% of Arctic’s oil and natural gas resource is in 7 Arctic basins.
• Oil spills common = kills plants and habitats.
• Greenpeace = 30 million barrels of land spills each year.
• Every 18 months - 4 million barrels = Arctic ocean.
• Oil spills in ocean = Poisons water, kills wildlife and destroys indigenous people wildlife.

Question 2

Tourism in Alpine environments

Answer 2

• Increase in tourism in recent years = increase wealth
• 120 million people visit Alps each year.
• Most destructive - Ski
• Illegal ski industries occur = little regard for environmental conservation.
• Old-growth forest = 2/3 continents brown bears, wolves and lynx.
• Deforestation = habitat loss - ski developments and infrastructure
• Threat to biodiversity