Risks of Economic Development Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Give two reasons cold environments are valued as wilderness areas.

They are among the last places largely untouched by people, and they provide sites for scientific research such as ice cores that record past climate.

True or false? Cold environments recover quickly from damage caused by development.

False. The short growing season means plants grow very slowly, so scars such as vehicle tracks can remain for decades.

Give one way technology helps balance development and conservation in cold environments.

Insulated pipelines and refrigerated (thermosyphon) piles keep the permafrost frozen; modern seismic surveys reduce the number of test wells needed.

What is the role of governments in protecting cold environments?

They designate protected land and set rules on development, e.g. the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (1980) protected over 40 million hectares as parks and refuges.

Name an international agreement that protects a cold environment and what it does.

The Antarctic Treaty (1959) and its 1991 Environmental Protocol: Antarctica is used only for peaceful scientific research and mining is banned.

How do conservation groups help protect cold environments?

They campaign against damaging development and work with governments and businesses, e.g. WWF promotes sustainable Arctic fishing and Greenpeace's 'Save the Arctic' campaign opposes oil drilling.