Humans have caused
quite a bit of destruction in the Tundra throughout history, a trend that has
unfortunately been continued into the present. In the past, the fur trade was
posed a problem for animal populations. This was especially a problem for the
Arctic Fox, which was an endangered species. Due to a decline in the fur trade,
however, the Arctic Fox population has stabilized to a point where they are now
a species of least concern.
Although the threat of the fur trade seems to have receded, we merely have different problems today. Though it is still largely uninhabited by humans, they are slowly making their way into the area. There is a large opportunity for mining and oil companies in the Siberian Tundra. As people migrate to the tundra for jobs, roads are being paved and towns built. The heat from the roads and buildings is destroying the permafrost and killing plants. The pollutants from the oil companies are seeping into the soil and water and are therefore harming the species that drink from it (Caribou, etc.). Even more so, an oil spill could ruin the entire area.
In the future, I believe that humans will continue to move into areas that are part of the Siberian Tundra in search of jobs in the oil and mining industries. This, in turn, will lead to even more habitat loss. Populations of Caribou will decrease in size due to loss of permafrost and plants. Species that are critically endangered, such as the Siberian Crane, may get closer to extinction if we are not careful. If the biome were lost due to an oil spill or other catastrophe, it would affect the entire Earth. The permafrost in the arctic currently contains fossil fuels, 1,700 gigatonnes of carbon being a part of that. That's twice the carbon in the atmosphere currently; so if that were to be released due to the oil spill or global warming, the entire planet would experience a raise in temperature. All of the biomes would become much warmer than they are now, which could lead to huge decreases in the animal and plant populations in those areas.
On the bright side, the tundra is one of the best preserved biomes in the world because of the harshness of the environment and the steps humans have taken to protect it. The best way to further protect it and remedy these current issues is to use alternative energy to stall global warming, establish reserves that are outside human influence, limit construction and mining activities, and respect local cultures. If we do all of this, the tundra biome will be on its way to becoming a healthier environment for a better planet.
Although the threat of the fur trade seems to have receded, we merely have different problems today. Though it is still largely uninhabited by humans, they are slowly making their way into the area. There is a large opportunity for mining and oil companies in the Siberian Tundra. As people migrate to the tundra for jobs, roads are being paved and towns built. The heat from the roads and buildings is destroying the permafrost and killing plants. The pollutants from the oil companies are seeping into the soil and water and are therefore harming the species that drink from it (Caribou, etc.). Even more so, an oil spill could ruin the entire area.
In the future, I believe that humans will continue to move into areas that are part of the Siberian Tundra in search of jobs in the oil and mining industries. This, in turn, will lead to even more habitat loss. Populations of Caribou will decrease in size due to loss of permafrost and plants. Species that are critically endangered, such as the Siberian Crane, may get closer to extinction if we are not careful. If the biome were lost due to an oil spill or other catastrophe, it would affect the entire Earth. The permafrost in the arctic currently contains fossil fuels, 1,700 gigatonnes of carbon being a part of that. That's twice the carbon in the atmosphere currently; so if that were to be released due to the oil spill or global warming, the entire planet would experience a raise in temperature. All of the biomes would become much warmer than they are now, which could lead to huge decreases in the animal and plant populations in those areas.
On the bright side, the tundra is one of the best preserved biomes in the world because of the harshness of the environment and the steps humans have taken to protect it. The best way to further protect it and remedy these current issues is to use alternative energy to stall global warming, establish reserves that are outside human influence, limit construction and mining activities, and respect local cultures. If we do all of this, the tundra biome will be on its way to becoming a healthier environment for a better planet.