Problems faced by the Arctic

Conservation of the Arctic is important because of it's vulnerability. Plants and animals that live in the Arctic have adapted well to their environment but they are very sensitive to change. One of the criteria for conservation designations is the vulnerability of a certain area to change (http://biodiversitya-z.org/areas/11). As many arctic organisms are at the limits of their existence, small changes in habitats can cause great changes in species distribution [1]. Tundra vegetation has a slow recovery time from disturbance, which can have a long-lasting effect in the Arctic [2].

Lars glacier, Svalbard © Malcolm Parsons

Rising temperatures as a result of climate change are one of the greatest problems that the Arctic is facing today. Although rising temperatures and other changes in climate are being experience all over the world, it is predicted that the most significant changes will be in the Arctic [3]. Increases in temperature are predicted to cause major changes in arctic ecosystems, e.g. changes in vegetational zones, melting permafrost and reduced snow cover.