Human Activity & Tundra (SQA National 5 Geography): Revision Note

Human activity in the tundra ecosystem

• People use the tundra landscape to their advantage in several ways

• But sometimes the landscape is misused, causing problems for people and the environment

Indigenous people

• Indigenous people, such as Inuits, tend to use the tundra environment in a sustainable way

• They have lived in the tundra for thousands of years and adapted their lifestyles to cope with the harsh climate

• They use traditional methods to hunt and fish for their food

  • They only hunt enough food to survive, which reduces the impact on the ecosystem

  • They use every part of the animal to avoid waste

    • Skins and fur for clothing

    • Bones and antlers for tools

Mineral extraction

• There are large reserves of oil and gas in the Arctic tundra

  • Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, USA, is the largest oil field in North America

• There are also reserves of minerals like gold, silver, iron ore, copper and diamonds

  • The Red Dog Mine in Alaska, USA, is the world’s largest producer of zinc

  • Kiruna Mine in Sweden is a major iron ore producer

• Benefits (uses)

  • Provides energy and valuable minerals for industries

  • Creates jobs and boosts the economy

• Costs (misuses)

  • Construction and heavy machinery damage vegetation and permafrost

  • Oil spills and toxic waste pollute the environment

  • Roads and pipelines can destroy habitats and disrupt animal migration

Tourism

• Tourism in the tundra is growing

  • People are attracted by activities like seeing the Northern Lights, hiking and dog sledding

  • 1.8 million people visited Lapland in Finland in 2024

• Benefits (uses)

  • Provides jobs and income for local communities

  • Raises awareness of the tundra ecosystem and climate change

  • People are educated about indigenous cultures, helping to preserve traditions

  • Helps to fund conservation efforts

• Costs (misuses)

  • Some tourists visit to hunt animals like caribou and musk oxen, which can lead to over-hunting

  • Increased numbers of visitors cause trampling of vegetation and disruption of wildlife

  • Pollution from vehicles and cruise ships damages ecosystems

Transport and infrastructure

• Roads and pipelines increase the number of people and vehicles in the tundra 

• Heat generated by infrastructure, such as terminal buildings, homes and transport, causes permafrost to thaw

  • This can cause the infrastructure to crack and collapse

• Benefits (uses)

  • Improves accessibility for remote communities

  • Enables development, boosting the economy

  • Provides goods and services, improving the quality of life

• Costs (misuses)

  • Construction scars the landscape

  • Disrupts animal migration routes

  • Threatens traditional cultures

Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS)

• This 800-mile-long pipeline transports oil from Prudhoe Bay in Northern Alaska to Valdez on the south coast

• Benefits (uses)

  • Oil can be exported globally from an ice-free port

  • Provides jobs and income

  • It was built on stilts to raise it above the ground, preventing the transfer of heat to the permafrost

  • Some sections are elevated to allow animals to pass underneath safely

• Costs (misuses)

  • Disrupts indigenous people’s traditional hunting areas 

  • Construction damaged vegetation

  • Disturbs animals’ breeding grounds

  • Disrupts the migration patterns of animals like caribou

  • Risk of oil spills

  • Requires constant monitoring and maintenance

Impacts of human activity in the tundra

Effects of land degradation on people and the environment

Impacts on people

• Land and water pollution means that indigenous people may be unable to hunt and fish for their food

  • People are forced to buy imported foods at high prices

  • Connection to land and culture is lost

• Traditional cultures are threatened as indigenous people get jobs in industries such as mining 

  • Younger generations don’t learn traditional skills like hunting and tracking

• Pollution leads to an increase in respiratory illnesses and cancer

• Mental health problems like depression increase due to rapid cultural change

• Buildings and roads become damaged as permafrost melts

  • Leads to high repair costs and safety risks

Impacts on the environment

• Cold environments are fragile and easily damaged

• Vegetation is damaged and destroyed by construction and vehicles

  • Some animals lose their habitats and food sources

  • Plants take years to regrow, leaving the soil bare and exposed to erosion

• Oil spills and toxic waste from mining pollute rivers and lakes

  • Impacts aquatic ecosystems and food chains

• Roads and pipelines can block animal migration routes

  • Wildlife can’t access food sources and breeding areas

• Noise and construction can disrupt wildlife breeding and feeding areas

  • Species numbers decline

• Sea ice melts, disrupting animal feeding patterns

  • Species such as polar bears become vulnerable as they struggle to hunt

• Permafrost melts, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane

  • These greenhouse gases contribute to the enhanced greenhouse effect and further global warming 

Managing human activity in the tundra

• Many strategies have been used to minimise the impacts of human activity 

The Arctic Council 

• Arctic countries work together to protect and manage the tundra environment

• Indigenous people are included in decision-making

• The Arctic Council carries out research and monitoring of the impacts of climate change and industrial activity in the tundra

• It develops guidelines and agreements to promote sustainable management

Adaptations to infrastructure

• Roads, pipelines and buildings can be built on stilts or gravel pads to reduce heat transfer and melting of permafrost

  • The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is raised on stilts and uses refrigerated supports to keep the ground frozen

Wildlife conservation

• National Parks are created to conserve wildlife and the environment

  • Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska is the largest national park in the USA

• Governments also use Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) to protect and restore species and habitats

• Industrial activity is restricted in wildlife corridors to allow animals to migrate safely

• Groups like the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) help to raise awareness of climate change and biodiversity loss

  • This encourages sustainable management and pressures governments to prevent damage

• Hunting restrictions help to protect ecosystems and food chains

  • Quotas limit the number of animals that can be hunted

  • Hunting is banned during breeding seasons to protect young animals

Management of tourism

• Popular tourist destinations such as Svalbard, Norway, can be managed to make them more sustainable

• Strategies include:

  • Strict limits on the use of vehicles

  • Tour operators and visitors have to get permission to visit nature reserves

  • Plants are protected by law to prevent people from picking flowers or trampling vegetation

  • People must view animals from a distance to prevent disturbance

Climate change mitigation

• International climate agreements like the Paris Agreement help to limit global warming

  • It encourages countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by shifting to renewable energy sources and lowering energy demand 

• This would prevent permafrost and sea ice from melting, protecting the ecosystem