Managing the Threats to Glaciated Landscapes
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 2.5.4
Stakeholders and Approaches in Managing Threats
A wide variety of different players are involved in managing glaciated landscapes. They have a lot of different approaches with different levels of protection.
Stakeholders
- Conservationists tend to mount campaigns, lobby governments and raise awareness of issues.
- National governments pass legislation to protect and/or conserve fragile landscapes.
- Local/regional governments are involved in the direct management and policing of legislation.
- Global organisations establish and monitor international agreements.
- NGOs work to protect the environments and the indigenous people who live in them.
Approaches
- Protection through creating wilderness reserves limits human activity and enhances the preservation of landscapes.
- E.g. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska.
- Sustainable management is the balance of preservation and the needs of the people who live in an area.
- E.g. The approach of the Peak District National Park Authority in the UK.
- Multiple economic use is where some form of economic activity may be prioritised.
- E.g. Tourism in the Golden Triangle and the Blue Lagoon (Iceland).
Legislation Frameworks and Responses to Climate Change
It is difficult to coordinate frameworks of legislation between countries for a number of reasons. But, it is vital that we do this because climate change is a significant threat to glacial environments.
Legislative frameworks
- Countries may have differing views on conservation, management and the exploitation of resources.
- The financial and human resources available for management may be different.
- Legal systems may differ between countries.
- Countries may have poor international relations, making agreement hard to reach.
Responding to climate change
- Climate change is the most significant threat to glacial environments, especially the Arctic and Antarctica.
- It may be managed by global agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- E.g. the Kyoto Protocol and COP21 Paris Agreement.
- In the Paris Agreement, the main commitment was to keep global temperature increases below 2oC by 2100.
- National policies have been created by many countries in the developed world, with the exception of the USA (under President Trump).
Test yourself on Managing the Threats to Glaciated Landscapes
What is the ANWR in Alaska?
What is the most significant threat to glacial environments, especially the Arctic and Antarctica?
Why is it difficult to coordinate frameworks of legislation?
Which of the following are global agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?