reasons for protecting

• What are cold environments described as?

  Fragile areas needing sustainable management
• Why are cold environments considered valuable wilderness areas?

  They are mostly undeveloped, uninhabited undisturbed
• Give an example of a cold wilderness area.

  Denali Park, Alaska
• Why is it important to conserve wilderness areas in cold environments?

  • Provide habitats for unique organisms
  • Allow study of natural, unaffected ecosystems
  • Help replicate conditions in managed ecosystems
  • Preserve rare species outside protected areas
• How long can it take for cold environments to recover from human interference?

  Centuries
• Why are cold environments considered extremely fragile?

  They take centuries to return to original state
• What is a reason for the slow recovery of cold environments?

  Slow plant growth after damage
• How does human interference affect plant regrowth in cold environments?

  Damage from vehicles slows down regrowth
• Why do species in cold environments struggle to adapt to change?

  They are highly specialised for specific conditions
• What is an example of a species that struggles due to climate change in cold environments?

  Polar bears
• Why are polar bear numbers decreasing?

  Polar bears are adapted to hunt on ice but sea ice melts earlier each year