Management strategies

Wherever possible, countries exploit the resources found in their tundra environments to help them increase income and secure energy supplies. To ensure the tundra is conserved for future generations, sustainable development is absolutely crucial for its survival.

Management strategies include:

• Habitat Conservation Programmes are sometimes established in tundra environments to protect the unique home for tundra wildlife.
• In Canada and Russia, many tundra areas are protected through a national Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The BAP is an internationally recognised programme designed to protect and restore threatened species and habitats.
• Reducing global warming is crucial to protecting the tundra environment because the heating up of Arctic areas is threatening the existence of this fragile environment.
• Many countries have invested heavily in alternative sources of energy such as wind, wave and solar power. These sources of energy are renewable and more environmentally friendly than burning fossil fuels, which increases carbon emissions and global warming.
• With energy consumption rising, it is important that industry, transportation and consumers in their homes use energy more efficiently, so that less is wasted. We need to reduce our carbon footprint - the amount of carbon that we produce. Everyone can help by making changes to their lifestyles and houses, for example by:
  • Walking, cycling, or using public transport rather than fossil-fuel powered cars.
  • Reducing the number of aircraft journeys taken - especially short-haul flights.
  • Using smaller more energy-efficient cars, or electric cars.
  • Switching off lights, power sockets, phone chargers and TVs when not in use.
  • Recycling and reusing plastics and oil-based products.
  • Using energy-efficient lightbulbs and rechargeable batteries.
  • Insulating house roofs, blocking draughts, and using double-glazing and energy-efficient heating systems.
  • Considering installing solar panels or switching to an electricity supplier that supplies green electricity.