HUMANS BEING HUMANS.
Earth’s tundra regions are harsh and remote, so fewer humans have settled there than in other environments. However, humans have a long history in the tundra. For example, the first people who came to North America from Asia more than 20,000 years ago traveled through vast tundra settings on both continents. Since then human activity in tundra ecosystems has increased.
- Procurement of food, fashion, and building materials.
- Construction of residences and other structures, as well as through the development of ski resorts, mines, and roads.
- Hunting
- Oil drilling
Oil and Gas Drilling
The Arctic is estimated to hold the world's largest remaining untapped gas reserves and some of its largest undeveloped oil reserves. These reserves if tapped have implications for the global climate, and for the Arctic environment. Oil spills, whether from blowouts, pipeline leaks or shipping accidents, pose a tremendous risk to arctic ecosystems. Spill cleanup is impossible. There is no proven effective method for containing and cleaning up an oil spill in icy water. This also poses a threat to the marine ecosystems associated with Tundras.