Rapid Changes for Arctic Flora and Fauna

Over the past decade, research has shown that there has been a rapid decrease in sea ice, tundra, lakes and peatlands.  In 2008 a decree was passed by The United Nations Environment Program which expressed its concern of the dwindling tundra.  Some of the points the report introduced was the fact that the animals and people were being majorly affected by the climate change.  Polar Bears are one of the chief animals that are affected.  The polar bears are equipped to live on the sea ice; but with the climate change, their habitat is thinning and melting away.  With the warming climate, foreign plants are beginning to take root farther north and replacing currently residing plants.  Trees are also being seen further north and the results show that fifty-one percent of the tundra will be taken over by trees.  With the climate warming, the permafrost is retreating.  Coral reefs are a habitat for fish and other sea life and are in danger by human interference such as fisheries, gas and oil explosions.  Overall, with the climate change and human interferences the current animal and plant residents may not survive in the future.

                My opinion on this is that yes the climate may be getting warmer; but that’s just what the weather does, it changes.  What I think the best thing to do would be to make the residents well aware of what is happening to the tundra and cut down on heat release to try to maintain as much a normal climate as possible.  Looking at the aquatic side of climate change, mark off the coral reefs so the fisheries are well aware of where they are so they can prevent damage. As a whole, what is happening is just an act of nature.  They cannot control the weather and temperature but they can make themselves knowledgeable of how to make less of an impact on the land.