C.4.2 Competition for Resources in Extreme Environments Notes

Resource Conflicts and Stakeholder Roles

1. Extreme environments are often rich in natural resources, making them attractive for activities like mining and oil drilling.
2. However, these regions are environmentally sensitive, and the interconnectedness of their systems means that even localized activities can have widespread consequences.
3. Resource conflicts arise when multiple stakeholders have competing interests over the use, control, or preservation of natural resources.
4. These conflicts can operate on different scales - from local to global.

Resource Extraction Disrupts Ecosystems

Ecosystems in extreme environments are highly specialized and vulnerable to disruption. Resource extraction can have profound effects, including:

1. Habitat Destruction: The clearing of land for mining or drilling operations destroys habitats for plants and animals. For instance, open-pit mining in deserts can remove vegetation that stabilizes soil, leading to erosion and desertification.
2. Pollution: Harmful substances released during extraction processes can contaminate the environment. Toxic tailings from mining, for example, can leach into soil and water, harming local flora and fauna.
3. Biodiversity Loss: Many species in extreme environments are endemic, meaning they exist nowhere else. Habitat destruction and pollution can drive these species to extinction, reducing biodiversity.

Water Supply Impacts: A Critical Concern

Water is a scarce and vital resource in many extreme environments. Resource extraction can significantly impact water supplies in the following ways:

1. Depletion of Water Resources: Mining and drilling often require large amounts of water, depleting local sources. In deserts, this can lower water tables, making it harder for plants, animals, and humans to access water.
2. Water Pollution: Chemicals used in extraction processes, such as cyanide in gold mining, can contaminate water supplies. This not only harms ecosystems but also poses health risks to nearby communities.

Key Stakeholders in Resource Conflicts

Indigenous Groups

1. Indigenous communities often have deep cultural and spiritual connections to their land.
2. They rely on natural resources for their livelihoods, such as hunting, fishing, and agriculture.
3. Challenges: Development projects can disrupt ecosystems, threaten food security, and undermine traditional practices.
4. Role: Indigenous groups advocate for land rights, environmental protection, and fair compensation.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

1. Focus Areas: Environmental conservation, human rights, and social justice.
2. Role: They raise awareness, lobby governments, and provide legal or financial support to affected communities.

Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

1. TNCs invest in resource extraction projects, such as mining, oil drilling, and logging.
2. They bring economic benefits like jobs and infrastructure but can also cause environmental degradation and social disruption.
3. Role: TNCs are driven by profit but are increasingly pressured to adopt sustainable practices and engage with local communities.

Militia Groups

1. In some regions, armed groups exploit natural resources to fund conflicts.
2. They may control mining operations, extort local populations, or engage in illegal trade.
3. Impact: This destabilizes regions, exacerbates poverty, and hinders sustainable development.

Case study

Arctic Resource Conflicts

1. The Arctic is a region of immense geopolitical interest due to its vast reserves of oil and gas, estimated at 90 billion barrels of oil and 1,670 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
2. As climate change melts sea ice, these resources become more accessible, sparking competition among nations and raising environmental concerns.

Overlapping Claims

1. Nations Involved: Russia, Canada, Norway, the United States, and Denmark are all vying for control over Arctic territories.
2. This has led to overlapping claims, particularly around the Lomonosov Ridge, which Russia, Canada, and Denmark all assert as part of their territory.
3. Legal Framework: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows countries to claim an extended continental shelf if they can prove it is a natural extension of their land.

Common Mistake

A common misconception is that the Arctic is "up for grabs." In reality, international laws like UNCLOS govern territorial claims, but enforcement can be challenging.

Stakeholders in the Arctic

1. Nations: Compete for economic and strategic advantages, such as access to shipping routes and energy resources.
2. Indigenous Groups: Inuit and other Arctic communities depend on the environment for hunting and fishing. Resource extraction threatens their way of life and the fragile ecosystem.
3. Environmental Groups: Organizations like Greenpeace oppose Arctic drilling due to the risk of oil spills and the impact on wildlife.
4. TNCs: Companies like Gazprom and ExxonMobil invest in Arctic exploration, seeking to profit from untapped resources.

Managing Resource Conflicts

1. Legal Frameworks: International agreements like UNCLOS help mediate territorial disputes, but enforcement remains a challenge.
2. Community Engagement: Involving local communities in decision-making can reduce tensions and ensure fair compensation.
3. Sustainable Practices: TNCs can adopt environmentally friendly technologies and collaborate with CSOs to minimize harm.
4. Conflict Resolution: Diplomacy and negotiation are essential to prevent resource conflicts from escalating into violence.

Reflection and Broader Implications

System Connectivity in Extreme Environments

Both resource extraction and tourism growth highlight the interconnectedness of natural and human systems in extreme environments. Changes in one part of the system can trigger cascading effects elsewhere. For example:

1. Feedback Loops: Habitat destruction from mining can lead to soil erosion, which reduces vegetation cover, further destabilizing the ecosystem.
2. Competing Demands: Tourism and resource extraction often compete for the same resources, such as water, leading to conflicts and trade-offs.
3. Global Implications: The impacts of these activities are not confined to the local area. For instance, deforestation in tropical rainforests contributes to global climate change.