Fragile Environments Around the World (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Characteristics and distribution of fragile environments

• All environments are a balance between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components:

  • The balance in any environment or ecosystem can easily be damaged

  • Any change to one component can affect some or all of the others

• A fragile environment is vulnerable to change and may struggle to recover from any changes

• Damage and changes can be caused by both natural events such as volcanic eruptions or tropical cyclones and human activity 

• All fragile environments are impacted by the changes in climate caused by global warming 

Examples of fragile environments

Arid and semi-arid environments

• The lack of precipitation and moisture reduces the environment's ability to recover if damaged

• Shallow and infertile soils

Tropical rainforest

• Deforestation and wildfires lead to large areas being cleared

• Infertile soils make it difficult for plants to re-establish

Cold environments 

• Low temperatures reduce the ability of the environment to recover as plants cannot regrow

Coral reefs 

• Pollution and damage by tourists kill the coral and it struggles to re-establish

• Vulnerable to warming oceans and pollution