Fragile Environment – An environment that is both easily disturbed and difficult to restore if disturbed

To remember the meaning of the term Fragile Environment, use the following mnemonic:

With her fractured leg, she wasn't very agile (fragile). She damaged her leg so easily and it will be difficult to restore it.

Cold environments are among the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth. They have fragile ecosystems. Development such as mining can put them at risk of damage.

Governments play a key role in ensuring that the technology used in cold environments is managed responsibly. International agreements allow the setting of standards to ensure that economic development does not happen at the expense of the environment.

An example is the Antarctica Treaty, which is supported and recognised by around 50 countries. Conservation groups put pressure on governments not to exploit the resources found in cold environments.