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Michelle Rogan-Finnemore

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Michelle Rogan-Finnemore Conservaon Challenges: the Role of Na*onal Antarc*c Programmes John Shears (COMNAP), Kevin A. Hughes (SCAR) and Aleks Terauds (SCAR) Executive Summary A workshop, held at the British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge (24-25 September 2013), was convened jointly by COMNAP and SCAR to identify practical national Antarctic programme-led responses to short and longer-term conservation challenges in Antarctica (as identified by Chown et al., 2012). The outcomes of the workshop were to inform the drafting by SCAR of an Antarctic Conservation Strategy, the aim of which is to produce a more integrated, comprehensive and dynamic approach to conservation in the region and to inform conservation decision-making and policy. It was clear that some Antarctic conservation challenges, such as climate change impacts in marine and terrestrial environments, ocean acidification and pollution from global sources, could not be addressed by action within the Antarctic region alone. Nevertheless, Antarctic scientists could usefully undertake important monitoring and research to inform the global debate on these issues and, where appropriate and practical, show leadership by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Participants felt that national Antarctic programmes were better placed to address local conservation challenges, such as invasive alien species, habitat alteration and activity impacts and pollution from local sources (including fuel handling, waste management and repair and remediation activities). In some cases, the risks presented by these challenges could be reduced by (a) the identification and dissemination of existing best practice, (b) the full implementation of existing regulations and guidelines, and (c) enhanced education of national Antarctic programme personnel visiting Antarctica. It was emphasised that Treaty Parties need targeted research, monitoring and evidence to support their conservation decision-making. Implementing solutions to some current and potential conservation challenges (such as sustainable marine resource use, commercial activities, hydrocarbon exploration, mineral extraction, biological prospecting and geo-engineering) was linked closely with the process of decision-making, for which a strong Antarctic Treaty System was essential. An Antarctic Conservation Strategy could help support a strong Antarctic Treaty System by collating evidence and research to support decision making. It was recognised generally that SCAR and COMNAP are well-placed to work together to enhance conservation in Antarctica and, in particular, through the development of the Antarctic Conservation Strategy. Workshop Report available at: https://www.comnap.aq/Publications/Comnap%20Publications/Workshop%20Report%20Antarctic %20Conservation%20Strategy%20FINAL%20130114.pdf Background In 2011, a SCAR horizon-scanning exercise assessed current and future AntarcJc conservaon challenges (Chown et al., 2012.) SCAR concluded that decision- making and policy in AntarcJca stand to realize substanJal benefits from a more comprehensive, integrated approach to conservaon in the region. History of AntarcJc Conservaon Year Internaonal Instruments/Development 1946 Internaonal ConvenJon for the Regulaon of Whaling 1959 The AntarcJc Treaty (focussed on Peace and Science) 1964 Agreed Measures for the Conservaon of Fauna and Flora (including designaon of Specially Protected Areas) 1972 ConvenJon for the Conservaon of AntarcJc Seals (CCAS) 1980 ConvenJon on the Conservaon of AntarcJc Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Late ConvenJon on the Regulaon of AntarcJc Mineral Resource 1980s AcJviJes (CRAMRA) – did not enter into force 1991 Protocol on Environmental ProtecJon to the AntarcJc Treaty 1991 IUCN ‘A Strategy for Antarcc Conserva.on’ Antarctic Conservation Strategy and the National Antarctic Programmes It is now over 23 years since the IUCN’s ‘A Strategy for AntarcJc Conservaon’ was published. A new AntarcJc Conservaon Strategy (ACS) is need that addresses exisJng and emerging conservaon challenges. One of the key steps in the development of an ACS is to collaborate to idenJfy the ways in which naonal AntarcJc programmes (NAPs) and others can help address conservaon challenges and the requirements of conservaon in a pracJcable manner. Therefore, a workshop was held to allow clear communicaon between AntarcJc conservaon biologists and those responsible for AntarcJc operaons (COMNAP). The workshop, held at the BriJsh AntarcJc Survey, Cambridge (24-25 September 2013), was convened jointly by COMNAP and SCAR to idenJfy pracJcal naonal AntarcJc programme-led responses to short and longer-term conservaon challenges in AntarcJca. Participants • Workshop was kept small and focussed, with a clear emphasis on those experienced with operaonal and logisJcs maers from a NAP perspecJve • Invitaon-only workshop • Eighteen parJcipants were able to aend • Comments were not aributed to individual aendees. • The workshop presentaons and discussions were facilitated by dr. John Shears (COMNAP), dr. Kevin Hughes (SCAR) and dr. Aleks Terauds (SCAR). Workshop aims • IdenJfy which conservaon challenges are (a) within close range of being addressed, (b) cannot be addressed due to technical issues or are outside the scope of being addressed in a local context or (c) can be addressed technically, but are financially unreachable. • Set out clearly a list of priority acJons for NAPs so they can start addressing the conservaon challenges immediately. • Examine the major elements of the AntarcJc Conservaon Strategy and indicate what the logisJc and operaonal implicaons might be of implemenJng such a strategy. The conservaon challenges under consideraon (as idenJfied by Chown et al., 2012) • Short-term conservaon challenges: 0-10 year Jmeframe 2014 → 2024 • Longer-term conservaon challenges: ~50 year Jmeframe 2064 Short-term Conservaon Challenges (as idenJfied by Chown et al., 2012) 1. Climate change, marine ecosystem effects and marine resource use 2. Ocean acidificaon 3. Invasive alien species 4. Habitat alteraon and acJvity 0 - 10 years ahead impacts 5. PolluJon 6. Regulatory failure 1. Climate change, marine ecosystem effects and marine resource use Atmospheric C02 Aug 2014: 399 ppm AntarcJc regional warming Ocean temperature Surface air temperature Vernadsky Station, Antarctic Peninsula 3oC of warming in the past 56 years Ice shelf collapse – altered habitats Collapse of Larsen B Ice Shelf in 2002 Changes in sea ice extent: implicaons for marine species Fishing Ensuring marine resource extraction is conducted in a sustainable fashion is a major governance challenge Other impacts on the marine environment • Incidental mortality of seabirds • Bycatch (vertebrate and invertebrate) • Seabed disturbance by longlines (impact on benthos) • All need to be considered within marine ecosystem protecJon and management Closely linked.... 2. Ocean acidificaon • Colder polar oceans absorb more CO2, giving lower pH • decreasing temperature and pH increase solubility of CaCO3 in seawater • If surface AntarcJc waters become under-saturated in CaCO3 there may be implicaons for species with CaCO3 skeleton/ shells (community structure, predator/prey interacJons, distribuJon) Surface Atlantic Pacific The aragonite saturation state in the year 2100 (Orr et al., 2005) Closely linked.... 3. Invasive alien species • Climate change has elevated the risk of alien species introductions, some of which may become invasive • Risk will be increased with growing tourism and national operator activity (Chown et al. 2012, PNAS) • Work by SCAR, COMNAP and CEP made this one of most recognised threats to Antarctic ecosystems • Biosecurity standards vary between operators • Risk of transfer of organisms between biogeographic regions within Antarctica is less well-recognised and poorly regulated. 4. Habitat alteraon and acJvity impacts • Only 0.34% of the AntarcJc conJnent is ice-free (44,000 km2) • Area of ice-free ground within 5 km of the coast is c. 6,000 km2 (area smaller than Yellowstone Naonal Park and Galapagos Islands) • This is shared by the majority of flora, fauna, historic sites, c. 115 used and abandoned staons, research sites and tourism Impacts on species and ecosystems • displacement of wildlife • disease transfer • disturbance and interrupJon of breeding • Collision and strike injuries at sea • damage to vegetaon and soils structure Infrastructure that has footprint that lasts more than 1 year ASOC AntarcJc tourism Individual tourist landings (1989-2009) Shipping traffic Lynch et al., 2010 5. PolluJon • Global and local in source • PolluJon of snow, local freshwater ecosystems, marine environment and soils • Fuel, sewage, dust, heavy metals, PCBs, marine debris, emissions from exhausts and incineraon • Marine noise polluJon Abandoned dumps and staons • Legacy of waste dumps pre-dang Environmental Protocol • Removal and/or bioremediaon? I. Snape Marine incidents Bahia Pariso 1989 MV Explorer 2007 Lack infrastructure to respond effectively to a major oil spill 6. Regulatory failure • Diversification of science and tourism may challenge regulatory responses by Parties and ATCM • Activities near/within protected areas may impact upon the values under protection • A dynamic conservation planning approach to protected areas has not yet been fully implemented by CEP • How do we ensure sustainable marine resource extraction? Can Marine Protected Areas play a part in this? Longer-term Conservaon Challenges (as idenJfied by Chown et al., 2012) 1. Geo-engineering 2. Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems 3. Climate
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