DOCSLIB.ORG

Review of the Implementation of the Madrid Protocol: Inspections by Parties (Article 14)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Review of the Implementation of the Madrid Protocol: Inspections by Parties (Article 14) IP 59 Agenda Item: ATCM 12, CEP 10 Presented by: UNEP, ASOC Original: English Submitted: 14/05/2012 Review of the Implementation of the Madrid Protocol: Inspections by Parties (Article 14) 1 IP 59 Review of the Implementation of the Madrid Protocol: Inspections by Parties (Article 14) Information Paper submitted by UNEP and ASOC1 Summary This Information Paper reviews the practice of inspections undertaken by Parties carried out under Article 14 of the Madrid Protocol. 1. Introduction Over the last two decades, the deliberations of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings have increasingly focused on the protection of the Antarctic environment. Through the Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol), the Parties committed themselves to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and designated Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. The Protocol entered into force on 14 January 1998 following the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by all the states which were Consultative Parties on 4 October 1991 when the Protocol was signed. The Committee for Environmental Protection was established the same year in accordance with Article 11 of the Protocol. The success of the Antarctic Treaty in protecting the Antarctic environment hinges, inter alia, on the compliance of by Parties, both individually and collectively, with its environmental obligations, in particular the implementation of the Madrid Protocol. In order to assist Parties in furthering the protection of the Antarctic environment, in 2011 UNEP and ASOC initiated a review of the implementation of the Madrid Protocol. As a first step of this review process, UNEP and ASOC presented an Information Paper (XXXIV ATCM/IP 113) on the annual reporting duty set out in Article 17 of the Madrid Protocol in 2011. This year, UNEP and ASOC are pleased to present an analysis of the inspections by Parties in accordance with Article 14 of the Madrid Protocol. Usually, inspections are conducted to verify compliance with both the Protocol and with Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty. This document, therefore, reviews the inspection practice undertaken under both instruments. 2. Overview of the inspection practice The inspection practice is a core component of the Antarctic Treaty and its Madrid Protocol. The practice is established under Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty in order to “promote the objective and ensure the observance of the provisions of the […] Treaty” and under Article 14 of the Madrid Protocol in order to promote the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, and to ensure compliance with [the] Protocol”. In order to guide observers conducting inspections in Antarctica in accordance with the provisions of Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 the Madrid Protocol, inspection checklists were adopted by Resolution 5 (1995). A revised check list “A” pertaining to Antarctic Stations and Subsidiary Installations was adopted by Resolution 3 (2010). There are currently checklists for Antarctic stations and subsidiary installations (Checklist A); vessels within the Antarctic Treaty Area (Checklist B); abandoned Antarctic stations and associated installations (Checklist C); waste 1 Lead authors: Christian Lambrecht (UNEP) (text and maps), and Lyn Goldsworthy (ASOC) and Dr. Ricardo Roura (ASOC) (data collection and review). 3 IP 59 disposal sites (Checklist D). In addition, there is a checklist to assist in the inspection of ASPAs and ASMAs. The development of a checklist for tourism has recently been discussed. In XXVI ATCM/ IP 118 rev.1, ASOC and UNEP reviewed the inspections carried out under the Treaty and the Protocol between 1959 and 2001. The review noted that: There was an increase in official inspections and inspected facilities and sites during the 1959-2001 period; The majority of the inspected facilities or sites were located in the Antarctic Peninsula (48.3 %), followed by East Antarctica (12.1 %), Queen Maud Land (9.1 %) and the Ross Sea (7.9 %); Sixteen of the 27 Consultative Parties had conducted one or more inspections between 1959 and 2001; Of the 73 stations that were on the COMNAP’s list at the time, and that were located within the Antarctic Treaty Area, 51 (70%) had been inspected and thus 22 (30%) had never been inspected; Ten vessels were inspected in the 1959-2001 period, of which six were inspected after October 1991, and three after January 1998; The inspection of commercial tourism activities had been limited to the inspection of tourist vessels; All Parties other than Sweden had had at least one of their sites or facilities inspected; The Parties that had most sites or facilities inspected were Argentina, Russia, United Kingdom, USA and Chile. 3. Methods and data sources A) List of inspections The analysis of inspections carried out since the entry into force of the Madrid Protocol is based on the inspections report available on the Secretariat website (Home > Antarctic Treaty > Peaceful use and Inspections > List of Inspections). Since the entry into force of the Protocol, 14 inspection reports have been submitted to the ATCM. B) List of facilities and sites The list of facilities, Historic Sites and Monuments (HSM), Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) and Antarctic Specially Managed Areas (ASMA) used for the purpose of this paper derived from lists posted on the website of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) and the Secretariat (accessed April 2012). COMNAP has posted on its web site a list of Antarctic Facilities at the following URL: https://www.comnap.aq/Members/Shared%20Documents/Antarctic_Facilities_List_1April2012.xls. It should be noted that different Parties use different criteria to list their facilities – for some Parties the listing is comprehensive while for others it includes only active stations but not abandoned stations or other facilities. The lists of HSMs, ASPAs and ASMAs are posted on the Secretariat website (Home > Environment Protocol > Protected Areas > APA Database). In addition, there are a number of other sites, some of which have been inspected on an ad hoc basis. These include temporary sites such as field camps; sites used for tourism purposes; and a limited number of NGO sites. There is no comprehensive list of these sites. More than 250 sites were used for tourism purposes between 1989–90 and 2007–08.2 At present, thirty two sites regularly used for tourism landings are subject 12 H.J. Lyncha, K. Crosbie, W.F. Fagana and R. Naveena (2010): Spatial patterns of tour ship traffic in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Antarctic Science 22:123-130 doi:10.1017/S0954102009990654 4 IP 59 to site specific guidelines that are listed on the Secretariat website at the following URL: http://www.ats.aq/e/ats_other_siteguidelines.htm Resupply and tourism vessels, including both motor vessels and some yachts, have also been inspected. However, there is no complete list of the vessels operating in Antarctica currently available. 4. Summary findings A) Total number of inspections and inspected sites or facilities The total number of inspections conducted since the entry into force of the Madrid Protocol is 14. The total number of different facilities or sites inspected is 83 (see Table 1). Table 1: Number of facilities and sites inspected, 1998-2011 Type of facility or site Number of facilities Number of different and sites inspected facilities and sites inspected Active Station 93 56 Former Station 2 2 Temporary Site 2 2 ASPA 6 6 ASMA 1 1 HSM 9 7 Ship 7 7 NGO/Tourism Site 2 2 Total 122 83 B) Frequency of inspections Over the years, the frequency of inspections per year has increased. Prior to the entry into force of the Madrid Protocol, the yearly average number of inspections was 0.89 (33 inspections in 37 years). Since the entry into force of the Protocol, the yearly average increased to 1.17 (14 inspections in 12 years) (see Fig.1). 5 IP 59 Fig. 1 – Official inspections, 1959-2011 C) Geographical distribution of inspected facilities and sites The geographical distribution of facilities, ASMAs, ASPAs and HSMs inspected is given in the maps at Annex I. D) Parties conducting inspections Twelve of the 27 Consultative Parties have conducted one or more inspections between 1998 and 2011, namely: Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, Peru, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America (see Table 2). Table 2: Inspecting countries, 1998-2011 Number of inspections in Inspecting which the Year of the inspection country country participated Australia 4 2005, 2005, 2010, 2011 UK 3 1999, 2005, 2005 USA 3 2001, 2005, 2006 France 2 1999, 2007 New Zealand 2 2005, 2007 Norway 2 2001, 2007 Belgium 1 1999 Finland 1 2004 Germany 1 1999 Japan 1 2010 Peru 1 2005 Sweden 1 2007 6 IP 59 D) Parties being inspected 27 of the 29 Consultative Parties had one or more of their facilities inspected during the period 1998-2011. None of the facilities of two Consultative Parties were inspected during the same period. These Parties are: Peru and Romania (see Table 3). Table 3: Inspected facilities by operating countries, 1998-2011 Number of Number of facilities Country facilities operated by the country inspected Chile 12 9 Russia 12 8 Argentina 13 7 Australia (*) 7 3 Germany 5 3 USA 6 3 Spain 2 2 United Kingdom 6 2 Uruguay 2 2 Belgium 1 1 Brazil 1 1 Bulgaria 1 1 China 3 1 Czech Republic 1 1 Ecuador 2 1 Finland 1 1 France (**) 3 1 India 2 1 Italy (**) 6 1 Japan 5 1 Korea 1 1 New Zealand 1 1 Norway 2 1 Poland 1 1 South Africa 1 1 Sweden 2 1 Ukraine 1 1 Peru 1 0 Romania (*) 1 0 (*) Includes a facility operated jointly by France and Italy (**) Includes a facility operated jointly by Australia and Romania E) Inspection frequency at each facility Of the 101 facilities in the COMNAP’s list, 56 (55%) have been inspected and 45 (45%) have never been inspected.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Antarctic Peninsula
    Hucke-Gaete, R, Torres, D. & Vallejos, V. 1997c. Entanglement of Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, by marine debris at Cape Shirreff and San Telmo Islets, Livingston Island, Antarctica: 1998-1997. Serie Científica Instituto Antártico Chileno 47: 123-135. Hucke-Gaete, R., Osman, L.P., Moreno, C.A. & Torres, D. 2004. Examining natural population growth from near extinction: the case of the Antarctic fur seal at the South Shetlands, Antarctica. Polar Biology 27 (5): 304–311 Huckstadt, L., Costa, D. P., McDonald, B. I., Tremblay, Y., Crocker, D. E., Goebel, M. E. & Fedak, M. E. 2006. Habitat Selection and Foraging Behavior of Southern Elephant Seals in the Western Antarctic Peninsula. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2006, abstract #OS33A-1684. INACH (Instituto Antártico Chileno) 2010. Chilean Antarctic Program of Scientific Research 2009-2010. Chilean Antarctic Institute Research Projects Department. Santiago, Chile. Kawaguchi, S., Nicol, S., Taki, K. & Naganobu, M. 2006. Fishing ground selection in the Antarctic krill fishery: Trends in patterns across years, seasons and nations. CCAMLR Science, 13: 117–141. Krause, D. J., Goebel, M. E., Marshall, G. J., & Abernathy, K. (2015). Novel foraging strategies observed in a growing leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) population at Livingston Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Animal Biotelemetry, 3:24. Krause, D.J., Goebel, M.E., Marshall. G.J. & Abernathy, K. In Press. Summer diving and haul-out behavior of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) near mesopredator breeding colonies at Livingston Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Marine Mammal Science.Leppe, M., Fernandoy, F., Palma-Heldt, S. & Moisan, P 2004. Flora mesozoica en los depósitos morrénicos de cabo Shirreff, isla Livingston, Shetland del Sur, Península Antártica, in Actas del 10º Congreso Geológico Chileno.
    [Show full text]
  • THE POLAR RECORD Editor: L
    THE POLAR RECORD Editor: L. M. Forbes. Editorial Committee: B. B. Roberts, G. de Q. Robin, Sir J. M. Wordie Vol. 9 January 1959 No. 61 CONTENTS The Scott Polar Research Institute page 297 ARTICLES : The Canadian Northern Insect Survey, 1947-57. By T. N. Freeman 299 Recent economic developments in northern Quebec and Labrador. By J. Brian Bird . 308 Iron ore in Arctic Europe. By P. A. B. Gethin .... 314 Geodetic survey of northern Canada by shoran trilateration. By Angus C. Hamilton 320 The manuscript collection of the Scott Polar Research Institute. By Ann Savours .......... 331 FIELD WORK: British expedition to Vestspitsbergen, 1956 . • . 336 French expedition to central Greenland, 1956-57 .... 336 British expedition to north-west Greenland, 1957 .... 336 Soviet Arctic expeditions, 1957 337 The Northern Sea Route in 1957 337 Swedish-Finnish-Swiss International Geophysical Year Expedition to Nordaustlandet, 1957-58; and Swedish Expedition to Nordaust- landet, 1958-59: Season 1957-58. ...... 338 Swedish Glaciological Expedition to Nordaustlandet, 1958 . 339 Under-ice crossing of the Arctic basin: U.S.S. Nautilus and U.S.S. Skate, 1958 340 . Arctic Institute Greenland Expedition, 1958 341 British naval hydrographic surveys in the Falkland Islands Depen- dencies, 1956-57 and 1957-58 '. 341 The Australian automatic weather station on Lewis Islet, Wilkes Land 342 Anglo-American physiological team in Ross Dependency, 1957-58 . 343 NOTES : Extension of International Geophysical Year activities into 1959 . 345 Norwegian-Soviet sealing agreement, 1958 ..... 845 Tenth meeting of the International Whaling Commission, 1958 . 349 New Soviet ice-strengthened ships 350 New geographical institute in Siberia 350 ig Pit 296 CONTENTS NOTES (cont.) Soviet organizations concerned with the Antarctic .
    [Show full text]
  • The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1955-1958
    THE COMMONWEALTH TRANS-ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1955-1958 HOW THE CROSSING OF ANTARCTICA MOVED NEW ZEALAND TO RECOGNISE ITS ANTARCTIC HERITAGE AND TAKE AN EQUAL PLACE AMONG ANTARCTIC NATIONS A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree PhD - Doctor of Philosophy (Antarctic Studies – History) University of Canterbury Gateway Antarctica Stephen Walter Hicks 2015 Statement of Authority & Originality I certify that the work in this thesis has not been previously submitted for a degree nor has it been submitted as part of requirements for a degree except as fully acknowledged within the text. I also certify that the thesis has been written by me. Any help that I have received in my research and the preparation of the thesis itself has been acknowledged. In addition, I certify that all information sources and literature used are indicated in the thesis. Elements of material covered in Chapter 4 and 5 have been published in: Electronic version: Stephen Hicks, Bryan Storey, Philippa Mein-Smith, ‘Against All Odds: the birth of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1955-1958’, Polar Record, Volume00,(0), pp.1-12, (2011), Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print version: Stephen Hicks, Bryan Storey, Philippa Mein-Smith, ‘Against All Odds: the birth of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1955-1958’, Polar Record, Volume 49, Issue 1, pp. 50-61, Cambridge University Press, 2013 Signature of Candidate ________________________________ Table of Contents Foreword ..................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mount Harding, Grove Mountains, East Antarctica
    MEASURE 2 - ANNEX Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Protected Area No 168 MOUNT HARDING, GROVE MOUNTAINS, EAST ANTARCTICA 1. Introduction The Grove Mountains (72o20’-73o10’S, 73o50’-75o40’E) are located approximately 400km inland (south) of the Larsemann Hills in Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica, on the eastern bank of the Lambert Rift(Map A). Mount Harding (72°512 -72°572 S, 74°532 -75°122 E) is the largest mount around Grove Mountains region, and located in the core area of the Grove Mountains that presents a ridge-valley physiognomies consisting of nunataks, trending NNE-SSW and is 200m above the surface of blue ice (Map B). The primary reason for designation of the Area as an Antarctic Specially Protected Area is to protect the unique geomorphological features of the area for scientific research on the evolutionary history of East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS), while widening the category in the Antarctic protected areas system. Research on the evolutionary history of EAIS plays an important role in reconstructing the past climatic evolution in global scale. Up to now, a key constraint on the understanding of the EAIS behaviour remains the lack of direct evidence of ice sheet surface levels for constraining ice sheet models during known glacial maxima and minima in the post-14 Ma period. The remains of the fluctuation of ice sheet surface preserved around Mount Harding, will most probably provide the precious direct evidences for reconstructing the EAIS behaviour. There are glacial erosion and wind-erosion physiognomies which are rare in nature and extremely vulnerable, such as the ice-core pyramid, the ventifact, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Mcmurdo Dry Valleys, Southern Victoria Land
    Measure 1 (2004) Annex Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 2 MCMURDO DRY VALLEYS, SOUTHERN VICTORIA LAND 1. Description of values to be protected and activities to be managed The McMurdo Dry Valleys are characterized as the largest relatively ice-free region in Antarctica with approximately thirty percent of the ground surface largely free of snow and ice. The region encompasses a cold desert ecosystem, whose climate is not only cold and extremely arid (in the Wright Valley the mean annual temperature is –19.8°C and annual precipitation is less than 100 mm water equivalent), but also windy. The landscape of the Area contains glaciers, mountain ranges, ice-covered lakes, meltwater streams, arid patterned soils and permafrost, sand dunes, and interconnected watershed systems. These watersheds have a regional influence on the McMurdo Sound marine ecosystem. The Area’s location, where large-scale seasonal shifts in the water phase occur, is of great importance to the study of climate change. Through shifts in the ice-water balance over time, resulting in contraction and expansion of hydrological features and the accumulations of trace gases in ancient snow, the McMurdo Dry Valley terrain also contains records of past climate change. The extreme climate of the region serves as an important analogue for the conditions of ancient Earth and contemporary Mars, where such climate may have dominated the evolution of landscape and biota. The Area is characterized by unique ecosystems of low biodiversity and reduced food web complexity. However, as the largest ice-free region in Antarctica, the McMurdo Dry Valleys also contain relatively diverse habitats compared with other ice-free areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Register/Vol. 84, No. 78/Tuesday, April 23, 2019/Rules
    Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 78 / Tuesday, April 23, 2019 / Rules and Regulations 16791 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., nor does it require Agricultural commodities, Pesticides SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The any special considerations under and pests, Reporting and recordkeeping Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as Executive Order 12898, entitled requirements. amended (‘‘ACA’’) (16 U.S.C. 2401, et ‘‘Federal Actions to Address Dated: April 12, 2019. seq.) implements the Protocol on Environmental Justice in Minority Environmental Protection to the Richard P. Keigwin, Jr., Populations and Low-Income Antarctic Treaty (‘‘the Protocol’’). Populations’’ (59 FR 7629, February 16, Director, Office of Pesticide Programs. Annex V contains provisions for the 1994). Therefore, 40 CFR chapter I is protection of specially designated areas Since tolerances and exemptions that amended as follows: specially managed areas and historic are established on the basis of a petition sites and monuments. Section 2405 of under FFDCA section 408(d), such as PART 180—[AMENDED] title 16 of the ACA directs the Director the tolerance exemption in this action, of the National Science Foundation to ■ do not require the issuance of a 1. The authority citation for part 180 issue such regulations as are necessary proposed rule, the requirements of the continues to read as follows: and appropriate to implement Annex V Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321(q), 346a and 371. to the Protocol. et seq.) do not apply. ■ 2. Add § 180.1365 to subpart D to read The Antarctic Treaty Parties, which This action directly regulates growers, as follows: includes the United States, periodically food processors, food handlers, and food adopt measures to establish, consolidate retailers, not States or tribes.
    [Show full text]
  • U.S. Advance Exchange of Operational Information, 2005-2006
    Advance Exchange of Operational Information on Antarctic Activities for the 2005–2006 season United States Antarctic Program Office of Polar Programs National Science Foundation Advance Exchange of Operational Information on Antarctic Activities for 2005/2006 Season Country: UNITED STATES Date Submitted: October 2005 SECTION 1 SHIP OPERATIONS Commercial charter KRASIN Nov. 21, 2005 Depart Vladivostok, Russia Dec. 12-14, 2005 Port Call Lyttleton N.Z. Dec. 17 Arrive 60S Break channel and escort TERN and Tanker Feb. 5, 2006 Depart 60S in route to Vladivostok U.S. Coast Guard Breaker POLAR STAR The POLAR STAR will be in back-up support for icebreaking services if needed. M/V AMERICAN TERN Jan. 15-17, 2006 Port Call Lyttleton, NZ Jan. 24, 2006 Arrive Ice edge, McMurdo Sound Jan 25-Feb 1, 2006 At ice pier, McMurdo Sound Feb 2, 2006 Depart McMurdo Feb 13-15, 2006 Port Call Lyttleton, NZ T-5 Tanker, (One of five possible vessels. Specific name of vessel to be determined) Jan. 14, 2006 Arrive Ice Edge, McMurdo Sound Jan. 15-19, 2006 At Ice Pier, McMurdo. Re-fuel Station Jan. 19, 2006 Depart McMurdo R/V LAURENCE M. GOULD For detailed and updated schedule, log on to: http://www.polar.org/science/marine/sched_history/lmg/lmgsched.pdf R/V NATHANIEL B. PALMER For detailed and updated schedule, log on to: http://www.polar.org/science/marine/sched_history/nbp/nbpsched.pdf SECTION 2 AIR OPERATIONS Information on planned air operations (see attached sheets) SECTION 3 STATIONS a) New stations or refuges not previously notified: NONE b) Stations closed or refuges abandoned and not previously notified: NONE SECTION 4 LOGISTICS ACTIVITIES AFFECTING OTHER NATIONS a) McMurdo airstrip will be used by Italian and New Zealand C-130s and Italian Twin Otters b) McMurdo Heliport will be used by New Zealand and Italian helicopters c) Extensive air, sea and land logistic cooperative support with New Zealand d) Twin Otters to pass through Rothera (UK) upon arrival and departure from Antarctica e) Italian Twin Otter will likely pass through South Pole and McMurdo.
    [Show full text]
  • UKPN Committee 2015-2016
    UKPN Newsletter 2015-2016 Welcome •Reddit AMA In 2014 – 2015, UKPN continued to represent early career scientists at •ASE Conference key national conferences and Workshop workshops, and kick started what •Antarctica day 2015 seems to be a never-ending series •Future events of outreach events that engaged – Leeds Science different sectors of the public both Festival – Challenger nationally and internationally. We Society continue to grow in our conference •Other news membership, currently at over 600, and represent them through various national committees that pave the UKPN Committee way for the UK’s polar science 2015-2016 strategy. • Co-President – Tun Jan Young (Scott Polar Research Institute/University of Cambridge) We are always looking for more • Co-President- Sammie Buzzard ways to support our early career (University of Reading) researchers and get more of you • Vice-President - Laura Hobbs (Scottish Association for Marine Science) involved in our outreach work too- • Treasurer – Gunnar Mallon (University of feel free to get in touch if you have Sheffield) any ideas or want to know more. • Treasurer- Archana Dayal (University of Sheffield) TJ and Sammie, UKPN Presidents • Secretary – Kyle Mayers (National Oceanography Centre) This issue... • Secretary – Catherine Docherty (University of Birmingham) • Current Committee • Head of Education & Outreach- Jenny Turton (British Antarctic • Sea ice, Shackleton & Science Survey/University of Leeds) • Education & Outreach – • 1ST APECs summit • Madeleine Brasier (Natural History Museum/ University of • UK Arctic Sciences Conference Liverpool/ National Oceanographic Centre) www.polarnetwork.org UKPN Newsletter 2015-2016 – Michelle McCrystall (British Antarctic Survey/University of Cambridge) Again, UKPN and the International Polar – Dwayne Menezes (Human Security Foundation (IPF) teamed up to deliver the Sea Centre) ice, Shackleton and Science project, a series of – Kassandra Reuss-Schmidt three public engagement events at high-profile (University of Sheffield) venues around the UK.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Information Leaflet HISTORY.Indd
    British Antarctic Survey History The United Kingdom has a long and distinguished record of scientific exploration in Antarctica. Before the creation of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), there were many surveying and scientific expeditions that laid the foundations for modern polar science. These ranged from Captain Cook’s naval voyages of the 18th century, to the famous expeditions led by Scott and Shackleton, to a secret wartime operation to secure British interests in Antarctica. Today, BAS is a world leader in polar science, maintaining the UK’s long history of Antarctic discovery and scientific endeavour. The early years Britain’s interests in Antarctica started with the first circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent by Captain James Cook during his voyage of 1772-75. Cook sailed his two ships, HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure, into the pack ice reaching as far as 71°10' south and crossing the Antarctic Circle for the first time. He discovered South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands although he did not set eyes on the Antarctic continent itself. His reports of fur seals led many sealers from Britain and the United States to head to the Antarctic to begin a long and unsustainable exploitation of the Southern Ocean. Image: Unloading cargo for the construction of ‘Base A’ on Goudier Island, Antarctic Peninsula (1944). During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, interest in Antarctica was largely focused on the exploitation of its surrounding waters by sealers and whalers. The discovery of the South Shetland Islands is attributed to Captain William Smith who was blown off course when sailing around Cape Horn in 1819.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Inspections Under Article 7 of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 of Its Protocol on Environmental Protection, 1959- 2001
    º XXVI ATCM Information Paper IP-118-ASOC/UNEP/Rev.1 Agenda Item: ATCM 11 ASOC/UNEP Original: English A REVIEW OF INSPECTIONS UNDER ARTICLE 7 OF THE ANTARCTIC TREATY AND ARTICLE 14 OF ITS PROTOCOL ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 1959-2001 Madrid, 9/20 de junio 2003 1 XXVI ATCM Information Paper 118/Rev.1 June 2003 Original: English Agenda Item 11 A REVIEW OF INSPECTIONS UNDER ARTICLE 7 OF THE ANTARCTIC TREATY AND ARTICLE 14 OF ITS PROTOCOL ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 1959- 2001 Submitted to the XXVI ATCM by the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition and the United Nations Environment Programme 2 A REVIEW OF INSPECTIONS UNDER ARTICLE 7 OF THE ANTARCTIC TREATY AND ARTICLE 14 OF ITS PROTOCOL ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 1959- 2001 I. INTRODUCTION Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty enable Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties to conduct inspections in order to promote the objectives and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol. Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty establishes the right of free access for observation and inspection by the Contracting Parties. Observers designed under Article VII (1) “shall have complete freedom of access”, including the conducting of aerial observations, “at any time to any or all areas of Antarctica.” The facilities that may be inspected include “all stations, installations and equipment within those areas, and all ships and aircraft at points of discharging or embarking cargoes or personnel in Antarctica.” Article 14 of the Protocol establishes that Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties “shall arrange, individually or collectively, for inspections by observers to be made in accordance with Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty.” During inspections, observers should be given access to “all parts of stations, installations, equipment, ships and aircraft open to inspection under Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty, and to all records” that are maintained at those facilities in accordance to Protocol requirements.
    [Show full text]
  • Wilderness and Aesthetic Values of Antarctica
    Wilderness and Aesthetic Values of Antarctica Abstract Antarctica is the least inhabited region in the world and has therefore had the least influence from human activities and, unlike the majority of the Earth’s continents and oceans, can still be considered as mostly wilderness. As every visitor to Antarctica knows, its landscapes are exceptionally beautiful. It was the recognition of the importance of these characteristics that resulted in their protection being included in the Madrid Protocol. Both wilderness and aesthetic values can be impaired by human activities in a variety of ways with the severity varying from negligible to severe, according to the type Protocol on Environmental Protec tion to the Antarctic Trea ty - of activity and its duration, spatial extent and intensity. A map of infrastructure and major travel routes the "M adrid Protocol" in Antarctica will be the first step in visually representing where wilderness and aesthetic values Article 3[1] may be impacted. It is hoped that this will stimulate further discussion on how to describe, acknowledge, The protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent an d associated ecosystems and the intrinsic value of Antarctica, understand and further protect the wilderness and aesthetic values of Antarctica. including its wilderness and aesthetic values and its value as an area for the conduct of scientific research, in particular research essential to understanding the global environment, shall be fundamental considerations in the planning and condu ct of all activities
    [Show full text]
  • Mm^Umamm a N E W S B U L L E T I N
    mm^umamm A N E W S B U L L E T I N p u b l i s h e d q u a r t e r l y b y t h e NEW ZEALAND ANTARCTIC SOCIETY ■ H.M.N.Z.S. ENDEAVOUR about to tie up in Winter Quarters Bay. On right, Vince's Cross and Scott's hut. J. Calvert photo. MARCH, 1965 AUSTRALIA Winter and Summer bases Scott- S u m m e r b a s e o n l y t H a l l e f t "cton NEW ZEALAND Transferred base Wilkes UStcAust Temporarily non -operational. .KSyowa TASMANIA , Campbell I. (N-l) , ^ V - r . ^ ^ N . AT // \$ 5«|* Pasar'C ^rd(i/.sA . *"Vp»tuk , N |(I/.«.AJ i - S c o t t ( U . 5 J i t - A N T A R. M^ciJ ^>cwj a fi/V wX " < S M a u d **$P -Marion I. ttM DRAWN BY DEPARTMENT OF LANDS 1 SURVEY WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND, MAR.I9l»4- 1 " . " E D I T I O N m ilHl^IBS^IKB^k (Successor to "Antarctic News Bulletin") MARCH, 1965 Editor: L. B. Quartermain, M.A., 1 Ariki Road, Wellington, E.2, New Zealand. Business Communications, Subscriptions, etc., to: Secretary, New Zealand Antarctic Society, P.O. Box 2110, Wellington, N.Z. CONTENTS EXPEDITIONS New Zealand The Central Nimrod Glacier Geological Expedition: M. G. Laird Victoria University Research in Ice-free Areas: W. M. Prebble The D-region Project: J. B. Gregory France United States First Leg of Traverse Australia Belgium-Holland U.S.S.R South Africa Argentina United Kingdom Chile Japan Sub-Antarctic Islands British South Georgia Expedition Big Ben Conquered Special Articles: Hallett Closed Antarctic Stations—I.
    [Show full text]