International Council of Scientific Unions ~©&[R3bulletin No. 128 JANUARY 1998 Measures, Decisions and Resolutions adopted at the XXlst Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, Christchurch, New Zealand, 19-30 May 1997 p 1 Events in 1998 p 19 Published by the SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANTARCTIC RESEARCH at the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, England INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SCIENTIFIC UNIONS . '• SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANT ARCTIC RESEARCH SCAR BULLETIN No 128, January 1998 , Measures, Decisions and Resolutions adopted at the XXIst Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Christchurch, New Zealand, 19-30 May 1997 MEASURE 1 (1997) Antarctic Protected Areas System mental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty adopted under Revised Description and Management Plan for recommendation XVI-I 0; Specially Protected Area Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article SPA S Beaufort Island (Annex A) IX of the Antarctic Treaty: The Representatives, For Specially Proiected Area No 5 Beaufort Island (Aruiex A) Recalling Recommendations XV-8 and XV-9NIII-3 1. That the Description inserted in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed Measures for the Con­ Noting that revised and new Area Descriptions and Pro- servation of Antarctic Fauna and Floras hall be deleted . posed Management Plans have been endorsed by the 2. That the Description and Management Plan of the · Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR); Specially Protected Area at Annex A shall be inserted Noting also· that the format of the revised and new Area in Annex B, Specially Protected Areas, of the Agreed · Descriptions and proposed Management Plans accord Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and with Article 5 of Annex V of the Protocol on Environ- Flora.Annex AMeasure 2 ( 1997) Annex A Management Plan for Specially Protected Area (SPA) No. 5 Beaufort Island, McMurdo Sound, Ross Sea 1. Description of values to be protected (Pygoscelis adeliae) colony, a small breeding colony of Beaufort Island was originally designated in Recommen- · Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri), and several dation IV-5 (1966, SPA No. 5) after a proposal by New breeding colonies of South polar skua (Catharacta Zealand on the grounds that it "contains substantial and · maccormicki). The boundaries of the Area, which previ­ varied avifauna, that it is one of the most important ously excluded the Emperor colony, have been extended to breeding grounds in the region, and that it should be include fast-ice occupied by breeding birds. protected to preserve the natural ecological system as a Site visits in January 1995 and 1997 discovered and reference area". The Area has been set aside primarily to described a significant area of vegetation previously unre­ protect the site's ecological values and these reasons for corded on an ice-cored moraine bench of up to 50 m wide long-term special protection still apply. and 5-7 m above the beach on the north of the island. The The island comprises a variety of terrain and habitats: vegetation is exceptional both in its quantity and quality, gently sloping ice-free, ground with summer ponds and and is the most extensive, continuous area of mosses yet small meltwater streams draining to the coast; moderately known for the McMurdo Sound region. Although the area sloping ice fields covering much of the west side of the is extensive (approximately 2.5 ha), the moss community island; and steep, rugged cliffs on the eastern slopes. is dominated by a single species, Bryum argenteum: the Recent investigations indicate the a vi fauna is iiot as varied essentially monospecific character of the site is also unique. as first thought, but there exists a large Adelie penguin The site enjoys warm summer temperatures because of its SCAR BULLETIN NO. 128 northerly aspect and shelter from southerly winds by it was designated and to ensure management and high ice cliffs. The local microclimate, stability of the maintenance measures are adequate. substrate and supply of water from the ·nearby ice-cliffs • National Antarctic Programmes operating in the and snow banks are favourable for vegetation growth. As region shall consult together with a view to ensur­ a result there is also a diverse community of algae, and ing these steps are carried out. while a detailed algal survey has not yet been undertaken, 4. Period of designation Prasio/a crispa is particularly abundant throughout the site, together with a number of unicellular chlorophytes Designated for an indefinite period. and xanthophytes (including Botrydiopsis and Pseudo­ 5. Maps and photographs coccomyxa ), and cyanobacteria (particularly scillatorians) Map A: Beaufon Island regional topographic map. The mixed with the Prasiola. Green snow algae, a mixture of map is derived from the onhophotograph in Ch/oromonas and Klebsormidium, are present as well as Map B, using Map B specifications. Inset: the red snow algae Chlamydomonas sp, Chloromonas sp, McMurdo Sound, showing Ross Island and the and Ch/amydomonas nivalis. This represents one of the location of McMurdo Station (US) and Scott most southerly locations where red snow algae have been Base (NZ). The nearest protected areas are observed. The exceptional plant communities at this site SSSI-IO (Caughley Beach) and SPA-20 (New are fragile and vulnerable to disturbance and destruction College Valley)atCape Bird, and SSS!- I (Cape by trampling, sampling and/or through foreign introduc­ Royds). tions. Conservation of the ecological and scientific values Map B: Beaufon Island regional onhophotograph. of this community are imponant reasons for special pro­ Onhophotograph specifications: tection at Beaufon Island. Projection: Lamben conformal conic; As an isolated island difficult of access, the site is Standard parallels: I st 76°40'00"S; known to have been visited only infrequently. Beaufon 2nd 79°20'00"S; Island has not been comprehensively studied or docu­ Central Meridian: I 67°00'00"E; mented but is largely undisturbed by direct human activity. Latitude of Origin: 78°0I'16.211 "S. In particular, Beaufon Island has been exposed to fewer Spheroid: WGS84. opponunities for direct exotic biological introductions The original onhophotograph was prepared at than many other sites in the Ross Sea. The ecological, 1:5000 with a positional accuracy of ±2.5 m scientific and aesthetic values derived from the isolation (horizontal and venical) with an on-ground and relatively low level of human impact are imponant pixel resolution of I m. Photography: USGS/ reasons for special protection at Beaufon Island. DoSLI (SN7850) 22 November 1993. (Not 2. Aims and objectives reproduced here) Map C: Nonh Beaufon Island site onhophotograph. Management at Beaufon Island aims to: Specifications are the same as in Map B. The • avoid degradation of, or substantial risk to, the site of rich vegetation is indicated by hachures. values of the Area by preventing unnecessary hu­ The precise area of fast-ice occupied by breed­ man disturbance to the Area; ing Emperor penguins is subject to variation • preserve the natural ecosystem as a reference area both seasonally and inter-annually. (Not repro­ largely undisturbed by direct human activities; duced here) • allow scientific research on the natural ecosystems, Map D: South Beaufon Island site onhophotograph. plant communities, avifauna and soils in the Area Specifications are the same as in Map B. (Not provided it is for compelling reasons which cannot reproduced here) be served elsewhere; Figure I: Perspective view of Beaufon Island from an • minimise human disturbance to plant communities elevation of 225 m, 900 m out from the pre­ by preventing unnecessary sampling; ferred Helicopter Pad at an azimuth of 300° W. • minimise the possibility of introduction of alien (Not reproduced here) plants, animals and microbes to the Area; • allow visits for management purposes in suppon of 6. Description of the Area the aims of the management plan. 6(i) Geographical coordinates, boundary markers and 3. Management activities natural features The following management activities are to be undenaken The designated Area encompasses the whole of Beaufon to protect the values of the Area: Island (76°58'S, I 67°00'E Map A) above the mean high • Markers, signs or structures erected within the Area water mark, and includes adjacent fast-ice occupied by for scientific or management purposes shall be breeding Emperor penguins. The 7 km by 3.2 km island secured and maintained in good condition, and rises to 77 I mat Paton Peak. The west side of the island is removed when no longer necessary. predominantly an ice field with ice cliffs of about 20 m on • Visits shall be made as necessary to assess whether the coast, while the east and south sides of the island are the Area continues to serve the purposes for which largely ice-free, with steep and inaccessible cliffs rising 2 JANUARY 1998 straight from the sea. Jn view of.the isolation of Beaufort at 1976 count; 179 pairs at 1983 count, 1355 adults,at Island and the current low levels of shipping activity in the October 1994 count) is present annually between the region, boundary markers and signs have not been in­ months of approximatelyApril to January. The size of the stalled to mark the Area: the need for marking should be colony is limited by the areal extent and condition of the re-evaluated at each management plan review. fast-ice, which affects the availability of breeding sites in Beaufort Island is one of a series of late Tertiary the lee of the northern slopes of Beaufort Island. The volcanic ventS that developed along a line of weakness in precise location of the colony varies from year to year and the Ross sea floor. The geology is typical of an eroded, the colony moves within a breeding season, but the general sub-aerially produced basaltic complex, with lava flows area of occupation is indicated on Map C.