Antarctic Treaty System An Assessment: Proceedings of a Workshop Held at Beardmore South Field Camp, Antarctica, January 7-13, 1985 (1986) / Chapter Skim
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1. Workshop on the Antarctic Treaty System: Overview
1. Workshop on the Antarctic Treaty System: Overview
Pages 3-12
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From page 3... ...
The site was a base camp at 84°03'S 164°15'E on the Bowden Neve in the Transantarctic Mountains, 1700 m above sea level. The camp is called Beardmore South because of its proximity to the head of the great Beardmore Glacier, a huge river of ice flowing 200 km from the interior ice sheet to the Ross Ice Shelf.
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From page 4... ...
and the staff of the Polar Research Board, working with National Science Foundation (NSF) officials.2 Despite some initial skepticism, once the Foundation staff agreed that staging the meeting against an antarctic backdrop would most vividly illustrate the kinds of activities carried out in Antarctica and the difficulties they present, and once they determined that they could move up construction of the Beardmore South Field Camp from the 1985-86 season to the 1984-85 season and thus avoid significant costs to the U.S.
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From page 5... ...
The extent to which the inevitable comradery that develops at such an event strengthened personal acquaintances among the variety of antarctic decision-makers represented will alone serve well the determination of future directions for antarctic science and politics. Beyond that, the questions and comments or prepared papers from panelists and audience alike laid the groundwork for continuing dialogue on the positive contributions of the Antarctic Treaty System, criticisms of it by the international and environmental communities, and measures to improve the Antarctic Treaty System that command widespread support.
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From page 6... ...
Some environmentalists have proposed that Antarctica be closed to all mineral resources development activities, while others argue for making Antarctica an international park. Both environmentalists and members of the scientific and political establishments have begun to explore whether Antarctic management regimes require more directed research, tailored in particular to support the resource management regimes found in the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
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From page 7... ...
the further development of working relationships with international and nongovernmental organizations.4 The nature of the evolving minerals regime and the role afforded nonconsultative parties and nontreaty states in the negotiation of the regime, its institutions once established, and potential minerals activities under
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From page 8... ...
In the areas of environmental protection and conservation in Antarctica, participants agreed that the Antarctic Treaty System has provided a valuable mechanism to further scientific research, particularly environmental research, and that it has taken a far-sighted preventive approach to conservation and environmental protection in Antarctica. But they also expressed concern with the increasing level and variety of antarctic activities and their potentially damaging effects.
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From page 9... ...
Suggestions to perfect the application of inspection procedures with respect to compliance with environmental protection measures in Antarctica were also put forward, noting the linkage between inspection, assessment and monitoring arrangements, and reporting requirements under the various antarctic regimes.6 Some participants questioned in addition the adequacy of implementation and enforcement under the Antarctic Treaty System, referring in particular to environmental protection measures and to marine living resources conservation under the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. In their view, these potential weaknesses could be far more problematic if replicated in the minerals regime, which would govern potentially far more damaging activities.
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From page 10... ...
Otherwise the setting for the Beardmore South Field Camp and the unusually warm -10°C weather there provided an extraordinarily stunning and welcoming venue for the workshop. The 10-hour flight aboard two Hercules C130, ski-equipped planes from Christchurch, with a refueling stop at Williams Field in McMurdo, afforded a view of sea ice, icebergs, the coastal area, and the Transantarctic Mountains, which not only brought to life the beauty of photographs but also conveyed in a way that photographs cannot the vastness and ice-filled relief that is Antarctica.
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From page 11... ...
One can only hope that scientist and nonscientist alike learned from each other during the presentation of prepared papers and the lengthy discussions that followed in the Jamesway hut at Beardmore South Field Camp. While it is certain that no consensus emerged, it is equally certain that the Workshop on the Antarctic Treaty System was an enriching and enlightening interchange of disparate views.
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From page 12... ...
On the other hand, the preparatory meeting for the XIII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, which took place in Brussels in April, 1985, did not act on the decision at the XII meeting to identify international organizations having a scientific or technical interest in Antarctica that could assist in consultative party meeting deliberations and invite them to attend the XIII meeting as observers.
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