PROTECTINGPROTECTINGANTARCTICAANTARCTICA

Dr John ShearsDr John Shears

Environmental Officer

British Antarctic Survey

Cambridge

Where is Antarctica?Where is Antarctica?

• At the bottom of the world!At the bottom of the world!• Remote and barren icy Remote and barren icy

desert: South Pole -52desert: South Pole -52ooC!C!• The coldest, windiest, and The coldest, windiest, and

driest place on Earthdriest place on Earth• No rivers, forests or native No rivers, forests or native

peoplepeople• About the same size as About the same size as

EuropeEurope• Very simple ecosystems Very simple ecosystems

with few specieswith few species

Antarctica - The Last Great WildernessAntarctica - The Last Great Wilderness

Antarctica is the Antarctica is the world’s largest world’s largest remaining remaining wilderness region.wilderness region.

The Antarctic continent remains almost The Antarctic continent remains almost undamaged by mankind, but the marine undamaged by mankind, but the marine ecosystem of the Southern Ocean has ecosystem of the Southern Ocean has been exploited for over 200 years.been exploited for over 200 years.

Protecting AntarcticaProtecting Antarctica• A unique set of international A unique set of international

regulations - the Antarctic Treaty regulations - the Antarctic Treaty System - protects Antarctica.System - protects Antarctica.

• The Antarctic Treaty (1961) The Antarctic Treaty (1961) suspends territorial claims and suspends territorial claims and preserves the continent for preserves the continent for science and peace.science and peace.

• The Treaty has been reinforced The Treaty has been reinforced by other agreements. The most by other agreements. The most important are:important are:

- the Convention for the - the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Living Resources (CCAMLR) (1982)(1982)

- the Madrid Protocol on - the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection (1998)Environmental Protection (1998)

The Antarctic Treaty has been signed by 45 countries, including Britain. They meet each year to discuss the future of the continent.

Current Threats to AntarcticaCurrent Threats to Antarctica• GlobalGlobal

- Climate change- Climate change

• RegionalRegional- Pirate fishing and seabird mortality- Pirate fishing and seabird mortality

• LocalLocal- Scientific research and tourism- Scientific research and tourism

Global Threats – Climate Change?Global Threats – Climate Change?

• The northern Antarctic The northern Antarctic Peninsula has warmed by 2.5Peninsula has warmed by 2.5ooC C over the last 50 years.over the last 50 years.

• This has caused the collapse of This has caused the collapse of several ice shelves. Larsen ‘B’ several ice shelves. Larsen ‘B’ disintegrated in March 2002 disintegrated in March 2002 releasing over 500 billion releasing over 500 billion tonnes of ice.tonnes of ice.

Top. NASA Terra satellite image showing the Top. NASA Terra satellite image showing the collapse of Larsen ‘B’ ice shelf. Image is 300 x collapse of Larsen ‘B’ ice shelf. Image is 300 x 300 km. Left. Aerial photograph of Larsen ‘B’. 300 km. Left. Aerial photograph of Larsen ‘B’.

Climate Change – Rising COClimate Change – Rising CO22 concentrations concentrations

• COCO22 concentrations measured at South Pole show a significant increase over the last concentrations measured at South Pole show a significant increase over the last 50 years. 50 years.

• The rise is due to the use of fossil fuels and the burning of forests.The rise is due to the use of fossil fuels and the burning of forests.• Ice core data show that COIce core data show that CO2 2 concentrations are now ~30% greater than in the concentrations are now ~30% greater than in the

previous 400,000 years.previous 400,000 years.

Regional Threats – Pirate fishingRegional Threats – Pirate fishing

• In the past, sealing and In the past, sealing and whaling caused significant whaling caused significant impacts to the Southern impacts to the Southern Ocean.Ocean.

• Now, the catches of Now, the catches of Patagonian toothfish have Patagonian toothfish have reached unsustainable reached unsustainable levels. levels.

• In 2001/02, the legal catch of In 2001/02, the legal catch of toothfish was 12,800 tonnes. toothfish was 12,800 tonnes. But a further 10,900 tonnes But a further 10,900 tonnes was probably taken illegally.was probably taken illegally.

Longline fishing vessels are targeting Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides).

Toothfish can fetch £18 a kg wholesale. The high price attracts “pirate” vessels.

Save the AlbatrossSave the Albatross

• Longlining kills thousands of albatrosses every year Longlining kills thousands of albatrosses every year in the Southern Ocean because they get caught and in the Southern Ocean because they get caught and drowned on the baited hooks of lines >100 km long.drowned on the baited hooks of lines >100 km long.

• At Bird Island, South Georgia the breeding At Bird Island, South Georgia the breeding population of wandering albatrosses is decreasing population of wandering albatrosses is decreasing by 1% per annum. 1% per annum.

Local Threats – ScienceLocal Threats – Science• The scientific exploration of The scientific exploration of

Antarctica began only just over Antarctica began only just over 100 years ago. 100 years ago.

• Up to 10,000 scientists and Up to 10,000 scientists and support staff now work there each staff now work there each summer, falling to 1000 in winter.summer, falling to 1000 in winter.

• The only human settlements are The only human settlements are research stations. research stations.

• Environmental impacts of science Environmental impacts of science are localised, and found largely are localised, and found largely around major permanent stations.around major permanent stations.

Rothera Research Station is the largest British base in Antarctica. In summer, about 120 people work there.

How does BAS minimize its impact ?How does BAS minimize its impact ?

• Environmental Impact Environmental Impact Assessment of all activitiesAssessment of all activities

• Recycle or remove all solid Recycle or remove all solid wasteswastes

• Clean-up of abandoned Clean-up of abandoned bases and waste dumpsbases and waste dumps

• Introducing renewable Introducing renewable energy systemsenergy systems

• Conserving historic sitesConserving historic sites

Local Threats - TourismLocal Threats - Tourism

• Environmentalists are Environmentalists are worried by the rapid growth worried by the rapid growth in tourism to Antarctica.in tourism to Antarctica.

• Numbers of tourists have Numbers of tourists have doubled since 1992, doubled since 1992, reaching 13,500 last reaching 13,500 last season.season.

• There are concerns about There are concerns about a major fuel spill from a a major fuel spill from a tourist vessel, and tourist vessel, and disturbance to breeding disturbance to breeding wildlife.wildlife. 0

5000

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Do we need to take further action?Do we need to take further action?

• Global warming may cause sea level to rise due to melting ice Global warming may cause sea level to rise due to melting ice sheets. International action required to reduce COsheets. International action required to reduce CO22 emissions. emissions.

• If the West Antarctic Ice Sheet melted this would raise global If the West Antarctic Ice Sheet melted this would raise global sea levels by about 5m over several centuries.sea levels by about 5m over several centuries.

• Sea level rise will put many low-lying coastal regions of the Sea level rise will put many low-lying coastal regions of the UK, such as London, at risk of flooding.UK, such as London, at risk of flooding.

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Number of closures per year of the Thames barrier.Number of closures per year of the Thames barrier.Source: DEFRA, 2003.Source: DEFRA, 2003.

SummarySummary• Antarctica is the last great Antarctica is the last great

wilderness on earthwilderness on earth• Human activities on the continent Human activities on the continent

are carefully regulated and are carefully regulated and controlled by the Antarctic Treaty.controlled by the Antarctic Treaty.

• The greatest threat to Antarctica is The greatest threat to Antarctica is from global warming, caused by from global warming, caused by activities elsewhere on the planet.activities elsewhere on the planet.

• Think global – act local!Think global – act local!