Documents

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Attachment to Working Paper 17 (WP017)

ATT034 to WP017: SCAR’s Code of Conduct for the Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in Antarctica

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Attachment to Working Paper 50 (WP050)

ATT068 to WP050: Inter‐continental Checklists for supply chain managers of the National Antarctic Programmes for the reduction in risk of transfer of non‐native species

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Attachment to Information Paper 28 (IP028)

ATT087 to IP028: SCAR Annual Report 2019 – Infography

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Attachment to Information Paper 50 (WP050)

ATT090 to IP050: [Draft] SCAR Code of Conduct for Geosciences Field Research Activities in Antarctica

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Attachment to Working Paper 70 (WP070)

ATT107 to WP070: Draft Report on the State of the Antarctic Protected Area System

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Attachment to Working Paper 70 (WP070)

ATT108 to WP070: Available Science Outputs

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Background Paper

BP003: Anthropogenic Noise in the Southern Ocean: an Update

Submitted: 17 May 2019

Summary:

This Background Paper supports WP 68 provided in response to a request from CEP XVII (2014) that SCAR update information on anthropogenic sound in the Southern Ocean since SCAR’s last update to ATCM XXXV-CEP XXV (Information Paper 21, 2012). Scientific knowledge regarding the effect of noise on marine wildlife continues to advance, based almost exclusively on studies outside the Antarctic region. Despite these advances in knowledge, the state-of-knowledge regarding the spatial and temporal distribution of sound sources, the real-world characteristics and distribution of anthropogenic noise and the environmental factors that determine its effects on receptor organisms and/or populations is judged by experts to be fair to good. How marine wildlife will respond to exposures to noise remains largely unknown with no information for many important species. While there is improved knowledge of the effects of noise on several cetacean species, there remains a lack of research on marine species endemic to Antarctica, including little knowledge of population level effects and variations in effects with life stage. Due to the lack of fundamental knowledge, current approaches to mitigation and management remain largely unverified as to effectiveness in avoiding and/or reducing detrimental effects. Expanded monitoring of natural/ambient and anthropogenic sound in Antarctic marine environments is needed to fully assess real-world noise exposure scenarios. While at an early stage, identification of “sound-sensitive” Antarctic species, potential “sound hotspots” in Antarctica and cumulative effects are beginning to emerge. Further studies of the responses of Antarctic species and populations to anthropogenic noise are essential to advancing evidence-based policies that are practicable while achieving conservation goals. A description of the process followed to produce this Background Paper and the WP 68 is provided in CEP XXI Information Paper 28 (2018).

This Background Paper supports WP068: Anthropogenic Noise in the Southern Ocean – an Update

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP010: An update to the state of knowledge of wildlife responses to unmanned aerial vehicles

Joint paper with Germany, Portugal and Spain

Submitted: 09 May 2019

Summary:

Following the SCAR workshop “Drones and Antarctic Biology” held at the SCAR Biology Symposium in Leuven on 09 July 2017, a scientific publication was compiled to provide details on the key outcomes and recommendations (Mustafa et al. 2018). This publication summarizes recent research and the expert opinions of workshop participants, with the aim of supporting Antarctic conservation policy discussions and informing forthcoming research. It encapsulates and updates the current knowledge on the impact of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) on Antarctic wildlife. In the publication the authors note that, although there was general consensus by the SCAR Action Group (AG) in some discussions, results that could inform minimum recommended flight distances were variable and sometimes contradictory due to a variety of factors (e.g., RPAS size, local site factors, weather, species composition) and limited existing data. Nevertheless, the authors were able to propose a set of minimum vertical operating altitudes for consideration during further development of guidelines for RPAS in the Antarctic, which should be updated regularly with the results of new scientific studies.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP023: Antarctic Environments Portal: Content Management Plan

Joint paper with Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and the United States

Submitted: 17 May 2019

Summary:

The Antarctic Environments Portal continues to provide the CEP and Antarctic Treaty Parties with a reliable source of information on issues of policy and management relevance. A Content Management Plan for the Portal has been developed and is included in this Information Paper. The content management plan aims to provide a more structured approach to developing articles for the Portal and for facilitating a dialogue with the CEP to allow Committee Members to have input to the articles published on the Portal website.

An update on the Antarctic Environments Portal is given in Working Paper WP052.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP024: Systematic Conservation Plan for the Antarctic Peninsula Project Updates

Joint paper with IAATO

Submitted: 17 May 2019

Summary:

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators are undertaking a collaborative project to develop a systematic conservation plan for the Antarctic Peninsula, aimed at informing the Antarctic community on how best to concurrently manage biodiversity, science and tourism in the region, and contribute to the sustainable management of the IAATO activities into the future. The project commenced in 2018 and updates are summarised in this Information Paper.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP028: The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Annual Report 2019 to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting XLII

Submitted: 17 May 2019

Summary:

This paper presents the annual report of The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. For ease of consideration, the main features of the report are presented as an infographic.

• Attachment ATT087 – SCAR infographic

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP042: Emperor penguins – vulnerable to projected rates of warming and sea ice loss; an international collaboration to inform species-related conservation decision-making and conservation planning

Joint paper with United Kingdom, ASOC, Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Monaco and Norway

Submitted: 28 May 2019

Summary:

An international group of scientists from the United Kingdom, Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Monaco, Norway, the United States and SCAR, including the majority of those holding long-term data and having experience of working with emperor penguins, have formed an international collaboration to review the dependence and vulnerability of emperor penguins to ongoing and projected climate change. The outcomes of this work will have relevance to the ATCM and CEP because of its implications for species-related conservation decision-making and conservation planning.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP049: An update on the World Meteorological Organization-Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Joint Fellowship Programme

Joint paper with WMO

Submitted: 29 May 2019

Summary:

This paper announces the launch on 8th May 2019 of a Joint WMO-SCAR Fellowship Programme for early career scientists, which was originally announced in ATCM XLI IP044 A New WMO-SCAR Joint Fellowship Program. Fellows will be expected to undertake research on a topic that is relevant to the programme priority areas of WMO and SCAR, at major international laboratories, field facilities, and/or institutes in or operated by SCAR member countries, with the goal of exposing them to recent advances in Antarctic research and to develop long-term scientific links and partnerships. Selected fellows will not be expected to come from SCAR member countries, in keeping with aims of the WMO Fellowship Programme to support the education and training of qualified and suitable candidates, particularly from least developed and developing countries.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP050: Draft SCAR Code of Conduct on Geosciences Field Research Activities in Antarctica

Submitted: 29 May 2019

Summary:

SCAR has reviewed earlier advice to geoscientists undertaking field research in Antarctica. The advice has been updated with the preparation of a draft SCAR Code of Conduct on Geosciences Field Research Activities in Antarctica (see Attachment). SCAR would welcome further input and comments from CEP Members, including COMNAP, with a view to submitting the Code of Conduct at CEP XXIII for possible endorsement by the ATCM through Resolution.

• Attachment ATT090 – Draft SCAR Code of Conduct on Geosciences Field Research Activities in Antarctica

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP051: State of Antarctic Penguins 2019 Report

Submitted: 29 May 2019

Summary:

Oceanites’s State of Antarctic Penguins 2019 report is now available at: https://oceanites.org/future-of-antarctica/penguin-conservation/state-of-antarctic-penguins-reports/. The report summarizes the status — population size and population trends — of Antarctica’s five penguin species, continent-wide and in key regions.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP052: A snapshot of terrestrial biodiversity protection in Antarctic Specially Protected Areas

Joint paper with Australia

Submitted: 29 May 2019

Summary:

This paper summarises recent research undertaken as a collaboration between the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) . In this research, the authors present the first continent-wide assessment of terrestrial biodiversity protection within Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs). Despite ASPAs covering less than 2% of Antarctica, 44% of species (including seabirds, plants, lichens and invertebrates) are found in one or more protected areas. However, protection was found to be regionally uneven and biased towards easily detectable and charismatic species like seabirds. The authors conclude that systematic processes to prioritize area protection – using the best available data – will maximize the likelihood of ensuring long-term protection and conservation of Antarctic biodiversity.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP053: Biological Prospecting in Antarctica – An update on the review by SCAR

Submitted: 29 May 2019

Summary:

At the request of ATCM XXXI (2008), SCAR undertook a review of published research on biological prospecting in the Antarctic Treaty region and a survey of biological prospecting research being undertaken within the SCAR community. The results of that work were submitted to ATCM XXXIII (2010) (see ATCM XXXIII WP2 Biological prospecting in the Antarctic region: a conservative overview of current research). In light of continuing discussions on the issue, ATCM XLI (2018) requested SCAR to provide an update to its 2010 report (paras 57 and 58 of the Final Report of ATCM XLI refer).

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP074: A Memorandum of Understanding between the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research and the International Polar Heritage Committee

Submitted: 30 May 2019

Summary:

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), International Polar Heritage Committee (IPHC) have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU recognises the central role of SCAR in advising the Antarctic Treaty System on scientific matters and acknowledges the expertise and experience of the IPHC and its role in offering independent expert advice on Antarctic heritage matters.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP075: Update on activities of the Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS)

Submitted: 30 May 2019

Summary:

The Southern Ocean Observing System (SOOS – soos.aq) is a joint initiative of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and has the mission to facilitate the collection and delivery of Southern Ocean observational data to all international stakeholders. SOOS delivers several products and networks of direct relevance to the work of the CEP and ATCM. This paper highlights:

• Five regional networks that have been developed for enhanced coordination of observational activities in the Southern Ocean;
• A new online tool that enables discovery of Southern Ocean observational data;
• The field planning and coordination tool “DueSouth”; and
• A new community paper with statements on observational priorities for the Southern Ocean.

For the above, SOOS invites engagement and input, to ensure an internationally coordinated system of observations to deliver an optimal suite of observations for all end-users.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019

ATCM XLII and CEP XXII 2019, Prague, Czech Republic

Information Paper

IP093: The International Programme for Antarctic Buoys

Joint paper with WMO

Submitted: 31 May 2019

Summary:

A sustainable Southern Ocean Buoy network is crucial for forecasting weather and sea-ice conditions, for validating satellite observations and numerical climate models as well as for research on Antarctic climate and climate change.

ATCM – Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
CEP – Committee for Environmental Protection
42nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
1 – 11 July 2019