Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, Antarctica
The Antarctic terrestrial environment is under increasing pressure from human activities. The Fildes Region is characterized by high biodiversity, but is also a major logistic centre for the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Different interests, from scientific research, nature conservation, protection...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2012-05-01
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| Series: | Polar Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/18206/pdf_1 |
| _version_ | 1819042208071811072 |
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| author | Christina Braun Osama Mustafa Anja Nordt Simone Pfeiffer Hans-Ulrich Peter |
| author_facet | Christina Braun Osama Mustafa Anja Nordt Simone Pfeiffer Hans-Ulrich Peter |
| author_sort | Christina Braun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Antarctic terrestrial environment is under increasing pressure from human activities. The Fildes Region is characterized by high biodiversity, but is also a major logistic centre for the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Different interests, from scientific research, nature conservation, protection of geological and historical values, station operations, transport logistics and tourism, regularly overlap in space and time. This has led to increasing conflict among the multiple uses of the region and breaches of the legal requirements for environmental protection that apply in the area. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of human activities in the Fildes Region by monitoring the distribution of bird and seal breeding sites and recording human activities and their associated environmental impacts. Data from an initial monitoring period 2003–06 were compared with data from 2008–10. We observed similar or increased levels of air, land and ship traffic, but fewer violations of overflight limits near Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 150 Ardley Island. Open waste dumping and oil contamination are still major environmental impacts. Scientific and outdoor leisure activities undertaken by station personnel are more frequent than tourist activities and are likely to have a commensurate level of environmental impact. Despite the initial success of some existing management measures, it is essential that scientific and environmental values continue to be safeguarded, otherwise environmental impacts will increase and the habitat will be further degraded. We argue that the Fildes Region should be considered for designation as an Antarctic Specially Managed Area, a measure that has proven effective for environmental management of vulnerable areas of the Antarctic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:37:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d2feb39a2f924782ab1e2d949b873c50 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0800-0395 1751-8369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T09:37:14Z |
| publishDate | 2012-05-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polar Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d2feb39a2f924782ab1e2d949b873c502022-12-21T19:08:35ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research0800-03951751-83692012-05-0131011810.3402/polar.v31i0.18206Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, AntarcticaChristina BraunOsama MustafaAnja NordtSimone PfeifferHans-Ulrich PeterThe Antarctic terrestrial environment is under increasing pressure from human activities. The Fildes Region is characterized by high biodiversity, but is also a major logistic centre for the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Different interests, from scientific research, nature conservation, protection of geological and historical values, station operations, transport logistics and tourism, regularly overlap in space and time. This has led to increasing conflict among the multiple uses of the region and breaches of the legal requirements for environmental protection that apply in the area. The aim of this study was to assess the impacts of human activities in the Fildes Region by monitoring the distribution of bird and seal breeding sites and recording human activities and their associated environmental impacts. Data from an initial monitoring period 2003–06 were compared with data from 2008–10. We observed similar or increased levels of air, land and ship traffic, but fewer violations of overflight limits near Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 150 Ardley Island. Open waste dumping and oil contamination are still major environmental impacts. Scientific and outdoor leisure activities undertaken by station personnel are more frequent than tourist activities and are likely to have a commensurate level of environmental impact. Despite the initial success of some existing management measures, it is essential that scientific and environmental values continue to be safeguarded, otherwise environmental impacts will increase and the habitat will be further degraded. We argue that the Fildes Region should be considered for designation as an Antarctic Specially Managed Area, a measure that has proven effective for environmental management of vulnerable areas of the Antarctic.http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/18206/pdf_1human impactAntarcticFildes Regionenvironmental managementAntarctic Specially Managed Areaprotected area |
| spellingShingle | Christina Braun Osama Mustafa Anja Nordt Simone Pfeiffer Hans-Ulrich Peter Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, Antarctica Polar Research human impact Antarctic Fildes Region environmental management Antarctic Specially Managed Area protected area |
| title | Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, Antarctica |
| title_full | Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, Antarctica |
| title_fullStr | Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, Antarctica |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, Antarctica |
| title_short | Environmental monitoring and management proposals for the Fildes Region, King George Island, Antarctica |
| title_sort | environmental monitoring and management proposals for the fildes region king george island antarctica |
| topic | human impact Antarctic Fildes Region environmental management Antarctic Specially Managed Area protected area |
| url | http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/18206/pdf_1 |
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