Preparation of Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Managed Areas

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Abstract Preparation of Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Managed Areas Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty provides a new framework for protection and management of areas in the Antarctic with special environmental, scientific, historic, aesthetic, or wilderness values. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Specially Protected Areas (SPAs), old categories used by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, are replaced in Annex V by Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA). The Protocol also includes provisions for the development of a detailed management plan to protect the values for which the area was designated. While the Protocol has not yet been formally adopted by the United States, there has been agreement to voluntarily implement as many of its provisions as practicable. One of those provisions is that the country which proposes a site for designation as an ASPA prepare a proposed management plan for the site for submission to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. Several SPAs and SSSI in the Ross Sea area were proposed by the United States. One, Linnaeus Terrace, Asgaard Range, Victoria Land, has had a management plan prepared using the Protocol guidelines and is in the submittal process. Six others still need to be prepared. One new area is being proposed for protection and must also have a management plan prepared for submission to the Treaty Meeting. Management plans are needed for the following sites: Cape Hallett (SPA 7) - designated in Treaty recommendation IV-7 Cape Royds, Ross Island (SSSI 1) - designated in Treaty recommendation VIII-4 Arrival Heights, Ross Island (SSSI 2) - designated in Treaty recommendation VIII-4 Barwick Valley, Victoria Land (SSSI 3) - designated in Treaty recommendation VIII-4 Cape Crozier, Ross Island (SSSI 4) - designated in Treaty recommendation VIII-4 NW White Island (SSSI 18) - designated in Treaty recommend ation XIII-8 Cape Washington (to be proposed for designation) The content of the management plans will follow the general format proscribed in Article 5, Annex V of the Protocol on Environmental Protection.