Exploration of Antarctic Subglacial Aquatic Environments Environmental and Scientific Stewardship (2007) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
5 Antarctic Governance and Implications for Exploration of Subglacial Aquatic Environments
5 Antarctic Governance and Implications for Exploration of Subglacial Aquatic Environments
Pages 104-113
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 104... ...
The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) take place every year, normally rotating through the Consultative Parties alphabetically by country name in English.
|
From page 105... ...
Annex V to the protocol contains the provisions for area protection and management. PLANETARY PROTECTION AND THE OUTER SPACE TREATY A comparison between planetary protection for the solar system and environmental stewardship of Antarctic environments reveals a number of similarities, ranging from the basic governances to their science-driven policies as well as the similar approach to oversight and review of individual projects by designated government institutions.
|
From page 106... ...
Any state party to the treaty can propose amendments to it, which must be accepted by a majority of the states -- unlike the Antarctic Treaty, which requires consensus for every decision. Again unlike the Antarctic Treaty, there is no distinction in the types of parties or member states involved in the Outer Space Treaty, regardless of whether they are actively involved in space exploration and/or launched missions.1 In addition to being centered on a treaty for its framework, planetary protection is interpreted and applied through designated international scientific bodies.
|
From page 107... ...
continent directly through regulation Contamination sections of the treaty effectively managed by a scientific body as a consensus agreement among signatories Overall goals OST Article IX: Signatory states will Article 3 of Protocol on Environmental conduct exploration of planetary Protection to the Antarctic Treaty: bodies "so as to avoid their harmful Parties commit themselves to "protection contamination and also adverse of the Antarctic environment and changes in the environment of the dependent and associated ecosystems Earth resulting from the introduction and the intrinsic values of Antarctica, of extraterrestrial matter, and where including its wilderness and aesthetic necessary, shall adopt appropriate values and its value as an area for the measures for this purpose" conduct of scientific research" Interpreted Major Concerns: Avoid Interpreted Major Concerns: Encourage harmful cross-contamination and good governance, good stewardship, preserve organic constituent values good practices, international cooperation. for scientific exploration; avoid Minimize conflict based on scientific forward and backward contamination information; protect resources by (either unintentional or deliberately good practices; maximize scientific transported materials)
|
From page 108... ...
and the international community to or perturbation of microbial habitats consider whether and how policies have been little addressed, with a few and associated implementing exceptions (e.g., McMurdo Dry Valleys regulations should be revised to reflect ASMA) rapidly changing information about extraterrestrial environments and microbial life Perspectie Regarding Microbes: From inception, microbes have been a priority focus of COSPAR policy under the Outer Space Treaty, a perspective likewise shared by implementing bodies and space agencies.
|
From page 109... ...
The legislation provides no recommended methods or standards for any activity With respect to projects exploring subglacial aquatic environmental systems, currently there are no standards for cleanliness or monitoring methods; nor is there any required implementation guidance regarding contamination control during staging, operations, or sample collection. There are no specific monitoring or archiving requirements related to microbial contamination.
|
From page 110... ...
What policy, environmental classifications, management scheme, cleanliness levels, and methods should be adopted for the newly discovered and unique subglacial lake and other aquatic environments with its associated ecosystems and how can this be done within the existing legislation? Even though there are some crucial differences in approach, drawing on PP protocols and past experiences in shaping policy may be a useful way to develop a preliminary framework for addressing subglacial aquatic management and contamination control.
|
From page 111... ...
For sites designated for conservation purposes, it should provide long-term protection from contamination. The geographical basis for the application of the category ASPA in this instance will need further discussion because the recognition of interconnectedness in the subglacial aquatic environment may require the designation of a buffer zone comprising a part or the whole of a watershed in order to ensure that activities higher up the gradient do not inadvertently contaminate the protected area.
|
From page 112... ...
Such a proposal could be put forward by any Consultative Party or by SCAR. Managed Scientific Research Exploring subglacial aquatic environments, and especially lakes, is an activity that is expected to begin, and grow, in the coming years.
|
From page 113... ...
In deciding how to treat all subglacial aquatic environments in the future, it is prudent to recognize that at least some examples of lakes should be conserved inviolate for future generations. At present, the detailed information that exists about all lakes except Lake Vostok is very limited, and it is both possible and likely that more lakes will be identified in due course in areas of the continent for which very limited or no radio echo-sounding data currently exist.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.