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Resolution 14: Protection of Antarctica’s wilderness values / La protección de los valores silvestres de Antártica

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WHEREAS: The Antarctic continent and the Southern Ocean form one of the world’s largest and most intact wilderness regions in the world, where human engagement has been peaceful and cooperative.

Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty have committed themselves, following the 1991 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and its Annexes (the Protocol), to the long-term protection of the intrinsic and wilderness values of the Antarctic Treaty area through wise and careful planning and conduct of all activities.

Human footprint and visitation are increasing rapidly, with consequent cumulative impacts resulting in the reduction of Antarctica’s wilderness values.

NOTING:

The implementation of the Protocol over the past decade has addressed the issue of wilderness values infrequently and has had little direct on-the-ground effect in limiting footprint growth or cumulative impacts.

Securing the Antarctic wilderness for the global community, for future generations and for its own intrinsic value, now requires dedicated and deliberative action on humanity’s part.

Most of the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty are members of the IUCN and the Guidelines for applying protected area management categories (2008) contain valuable guidance for the protection of Antarctica’s wilderness values.

THEREFORE: The 9th World Wilderness Congress RESOLVES to recommend to the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty that they should:

1) give credence to the spirit and content of the Protocol and the IUCN guidelines by recognizing that the Antarctic is the one of the world’s most undisturbed wilderness regions which therefore have global value

2) mainstream the protection of wilderness values in the planning and conduct of all activities in the Antarctic Treaty area, as mandated under Article 3 of the Protocol;

3) adopt additional concrete measures to prevent the further increase of the human footprint in Antarctica;

4) develop and apply practical tools to achieve long-term on-the-ground protection of the intrinsic and wilderness values of Antarctica’s terrestrial and marine environments.

PROPOSER: Tina Tin

SECONDERS: Bruce Jefferies, Harvey Locke, Kerry Wray

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