Site Guidelines for visitors
The Representatives,
Recalling Resolution 5 (2005), Resolution 2 (2006), Resolution 1 (2007), Resolution 2 (2008), Resolution 4 (2009) and Resolution 1 (2010), which adopted lists of sites subject to Site Guidelines;
Recalling Resolution 1 (2010), which provided that any proposed amendment to existing Site Guidelines be discussed by the Committee for Environmental Protection (“CEP”), which should advise the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) accordingly, and that if such advice is endorsed by the ATCM, the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (the Secretariat) should make the necessary changes to the texts of Site Guidelines on its website;
Believing that Site Guidelines enhance the provisions set out in Recommendation XVIII-1 (1994) (Guidance for those organising and conducting tourism and non-Governmental activities in the Antarctic);
Confirming that the term “visitors” does not include scientists conducting research within such sites, or individuals engaged in official governmental activities;
Noting that the Site Guidelines have been developed based on the current levels and types of visits at each specific site, and aware that the Site Guidelines would require review if there were any significant changes to the levels or types of visits to a site;
Believing that the Site Guidelines for each site must be reviewed and revised promptly in response to changes in the levels and types of visits, or in any demonstrable or likely environmental impacts;
Desiring to increase the number of Site Guidelines developed for visited sites and to keep existing Guidelines up to date;
Recommend that:
1. the list of sites subject to Site Guidelines that have been adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting be extended to include a further three new sites (Taylor Valley Visitor Zone, Southern Victoria Land; North-east beach of Ardley Island; Mawson’s Huts and Cape Denison, East Antarctica), and that the full list of sites subject to Site Guidelines be replaced by the one annexed to this Resolution;
2. the Site Guidelines for the Sites Whalers Bay, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands and Hannah Point be replaced by the modified Guidelines;
3. the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (the Secretariat) place the full list and the modified Guidelines, as adopted by the ATCM, on its website;
4. their Governments urge all those intending to visit such sites to ensure that they are fully conversant with, and adhere to, the advice in the relevant Site Guidelines as published by the Secretariat;
5. any proposed amendment to existing Site Guidelines be discussed by the Committee for Environmental Protection, which should advise the ATCM accordingly, and that if such advice is endorsed by the ATCM, the Secretariat should make the necessary changes to the texts of Site Guidelines on the website; and
6. the Secretariat post the text of Resolution 1 (2010) on its website in a way that makes clear that it is no longer current.
The Representatives,
Recalling Resolution 5 (2005), Resolution 2 (2006), Resolution 1 (2007), Resolution 2 (2008), Resolution 4 (2009) and Resolution 1 (2010), which adopted lists of sites subject to Site Guidelines;
Recalling Resolution 1 (2010), which provided that any proposed amendment to existing Site Guidelines be discussed by the Committee for Environmental Protection (“CEP”), which should advise the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) accordingly, and that if such advice is endorsed by the ATCM, the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (the Secretariat) should make the necessary changes to the texts of Site Guidelines on its website;
Believing that Site Guidelines enhance the provisions set out in Recommendation XVIII-1 (1994) (Guidance for those organising and conducting tourism and non-Governmental activities in the Antarctic);
Confirming that the term “visitors” does not include scientists conducting research within such sites, or individuals engaged in official governmental activities;
Noting that the Site Guidelines have been developed based on the current levels and types of visits at each specific site, and aware that the Site Guidelines would require review if there were any significant changes to the levels or types of visits to a site;
Believing that the Site Guidelines for each site must be reviewed and revised promptly in response to changes in the levels and types of visits, or in any demonstrable or likely environmental impacts;
Desiring to increase the number of Site Guidelines developed for visited sites and to keep existing Guidelines up to date;
Recommend that:
1. the list of sites subject to Site Guidelines that have been adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting be extended to include a further three new sites (Taylor Valley Visitor Zone, Southern Victoria Land; North-east beach of Ardley Island; Mawson’s Huts and Cape Denison, East Antarctica), and that the full list of sites subject to Site Guidelines be replaced by the one annexed to this Resolution;
2. the Site Guidelines for the Sites Whalers Bay, Deception Island, South Shetland Islands and Hannah Point be replaced by the modified Guidelines;
3. the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (the Secretariat) place the full list and the modified Guidelines, as adopted by the ATCM, on its website;
4. their Governments urge all those intending to visit such sites to ensure that they are fully conversant with, and adhere to, the advice in the relevant Site Guidelines as published by the Secretariat;
5. any proposed amendment to existing Site Guidelines be discussed by the Committee for Environmental Protection, which should advise the ATCM accordingly, and that if such advice is endorsed by the ATCM, the Secretariat should make the necessary changes to the texts of Site Guidelines on the website; and
6. the Secretariat post the text of Resolution 1 (2010) on its website in a way that makes clear that it is no longer current.
