Barrientos Island - Aitcho Islands Visitor Site Guidelines

The Representatives,

Recalling Resolution 5 (2005), which adopted Site Guidelines for Barrientos Island - Aitcho Islands;

Concerned at the significant damage that has occurred to important moss beds on Barrientos Island - Aitcho Islands as a result of repeated foot traffic;

Noting the flexibility afforded by the site guidelines mechanism to be able to respond quickly to changing environmental and management circumstances;

Welcoming the research and monitoring effort that is being undertaken at the site that will help inform future management options;

Recognising that the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators will apply a moratorium on visitation to the central part of Barrientos Island - Aitcho Island among its members at least for the 2012/13 season;

Desiring, on the advice of the Committee for Environmental Protection, to take actions that will provide the best opportunity for recovery of the moss beds and the best possible management outcomes;

Recommend that:

Parties take appropriate steps within their own legal and administrative systems to restrict access to the central part of Barrientos Island - Aitcho Islands (Closed Area B) by their nationals and operators, other than for reasons of scientific research and monitoring related to the recovery of the site;
the Site Guidelines for Barrientos Island - Aitcho Islands be replaced by the modified Site Guidelines;
Parties active in the area cooperate in designing and implementing appropriate surveys, research and monitoring plans that will help inform decisions on future management actions, and bring information from such efforts to the 16th meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP XVI);
the Committee for Environmental Protection further reviews the situation at CEP XVI; and
the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat place the modified Site Guidelines on its website.