Thirty-fourth Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting - Fourteenth Committee on Environmental Protection Meeting
Buenos Aires, Argentina
20 Jun 2011 - 1 Jul 2011
The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) was held in Buenos Aires (Argentina) from June 20 to July 1. During two weeks of discussions, several decisions were taken. The Chairman of the meeting was Min. Ariel Mansi, from Argentina. Under the able chaimanship of Dr Yves Frenot, the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) considered environmental impacts associated with drilling into subglacial Lake Ellsworth, revised the management plan for 10 Antarctic Specially Protected Areas and grappled with the concepts of wilderness and human footprints of the continent to allow us to develop ways of keeping areas pristine. By producing a manual of control techniques, the Committee continues to make great progress with stopping the introduction of non-native species into the Antarctic. The Antarctic Treaty Parties adopted the Declaration of Buenos Aires, which was initiated by Michel Rocard and provides a fitting milestone for this 50th year since the Antarctic Treaty came into force.
