Conservation of Southern Giant Petrels
The Representatives,
Noting that the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) is keeping under review the status of the southern giant petrel;
Recognising that the species, in its global distribution, is currently listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN;
Recalling SCAR’s advice that the species meets the IUCN criteria for it to be listed as "Critically Endangered" in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Understanding that recent data indicating a larger global population may prompt a reappraisal of the IUCN status category of the species for its global distribution in the near future;
Recalling the Guidelines for CEP Consideration of Proposals for New and Revised Designations of Antarctic Specially Protected Species under Annex II of the Protocol adopted at CEP VIII, which provide, inter alia, for assessment of the status of species at a regional or local level;
Recommend that:
1. SCAR undertake a further review of the status of southern giant petrel using all available data and provide a report at CEP X, including if appropriate, a proposal for inclusion of the species on the list of Specially Protected Species in Appendix A to Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection, together with a draft Action Plan;
2. In the intervening period, all Governmental and non-Governmental activities in Antarctica should be planned so as to avoid negative impacts on southern giant petrels, in particular on breeding colonies of this species.
The Representatives,
Noting that the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) is keeping under review the status of the southern giant petrel;
Recognising that the species, in its global distribution, is currently listed as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN;
Recalling SCAR’s advice that the species meets the IUCN criteria for it to be listed as "Critically Endangered" in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Understanding that recent data indicating a larger global population may prompt a reappraisal of the IUCN status category of the species for its global distribution in the near future;
Recalling the Guidelines for CEP Consideration of Proposals for New and Revised Designations of Antarctic Specially Protected Species under Annex II of the Protocol adopted at CEP VIII, which provide, inter alia, for assessment of the status of species at a regional or local level;
Recommend that:
1. SCAR undertake a further review of the status of southern giant petrel using all available data and provide a report at CEP X, including if appropriate, a proposal for inclusion of the species on the list of Specially Protected Species in Appendix A to Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection, together with a draft Action Plan;
2. In the intervening period, all Governmental and non-Governmental activities in Antarctica should be planned so as to avoid negative impacts on southern giant petrels, in particular on breeding colonies of this species.