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Scientists issue Antarctic warning

Antarctic warning Policy-makers need to be more responsive to increasing pressures on Antarctica's environment, say an eminent team of scientific experts.

Biologist Professor Steven Chown, from Monash University, and colleagues, report their views today in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B

"There's going to be a requirement for greater flexibility in terms of going from the science to the policy because of the rapidity of change."

Chown and colleagues say the most immediate threats to Antarctica come from regional warming, ocean acidification and changes in sea ice distribution.

The researchers, whose work was partly funded by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, add that "marine resource extraction may exacerbate these threats."

But, they say, beyond this there are other threats that need to be considered.

Chown and colleagues say the threat of pollution and invasive species is increasing due to expanding tourism and scientific research, which demands more infrastructure, air networks and perhaps permanent residency.

"Both those activities, which are the major ones on the continent, are likely to bring about substantial conservation and governance problems into the future," says Chown.

Timely advice

While human activity in Antarctica is regulated by the Antarctic Treaty, Chown says policy-makers need more timely and accessible advice to ensure they will be able to adequately protect the Antarctic environment.

He and colleagues are also concerned that the current ban on mining may be overturned as the technology that allows for polar exploration improves, and as the pressure to find new resources increases.

Some countries, including Australia, have registered claims to parts of Antarctica, on the basis that they are extensions of their continental shelf and this "suggests there is some international jockeying", says Chown.

He and colleagues are also concerned that profit-driven research, including bioprospecting, may prevent sharing of important scientific information that could be important for conservation.

Over-reaction?

But not all experts are as concerned about the threats to Antarctica raised by Chown and colleagues.

"I think they're over-reacting," says Dr Julia Jabour, an expert in Antarctic policy at the University of Tasmania.

She says at this stage the Treaty parties are addressing the concerns raised by the scientists.

Jabour agrees decision-making under the Treaty is difficult because members are required to reach consensus, but she suggests the inhospitability and remoteness of Antarctica will protect it from many assaults

And while it is not possible to account for "rogue states", Jabour doubts members would go against the Treaty.

"The psyche of the Antarctic Treaty parties is that this is such an important treaty and such an important area scientifically that if we stuff it up there is no going back," says Jabour, who has been part of the Australian delegation to Treaty meetings.

She says at some stage, countries will find resources in Antarctica and want to make money from them but she doesn't see that as being an issue for a long time.

But it's the long term that Chown and colleagues are concerned about.

"Everybody thinks that [mining in Antarctica] won't happen for the moment," he says.

"But everybody thought that the Alaskan north shore would never have oil drilling on it either, and the Alaskan north shore is visible from space."