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SCAR Bulletin No 132, January 1999
Appendix B
Management Plan for Specially Protected Areas (SPA No 28)
for Historic Site No. 18
(containing the historic "Discovery" hut of Captain R F Scott)
Hut Point, Ross Island
(Lat. 77° 50'50"S, Long 166° 38'E)
1 Description of Values to be Protected
This hut was originally listed as historic site No. 18 in ATCM recommendation VII-9 proposed by New Zealand. The hut was built in February 1902 during the national Antarctic (Discovery) Expedition of 1901-1904, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott who later found it a valuable advance staging point for journeys on the "Barrier" during his 1910-1913 expedition. It was also used by Sir Ernest Shackleton during the 1907-1909 British Antarctic Expedition and later by his stranded Ross Sea party during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917. This building was prefabricated in Australia to an 'outback' design with verandahs on three sides.
The Hut Point site is one of the principal sitaes of early human activity in Antarctica. It is an important symbol of the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration and, as such, has considerable historical and cultural significance. Some of the earliest advances in the study of earth sciences, meteorology, flora and fauna in Antarctica are associated with the Discovery Expedition based at this site. The history of these activities and the contribution they have made to the understanding and awareness of Antarctica give this Area significant scientific, technical, architectural, aesthetic and social values.
2 Aims and Objectives
The aim of the management plan is to provide protection for the Area and its features so that its values can be preserved. The objectives of the Plan are to:
- avoid degradation of, or substantial risk to, to values of the Area;
- maintain the historic values of the Area through planned restoration
and conservation work which may include;
- an annual 'on-site' maintenance programme
- a programme of monitoring the condition of artefacts and structures, and the factors which affect them
- a programme of conservation of artefacts conducted on and off site;
- allow management activities which support the protection of the values and features of the Area including recording of any relevant historic data;
- prevent unnecessary human disturbance to the Area, its features and artefacts through managed access to the Discovery hut.
3 Management Activities
- A regular programme of restoration and preservation work shall be undertaken on the Discovery hut and associated artefacts in the Area
- Visits shall be made as necessary for management purposes
- Control of the number of visitors
- National Antarctic Programmes operating in, or those with an interest in, the region shall consult together with a view to ensuring the above provisions are implemented.
4 Period of Designation
Designated under Measure 1 (1998) for an indefinite period.
5 Maps
Map A: Hut Point regional map. This map show the wider environs of the Area with significant topographic features and the adjacent US McMurdo Station. Inset: shows the position of the site in relation to other protected sites on Ross Island.
Map B: Hut Point site map. This map shows the location of the hsitoric hut, Vince's cross and otehr detail of the immediate environs.
6 Description of the Area
6(i) Geographical coordinates, boundary markers and natural features
Hut Point is small ice free area protruding south west from the Hut Point Peninsula and situated to the west of the United States McMurdo Station.
The designated Area consists solely of the structure of the hut which is situated near the south western extremity of Hut Point.
6(ii) Restricted zones within the Area
None.
6(iii) Structures within the Area
The designated Area consists solely of the structure of the historic Discovery hut.
6(iv) Location of other Protected Areas within close proximity
SSSI No 1 Cape Royds, is 32 kilometres north of Hut Point. SSI No 2 Arrival Heights, is 2 kilomeres north of Hut Point on Hut Point peninsula. SPA No 25 Cape Evans, is 22 kilometres to the north of Hut Point. All sites are located on Ross Island.
7 Permit Conditions
Entry to the Area is prohibited except in accordance with a permit.
Permits shall be issued only by appropriate national authorities and may contain both general and specific conditions. A permit may be issued by a national authority to cover a number of visits in a season. Parties operating in the Ross Sea Area shall consult together and with groups and organisations interested in visiting the Area to ensure that visitor numbers are not exceeded.
General conditions for issuing a permit may include:
- activities related to preservation, maintenance, research and/or monitoring purposes;
- management activities in support of the objectives of this plan;
- activities related to tourism, educational or recreational activities providing they do not conflict with the objectives of this plan;
- the permit should be valid for stated period;
- a copy of the permit must be carried within the Area.
7(i) Access to and movement within the hutt
Control of numbers within the hut is necessary to prevent damage caused by crowding around the many vulnerable features within the hut. The maximum number within the hut at any time (including guides) is: 8 people
Avoidance of cumulative impacts on the interior of the hut require an annual limit on visitor numbers. The effects of current visitors levels (approximately 1,000 per calendar year) suggest that an increase of more than 100% could cause significant adverse impacts. The annual maximum number of visitors is: 2000 people
These limits have been based on current visitor levels an on the best advice available from conservation advisory agencies (which include conservators, archaeologists, historians, museologists and other heritage protection professionals). The limits are based on the proposition that any significant increase in the current level of visitors would be detrimental to the values to be protected. An ongoing monitoring programme of the effect of visitors is in place. This will provide the basis for future review of the management plan, in particular whether the current annual maximum number of visitors to the area is appropriate. This could result in the annual maximum number either increasing or decreasing.
There are no designated helicpter landings sites in the vicinity of the hut as helicopters have the potential to damage the site by blowing scoria and ice particles and to accelerate the abrasion of the hut and surrounding artefacts. Landings from the sea by boat may be made to the north of the hut. Vehicles may approach the hut along the road leading from the United States McMurdo Station.
7(ii) Activities which may be conducted within the Area
Activities which may be conducted within the Area include:
- visits for restoration, preservation and/or protection;
- educational and/or recreational visits including tourism;
- scientific activity which does not detract from the values of the Area.
7(iii) Installation, modification and removal of structures
No alteration to the structure shall be made except for conservation purposes or scientific activities that do not detract from the values of the Area as specified in 1. No historic structure relic or artefact shall be removed from the Area, except for the purposes of restoration and/or preservation and then only in accordance with a permit.
7(iv) Location of field camps
Use of the historic hut for living purposes is not permitted
7(v) Restrictions on materials and organisms which may be brought into the Area
No living animals or plant material shall be introduced to the Area. No food products shall be taken into the Area. Chemicals which may be introduced for management purposes shall be removed at or before the conclusion of the activity for which they are required. Fuel or other materials are not to be left in depots in the Area, unless required for essential purposes connected with the preservation and conservation of the historic structures or the associated relics. All such materials are to be removed when no longer required. Use of combustion type lanterns is not permitted n the hut under any circumstances. Smoking in the Area is not permitted.
7(vi) Taking or harmful interference with native flora and fauna
There are no native flora or fauna within the designated Area.
7(vii) Collection of anything not introduced by a visitor
Material may be collected and removed from the Area only for restoration, preservation or protection purposes, or scientific reasons consistent with the objectives of this plan, and only in accordance with a separate permit issued by the appropriate national authority specifically for that purpose.
Visitors must remove objects, substances and waste introduced by them during their time in the Area.
7(viii) Disposal of waste
All waste generated by work parties or visitors shall be removed from the Area.
7(ix) Measures that may be necessary to ensure that the aims and objectives of the plan continue to be met
The provision of information for visitors. The development of skills and resources, particularly those related to conservation and preservation techniques, to assist with the protection of the Area's values.
7(x) Requirements for reports
Parties should ensure that the principal holder for each Permit issued submits to the appropriate authority a report describing the activities undertaken. Such reports should include, as appropriate, the information identified in the Visit Report Form suggested by SCAR. Parties should maintain a record of such activities and, in the Annual Exchange of Information, should provide summary descriptions of activities conducted by persons subject to their jurisdiction, in sufficient detail to allow evaluation of the effectiveness of the management Plan. Parties should wherever possible deposit originals or copies of such reports in a publicly accessible archive to maintain a record of usage, to be used both for review of the Management Plan and in organising the use of the site.
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