Skip navigation


You are in:  Home » Publications » Bulletins » Bulletin 156

SCAR Bulletin No 156, January 2005

Twenty-seventh Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
Cape Town, South Africa, 24 May - 4 June 2004

Decisions, Resolutions and Measures

The texts of the Decisions and Resolutions, and the text of Measure 1 (2004), together with a summary of the Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed area No. 2, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Southern Victoria Land, adopted at XXVII ATCM were reproduced in SCAR Bulletin No 155, October 2004. A summary of the Management Plan for Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 3, Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, George V land, together with Measures 2 - 4, are reproduced here. The full versions of all the Decisions, Measures and Resolutions are on the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat website at http://www.ats.org.ar/

Measure 1 (2004)

Antarctic Protected Area System: Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Managed Areas

The Representatives,

Recalling Article 4 of Annex V of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, providing for the designation of Antarctic Specially Managed Areas;

Noting that the draft Management Plans appended to this Measure have been endorsed by the Committee for Environmental Protection;

Recognising that these Areas support significant scientific, wilderness, ecological, heritage and aesthetic values and would benefit from improved coordination between Parties active there;

Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 6 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty:

That the Management Plans for:

which are annexed to this Measure, be adopted.

Measure 2 (2004)

Antarctic Protected Area System: Management Plans for Antarctic Specially Protected Areas

The Representatives,

Recalling Articles 3 and 5 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, providing for the designation of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas;

Noting that the draft Management Plans for the following Antarctic Specially Protected Areas have been endorsed by the Committee for Environmental Protection;

Recognising that these areas support significant scientific, wilderness, ecological, heritage and aesthetic values, and would benefit from special protection;

Recommend that their Governments, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 6 of Annex V to the Protocol, approve the following Measure:

That the Management Plans for the following sites, and which are annexed to this Measure, be adopted:

Measure 3 (2004)

Antarctic Protected Area System: Historic Sites and Monuments:
Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, George V Land and Plaque and
Monument at India Point and, Humboldt Mountains, Central Dronning Maud Land.

The Representatives,

Recalling Recommendations I - IX, VI-14 and Measure 3 (2003);

Noting the requirements of Article 8 of Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty to maintain a list of current Historic Sites and Monuments and that such sites shall not be damaged, removed or destroyed;

Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 8 of Annex V and paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty:

  1. That Historic Site and Monument numbers 12 and 13 be removed from the Antarctic Treaty list of Historic Sites and Monuments and be subsumed into the following new Historic Site and Monument to be added to the "List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting" annexed to Measure 3 (2003):

    No. 77: Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, George V Land, including Boat Harbour and the historic artefacts contained within its waters. Site incorporated within ASMA No. 3 Part of this site is also designated as ASPA No. 162.

    Location: 67°00'30"S, 14°39"40" Original proposing Party: Australia

    Party undertaking management: Australia

  2. That the following site be added to the List of Historic Sites and Monuments approved by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting" annexed to Measure 3 (2003):

    No. 78: Memorial plaque at India Point, Humboldt Mountains, Wohlthat Massif, central Dronning Maud Land erected in memory of three scientists of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and a communication technician from the Indian Navy ®C all members of the ninth Indian Expedition to Antarctica, who sacrificed their lives in this mountain camp in an accident on 8th January 1990.

    Location: 71°45'08"S, 11°12'30"E Original proposing Party: India

    Party undertaking management: India

Management Plan for Historic Site and Monument No. 77 and
Antarctic Specially Managed Area No. 3

Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay, George V Land, East Antarctica

Latitude 67°00'13"S - 67°00'50"S; Longitude 142°40'00.1"E - 142°41'27"E

Introduction

Cape Denison, Commonwealth Bay is one of the principal sites of early human activity in Antarctica. It is the location of the base of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-14 organised and led by Dr (later Sir) Douglas Mawson. An important symbol of the 'heroic age' of Antarctic exploration (1895-1917), it is one of only six hut sites remaining from this period. Cape Denison hosted some of the earliest comprehensive studies of Antarctic geology, geography, terrestrial magnetism, astronomy, meteorology, glaciology, oceanography, biology, zoology and botany. It was also the base of numerous explorations inland and features artefacts associated with these sledging parties, including food caches and equipment.
Note: a fuller version of the Management Plan is given as the second Annex to Measure 1 (2004) at the beginning of this issue of SCAR Bulletin.

Management Plan for Historic Site and Monument No. 78
Memorial plaque at India Point, Humboldt Mountains, Wohlthat Massif, central Dronning Maud Land

Latitude: 71°45'08"S Longitude: 11°12'30"E

Proposed site

Plaque and Monument at India Point, Humboldt Mountains, Wohlthat Massif, central Dronning Maud Land.

Description

Memorial plaque erected in memory of three scientists of Geological Survey of India (GSI) and a communication technician from Indian Navy - all members of ninth Indian Expedition to Antarctica, who scarified their lives in this mountain camp in an accident on 8 January 1990.

Background

In pursuance of the scientific goals set for the Ninth Indian Antarctic Expedition to Antarctica, a mountain camp was established on 6 January 1990 to facilitate geological mapping of Humboldt Mountains and related studies. The following expeditioners inhabited the camp:

1. V K Srivastava 33 Years Geologist (GSI)
2. B L Sharma 46 Years Geologist (GSI)
3. A K Bedi 42 Years Geophysicist (GSI)
4. N C Joshi 27 Years Naval Technician (Indian Navy)


It was in the remote parts of the mountains in Central Dronning Maud Land, that camp inmates lost their lives on 8 January 1990 in a tragic incident of gas poisoning. Their bodies were recovered next day during a routine visit by the leader of the expedition and flown home for necessary rituals.

A black dolerite plaque engraved with the names of the departed was erected at the campsite in their memory in February 1991.

Management Guidelines

Declaration of the site as a monument aims at ensuring that the site of the tragic death is kept inviolate by preventing human disturbance and allowing visitation.

A detailed location map is prominently displayed at the Indian station °∞Maitri" and a sign describing the historical importance of the area will be placed and maintained near the site. Use of vehicles should be carefully managed. All visits should recognize the values to be protected.

Description of the site

The memorial plaque is on the foothills of northwestern side of Flanuten peak in the southern Humboldt Mountains, east of Somovken Glacier. The site is at an altitude of 1900m at approximately 71°45'08"S; 11°12'30"E.

The area is marked by high jagged peaks exhibiting typical Alpine topography. The surrounding hills rise to a maximum elevation (2855m) east of Vindigghallet Glacier. Several glaciers originate from these hills and descend westward to join Somovken Glacier. A prominent ice field with flat to very gentle slopes exists north of the site..

The site comprises Proterozoic metamorphic rocks imprinted by Grenvillian and Pan-African orogenies. Gneissic rocks, including quartzofeldspthcic gneiss, quartz-biotite gneiss, garnet-sillimanite gneiss and sillimanite-cordierite gneiss dominate the area. Foliation-parallel bands of 2-pyroxene granulites and calc-silicates occur within the country gneiss. Late stage intrusions of pegmatite, quartz veins and basic dykes are frequently observed. The paragneisses exhibit khondalitic affinity. The rocks exhibit a polydeformational and polymetamorphic history with at least 3 major phases of folding with associated metamorphism.

The maps and photographs are not reproduced here.

  1. Map of part of southern Humboldt Mountains
  2. Map showing details of the site.
  3. Photograph of the plaque
  4. Photograph of the persons.

Measure 4 (2004)

Insurance and Contingency Planning for Tourism and Non Governmental Activities
in the Antarctic Treaty Area

The Representatives,

Concerned at the potential impacts, including the imposition of additional costs, that tourist or other non-governmental activities may have on national programmes, and the risks to the safety of those involved in search and rescue operations;

Desiring to ensure that tourist or other non-governmental activities undertaken in Antarctica are carried out in a safe and self-sufficient manner;

Desiring further to ensure that the risks associated with tourism or other non-governmental activities are fully identified in advance, and minimised;

Noting that the ∞Procedures to be Followed by Organisers and Operators", as set out in the Attachment to Recommendation XVIII-1, contain some elements relating to self-sufficiency and insurance;

Recommend to their Governments the following Measure for approval in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty:

That Parties shall require those under their jurisdiction organising or conducting tourist or other non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area, for which advance notification is required in accordance with Article VII (5) of the Antarctic Treaty, to demonstrate compliance with the following requirements: