Home The Natural Environment of Antarctica Efforts to Protect Antarctica in Japan
現在のページInternational Efforts to Protect Antarctica
 
International society has established guidelines such as the Antarctic Treaty for protecting the environment of Antarctica. Parties that adopted the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty publish annual reports on their activities in Antarctica.
   
Efforts to Protect Antarctica in Japan
Black-browed albatross
Black-browed albatross
Diomedea melanophris
Photograph:Charles Glover
Antarctic Treaty
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
 
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Annual Reports
Antarctic Treaty (adopted in 1959, entered into force in 1961)
  The Conclusion of the Antarctic Treaty
Under international cooperation, 12 countries such as Japan, United States, United Kingdom, France and the former Soviet Union concluded the Antarctic Treaty at the end of the International Geophysical Year (IGY; 1957-58) and it entered into force in 1961. The Treaty applies to the area south of 60 degrees South Latitude. As of January, 2003, the State Parties are 45 including 28 consultative countries.
Principles stated in the Treaty are:
to utilize the area for peaceful purposes only and prohibit to establish military bases and to carry out of the maneuvers
to promote the freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation in the area
not to assert, support or deny a claim to sovereignty or create any rights of sovereignty, and
to prohibit any nuclear explosion and the disposing of radioactive materials.
     
Syowa Base
Syowa Base
  Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
  In order to reassure and promote the principles and purposes of the Antarctic Treaty, the consultative parties hold the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM).

The Meeting was held every other year since 1961 and has been organized every year since 1994. Various issues such as environmental protection and technical topics regarding the Antarctic observation are discussed during each session.

Specific topics such as the protection of marine living resources and environmental protection are covered in the Special Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
   
Parties to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
Special Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting
Organizations under the Antarctic Treaty System
 
  Antarctic Treaty Secretariat
  The Antarctic Treaty Secretariat has begun its operations at 1st. September 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Secretariat makes preparations of ATCM and operates the central information exchange web site (http://www.ats.aq/index_e.htm) and so on.
     
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
(adopted in 1972, entered into force in 1978)

In the 19th century, Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina and Southern Fur Seal Arctocephalus gazella faced the danger of extinction due to overhunting. Convention for the Conservation of the Antarctic Seals aims to regulate sealing in Antarctica and protect 6 species of the Antarctic seals.

   
Weddell Seal, Leptonychotes weddelli
Weddell Seal,
Leptonychotes weddelli
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
(adopted in 1980, entered into force in 1982)

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was ratified in 1980 for the purpose of protecting and preserving the marine environment and ecosystem of Antarctica. It regulates fishing amount, areas and methods based on resource amount of fishes, mollusks and krill south of the Antarctic Convergence.

   
krill
Antarctic Convergence
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources Home Page
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
(adopted in 1991, entered into force in 1998)

The Protocol describes principles in the environmental protection of Antarctica. It is consisted of Preamble, Articles and 5 Annexes.

  Summary of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
   
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Summary of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Parties to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
 
Efforts related to the Protocol
 
Annual Reports
Based on Article 17 of the Protocol.Annual reports are circulated to all Parties and the Committee.The reports cover our efforts on protecting Antarctica.
  Exchange of Information
  In ATCM XXIV (2001), the Parties adopted a Resolution that provided information, including operational and scientific information, to a central information exchange web site.
  Annual Reports/Exchange of Information
   
Annual Reports/Exchange of Information