Environmental CoC and Guidelines

As advised by the Antarctica Treaty Consultative Meeting and Committee for Environmental Protection, awareness programmes are important for all people travelling to and working in the Antarctic on the risks of inter and intra-continental movements of non-native species and on the measures required to prevent their introduction, including a standard set of key messages for awareness programmes. Education and training programmes should be tailored, in some cases using relevant elements of the information listed above, to the activities and risks associated with the target audience, including:

 

• Managers of national programmes

• Logisticians/crew/contractors

• Tour operators/staff/crew

• Scientists

• Tourists

• Private expedition organisers

• Fishing vessel operators/staff/crew

• Staff at suppliers/vendors/warehouses

• Other visitors


Visitors (including all mentioned above) must read these Guidelines and Environmental Code of Conduct before entering Antarctica.

For any further clarification or information, please do contact to;

Director NCPOR (director@ncpor.res.in or mravi@ncpor.res.in) OR

Environmental Officer (anooptiwari.ncpor@nic.in or anooptiwari@ncapor.res.in)

 

A.       A.General guidelines for visitors to Antarctica

             These Guidelines provide general advice for visiting any location to ensure that visits do not adversely impact the Antarctic      environment or its scientific and aesthetic values. Antarctica Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) Site Guidelines for Visitors    provide additional site-specific advice for some locations. (General Guidelines for Visitors to the Antarctic.pdf)  Site Guideline     for Visitors Checklists: For existing sites, reviewers should examine the existing guidelines before visiting  the site and identify   site-specific aspects that should be examined. Before the site visit, a checklist may be used for this purpose. (Site Guidelines   for Visitors Checklist.pdf)


B.      B.Guidelines for the Operation of Aircraft Near Concentrations of Birds in Antarctica

There are many variables affecting noise levels received on the ground during aircraft operations, including flight height; the type of aircraft and engine; the flight profile, the weather, and the location's geography. Noting that Annex II of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty defines that "harmful interference" means flying or landing helicopters or other aircraft in a manner that disturbs concentrations of birds and seals," these guidelines have been prepared by ATCM/CEP/SCAR. (Guidelines for the Operation of Aircraft Near Concentrations of Birds in Antarctica.pdf)

 

C.      C. SCAR's Environmental Code of Conduct for Terrestrial Scientific Field Research in Antarctica

Antarctica contains many unique geological, paleontological, glaciological, and biological features. This landscape and it's biological communities often have limited natural ability to recover from disturbance. Many elements could be easily and irreversibly damaged. This Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Code of Conduct (CoC) guides scientists undertaking terrestrial scientific field research in Antarctica.  This CoC provides recommendations on how scientists and associated personnel can undertake scientific field activities while protecting the Antarctic environment for future generations and not compromising future scientific research. (SCAR's Environmental Code of Conduct for Terrestrial Scientific Field Research in Antarctica.pdf)

 

D.      D.SCAR Code of Conduct for Activity within Terrestrial Geothermal Environments in Antarctica

Terrestrial geothermal environments in Antarctica are of high scientific value to a wide range of disciplines, for example, to geologists, glaciologists, biologists and atmospheric scientists. Recent studies provide evidence that terrestrial geothermal sites in Antarctica support unique and diverse biological communities. This SCAR Code of Conduct provides guidance when planning or undertaking field activities within terrestrial geothermal environments. (SCAR Code of Conduct for Activity within Terrestrial Geothermal Environments in Antarctica.pdf)

 

E.       E. Environmental Guidelines for the operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica

System failures and/or RPA loss in Antarctica may release waste into the environment. These Environmental Guidelines for the operation of RPAS in Antarctica aim to assist implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements and aid decision-making for the use of RPAS through the provision of guidance based on current best available knowledge. (Environmental Guidelines for the operation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in Antarctica.pdf)