WILD Foundation’s Post

Imagine a quiet, desolate land where ice, whipping winds, and brutally cold temperatures keep away human civilization. No homes, no businesses, no schools, no militaries. Just the hardiest species can thrive in this environment—penguins, seals, whales, and maybe some seabirds. And it’s not owned by anyone. But #Antarctica isn’t a complete no man’s land, and that’s because of the #Antarctic Treaty, a unique and highly impactful agreement amongst various nations to keep Antarctica a peaceful refuge for scientific exploration and discovery. And, of course, it’s included in HeinOnline’s World Treaty Library. So let’s dive in and explore how this remarkable treaty came to be, and the impact it has had on keeping Antarctica a frozen wilderness. https://lnkd.in/eMtESJfY

⚠️ The future of our oceans hangs in the balance! Next week, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) members meet in Seoul, South Korea, to address the gridlock blocking the proposed Antarctic Peninsula Marine Protected Area (MPA). 🐧 The Antarctic Peninsula, especially the proposed Domain 1 MPA, is a critical area that needs protection due to its unique ecological and environmental significance. This meeting could be a game-changer for #Antarctica and our planet. 🌍 Want to know more and find out how you can help push for this vital protection? Click here: https://lnkd.in/diBw_FzH #seashepherd #marineconservation

All eyes are on CCAMLR Members for proposing to protect a significant part of the Southern Ocean. Their agreement would be a landmark not only towards the 30x30 objective, but also as a sign of cooperation at a moment of high international tension, conflict, even war. It's much needed if the SDGs, the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Climate Agreement and such inspiring international agreements are to keep momentum.

🌍 The fate of Antarctica's delicate ecosystem, and therefore our planet's future, hangs in the balance as world leaders gather in Seoul this week for a meeting that could change the course of history. Why does the Seoul meeting matter now❓ 👉 The krill supertrawler fleet is expanding in the proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) while vital krill populations are declining. In 2022, over 190 countries committed to protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030, yet only 3% is currently safeguarded. 👉  Six years ago, Chile and Argentina proposed the Antarctic Peninsula MPA. Now, with just six years left to fulfill global commitments, the time for action is NOW❗ 👉  The 2024 Harmonization Meeting in Seoul is a pivotal moment we cannot afford to miss. It's time for all 26 nations to unite, seize this opportunity,  and make history. ✋ Raise your hand in the comments to show your support.✋ 📌 For more insights, check out the full commentary here: https://lnkd.in/dHKbsXk2 #antarcticsos #stoptheplunder #seashepherd

Photo by @DaisyGilardini / Fur seals have an attitude from a young age. Of all the Antarctic and Subantarctic seals, the fur seal is the one that shows the most aggressive behaviour. Probably rightly so, as they were hunted almost to extinction by the early 20th century. The population has recovered today. During mating season, when the males are particularly aggressive, some areas are closed to tourism, to give the seals added protection and to avoid confrontations. Affected areas include some of the South Georgia Islands, such as Prion Island. #seal #SouthGeorgia #furseal #climatechange #climatechangeisreal

The Lewis Pugh Foundation invited us to translate their Antarctic Video's subtitles into spanish 🎥 🌊 🇦🇶 🦐 "To achieve #30x30, protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030, we must recognize the interconnectedness of our planet. From forests to fields and rivers to oceans, each ecosystems plays a vital role in supporting life on Earth. 🌊 #Antarctica [and the Southern Oceans] are the last to be touched by humans and the first ones we should protect. 🇦🇶 To protect the Southern Ocean is to protect #krill – the cornerstone of its ecosystem." 🦐 Learn more about it on our previous posts!  

Trivia for Antarctic Tragics No: 28. Slices of Ice The Ross Dependency is a pizza slice region of Antarctica originating at the South Pole, passing along longitudes 160° east to 150° west, and terminating at latitude 60° south. The region was claimed for the UK by explorer Captain James Clark Ross in 1841, then transferred to New Zealand governance in 1923. What is the land area of the Ross Dependency in relation to the land area of New Zealand ? a) 0.7 b) 1.7 c) 2.7 d) 3.7 While the Ross Dependency is claimed by New Zealand, under the Antarctic Treaty, all territorial claimants are held in abeyance. Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty states: "No acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica or create any rights of sovereignty in Antarctica". So it's ours, but it's not really ours... A bit like Phar Lap or Russell Crowe. Regardless, it's bigger than most people know. ANSWER: b) 1.7 times bigger than NZ - 450,000 sq kms compared to tiny NZ at 268,000 sq kms

Today, the White House released a new policy on the Antarctic Region, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to lead cooperative international efforts through the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) to maintain the Antarctic Region for peaceful purposes, protect its relatively pristine environment and ecosystems, and conduct scientific research, long into the future. The Antarctic Region represents about 10% of the world’s ocean and plays a significant role in ocean and climate system stability. This National Security Memorandum is an update to a three decades-old policy, highlighting the need for increased cooperation to protect the Antarctic Region’s vulnerable environment and ecosystem, including through marine protected areas, and to actively address the impacts of climate change that are threatening Antarctica. The United States has the largest scientific program in the Antarctic Region, managed through the National Science Foundation (NSF). The United States will continue to collaborate with countries around the world on Antarctic science and conservation. https://lnkd.in/eRuZU68U

𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦: 𝘈𝘚𝘗𝘈 #𝘛𝘖𝘗20 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁.   Antarctica now more than ever requires enhanced protection through the Antarctic treaty. Year after year, the international community is becoming increasingly aware of the growing impact of human activities and the necessity of establishing a global network of Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) as well as Antarctic Specially Managed Areas (ASMA). Preserving Antarctic biodiversity and ecosystems plays a crucial role in combating climate change.   During the 45th annual consultative meeting of the Antarctic Treaty, signatory countries made several crucial decisions. Among these was my initiative to establish a specially protected area near the Princess Elisabeth Station.   Despite the progress made in protecting Antarctica over the past three decades, it remains imperative to collaborate closely to stem climate change and preserve the extraordinary biodiversity of Antarctica and its surroundings

What does the new National Security Memorandum on United States Policy on the Antarctic Region signify about our national interest in the region? Learn from the experts by visiting the Polar Institute's site!