Challenges facing the future of Antarctica
A century ago, Antarctica was one of Earth's last frontiers, but now
the continent is under threat from human activity. The team analysed the effectiveness of the existing Antarctic Treaty System for protecting the region from the threats of climate change and, as technology improves, increasing prospects of use of the Antarctic's natural resources. Using a horizon scanning approach, the team determined that the major short-term threats included climate change impacts on marine systems, marine resource use, ocean acidification, invasive alien species, pollution, habitat alteration and regulatory challenges within the Treaty system. Lead author Professor Steven Chown, Head of Biological Sciences at Monash University said the impacts of climate change were particularly worrying. "Interactions between resource use and climate change are especially significant threats", Professor Chown said. "Climate change is increasing the risk of the introduction of
non-indigenous species. Several alien species, which have track records
of being highly invasive, are already present in the Peninsula region
and the risks are growing." The team also looked at the likely situation in half a century. In the longer-term, climate change impacts on terrestrial systems, and the impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms are growing threats. Flags of Antarctica courtesy BAS. Read more at British Antarctic Survey.
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