arctic; standards and technology for waste disposal; the ade- 

 quacy of the existing system of protected areas and the possible 

 need for an additional category of protected area; and measures 

 that possibly could be taken to improve the comparability and 

 accessibility of environmental and other data being collected 

 by national programs. 



SCAR and many of its subsidiary bodies are scheduled to 

 meet in Hobart, Australia, in September 1988. Conservation- 

 related issues to be considered at these meetings include: 

 SCAR's response to the previously mentioned requests from the 

 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties for advice on waste 

 disposal and possible means for improving the comparability 

 and accessibility of scientific data on Antarctica; preparation 

 of a statement elaborating SCAR principles regarding protection 

 of the Antarctic environment; a proposal to establish a Group 

 of Specialists on Antarctic Environmental Affairs and Conser- 

 vation; the future of Antarctic science; and continued develop- 

 ment of cooperative programs and working relationships with 

 the Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic 

 Marine Living Resources. In addition, a symposium (the Fifth 

 Symposium on Antarctic Biology) will be held immediately before 

 the SCAR meetings to review and consider information concerning 

 ecological change and the conservation of Antarctic ecosystems. 



The Marine Mammal Commission believes that SCAR plays a 

 critical role in planning and coordinating research programs 

 in the Antarctic and is essential to the effective operation 

 of the Antarctic Treaty system. Through the Polar Research 

 Board, the Commission will continue to provide whatever assis- 

 tance possible to facilitate SCAR's work. 



New International Interest in Antarctica 



There is growing international interest in Antarctica. 

 Since the Treaty entered into force in 1961, 25 additional 

 nations have acceded to it, bringing the total number of parties 

 to 37. As noted earlier, eight of the acceding states have 

 achieved consultative status by establishing and maintaining 

 research programs in the Antarctic, making a total of 20 parties 

 eligible to participate in making decisions under the Antarctic 

 Treaty. 



The growing international interest in Antarctica reflects, 

 in part, recognition of the value of scientific research which 

 remains the primary human activity in Antarctica. It also 

 results from speculation about potential resources, particularly 

 non-renewable mineral and hydrocarbon resources, in Antarctica. 

 In addition, there is growing interest in tourism, raising 

 concerns about tourist safety, impacts of tourism on the Ant- 

 arctic environment, and impacts of tourism on Antarctic reseach. 



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