Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
A capacity for monitoring the impacts of activities after they have been
authorised is essential for adaptive management of the effects of activities
on ecosystems. The importance of monitoring is recognised in decision-
making structures used in instruments for the protection of Antarctic
ecosystems. The Protocol on Environmental Protection requires that judg-
ments on proposed activities should take account of
whether there exists
the capacity to monitor key environmental parameters and ecosystem
components so as to identify and provide early warning of any adverse
effects of the activity
'
.
42
CRAMRA is again more restrictive in stating that
no mineral resource activity may take place
'
'
until it is judged that
there
...
for monitoring its impacts.
43
A requirement that the
ability to monitor the effects of an activity after a decision has been made
and implemented should be proven would ensure, to the extent it is
possible, that appropriate programmes for monitoring are developed and
applied to support efforts for improving controls if it becomes apparent
after authorisation that this is necessary.
exists the capacity
'
7.4.2 Generating information through
exploratory development
Decision-making structures that prevent actions from being authorised
where information is not judged to be adequate may provide a high level
of ecological protection, but will also present decision-makers with a
dilemma. Situations may arise where reliable data is lacking and levels of
uncertainty are high because of poor levels of knowledge and under-
standing of ecosystems. This is particularly likely to be the case where a
completely new activity is proposed or an existing activity is to be
extended to areas in which it has not been pursued previously. A strongly
precautionary approach that places a high threshold on the ability to
predict systemic reaction before a decision can be made may result in
paralysis. However, the assessment of proposals for major developmen-
tal programmes that, once authorised and implemented, cannot easily be
undone, is also essential if the effects of human activities on ecosystems
are to be controlled effectively.
A possible solution to this dilemma is an approach to decision-making
in which the approval either of proposals for policy implementation in
full or a project in its entirety is deferred until suf
cient evidence is
42
Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, Article 3(2)(c)(v).
43
Convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities 1988, Article 4(4).
