Ant-ICON - 'Integrated Science to Inform Antarctic and Southern Ocean Conservation': A new SCAR Scientific Research Programme

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Hughes, Kevin A., Santos, Mercedes, Caccavo, Jilda A., Chignell, Stephen M., Gardiner, Natasha B., Gilbert, Neil, Howkins, Adrian, Van Vuuren, Bettine Jansen, Lee, Jasmine R., Liggett, Daniela, Lowther, Andrew, Lynch, Heather, Quesada, Antonio, Shin, Hyoung Chul, Soutullo, Alvaro, Terauds, Aleks
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2022
• Subjects: Antarctic Treaty System; best available science; capacity building; environmental protection; human impact; science-policy communication; Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Science; Antarctica; SCAR; Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research; Southern Ocean
• Online Access: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/240428/

Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments are facing increasing pressure from multiple threats. The Antarctic Treaty System regularly looks to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) for the provision of independent and objective advice based on the best available science to support decision-making, policy development and effective environmental management. The recently approved SCAR Scientific Research Programme Ant-ICON - 'Integrated Science to Inform Antarctic and Southern Ocean Conservation' - facilitates and coordinates high-quality transdisciplinary research to inform the conservation and management of Antarctica, the Southern Ocean and the sub-Antarctic in the context of current and future impacts. The work of Ant-ICON focuses on three research themes examining 1) the current state and future projections of Antarctic systems, species and functions, 2) human impacts and sustainability and 3) socio-ecological approaches to Antarctic and Southern Ocean conservation, and one synthesis theme that seeks to facilitate the provision of timely scientific advice to support effective Antarctic conservation. Research outputs will address the most pressing environmental challenges facing Antarctica and offer high-quality science to policy and advisory bodies including the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, the Committee for Environmental Protection and the Scientific Committee of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.