| Summary: | This report sets out to respond to the question imposed: Antarctic Specially Protected Areas – Are they serving the Antarctic well? The Treaty documents that define Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPA) are summarized, and the requirements and guidelines for designation are outlined. An analysis of the 71 existing ASPA is completed. Using a series of case studies for the three main values – Historic, Environmental and Scientific, the effectiveness of current ASPA is reviewed, and generally is found to be serving the Antarctic well. The report identifies a major weakness in that there is not a systematic framework to establish a comprehensive and representative network of protected areas. Frameworks from the Treaty system and elsewhere are suggested as a possible basis for establishing such networks, and a process involving Treaty committees is outlined.
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