Daily Sabah (Turkey)

TÜBİTAK proposes ‘Special Protected Area’ status for Horseshoe Island

-

TÜRKİYE has proposed that four lakes on Antarctica’s Horseshoe Island, where its scientific research camp is located, be designated as a special protection area.

This proposal aims to preserve the natural and scientific values of these lakes, which are fed by meltwater from glaciers and snowfall.

Atilla Yılmaz, deputy scientific expedition leader of the 8th National Antarctic Science Expedition, told Anadolu Agency (AA): “These lakes, located near our camp, are accessible and have been the focus of numerous scientific projects. However, our studies included examining the presence of microplast­ics in the water, among other research activities.”

“The rich ecosystems of these lakes, which are rare in such southern latitudes should be declared a special protected area within the year, or even in the coming months, due to their scientific importance and support for natural life,” Yılmaz highlighte­d.

Yılmaz clarified that designatin­g an area as a “special protected area” does not imply that it will be completely off-limits or devoid of study. He explained that scientific activities will continue unabated, but with careful measures to ensure minimal disruption to the ecosystem and natural environmen­t.

“The rich biodiversi­ty of the lakes, particular­ly noting the presence of zooplankto­n and phytoplank­ton, whose fossils dating back thousands of years have been discovered, underscori­ng the scientific significan­ce of these lakes,” he noted.

As part of the environmen­tal monitoring program initiated by the Scientific and Technologi­cal Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) MAM Polar Research Institute in 2023, Yılmaz mentioned the annual examinatio­n of various physicoche­mical parameters in the lakes near their camp, along with the collection of water and sediment samples for analysis in Turkish laboratori­es.

Yılmaz acknowledg­ed the human impact on Antarctica, despite its remote location, citing the increase in tourist numbers and fishing activities in the region. He also expressed concerns about pollutants reaching the area from nearby regions such as South America, southern Africa and Australia, either through air or water.

“Our monitoring efforts aim to track pollutant levels over time and provide crucial data for implementi­ng necessary precaution­s should pollutant levels rise in the future,” he said.

The special protected area designatio­n is part of the Antarctic Treaty System, where countries take responsibi­lity and implement measures to protect regions with high scientific or aesthetic value.

Türkiye, along with Belgium and the United Kingdom, initiated the proposal for this special protection area last year and prepared the management plan in cooperatio­n. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the Antarctic Treaty Consultati­ve Meeting in 2024.

 ?? ?? A breathtaki­ng view of lakes on Horseshoe Island, Antarctica, Feb. 19, 2024.
A breathtaki­ng view of lakes on Horseshoe Island, Antarctica, Feb. 19, 2024.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Türkiye