Date published: 2006/06/23
The BBC says:
Scientists are calling for action to prevent foreign species from taking hold in Antarctica and wrecking the continent's unique ecosystems.
Despite Antarctica's inhospitable environment, non-native species introduced by tourists, scientists and explorers are gaining a foothold.
Species can hitch a ride on ships and planes carrying visitors and supplies.
A paper on the matter tabled at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Edinburgh met with "good agreement".
"Antarctica has long been considered as an isolated continent with a harsh environment. So the general perception has been that we don't need to worry about non-native species. We know better now," Dr Gilbert, environmental manager at Antarctica New Zealand, told BBC News.
It's amazing anyone can say something like that, especially anyone who is a scientist. Plants and animals have been hitching rides with humans as long as humans have been migrating around the world, and you would have to be pretty naive to think anywhere was immune. Although the scientists will blame everyone else (especially the tourists) and no doubt will some day try and prevent anyone else from going to the Antarctic (there is nothing worse than allowing commoners to have access to such things), they themselves are a big part of the problem. Perhaps Antarctica should just be off limits to everyone, period.
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