Antarcticaâs wilderness values, even though specifically recognized by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, are rarely considered in practice. This deficiency is especially apparent with regard to a more and more increasing human footprint caused, among others, by a growing number of tourists visiting the region and conducting a broad variety of activities.
On the basis of a detailed study of three Arctic wilderness areas â the Hammastunturi Wilderness Reserve (Finland), the Archipelago of Svalbard (Norway) and the Denali National Park and Preserve (Alaska, United States) â as well as the relevant policies and legislation in these countries, Antje Neumann identifies numerous âlessons learntâ that can serve as suggestions for improving the protection of wilderness in Antarctica.
Antje Neumann holds a Ph.D. from Tilburg University. As a lawyer trained in Germany, she has specialized in Antarctic and Arctic Law and works as Assistant Professor at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Akureyri. Concerning Polar Law issues, she has published several book chapters, journal articles and policy briefings.
Awarded the prize for best dissertation of 2019 by the University of Tilburg, the text on which this volume is based was praised by the jury for its "highly innovative nature and great societal impact. The author's research method for examining regulation in the field of wilderness protection can rightly be called groundbreaking".
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
1 Introduction to and Objective of This Research
â1Introduction
â2Aim of this Research
â3Scope, Limitations and Methodology
ââ3.1Scope and Limitations
ââ3.2Methodology, Working Approaches and Selection of Wilderness Case Studies
â4Structure
2 The Wilderness Concept and Its Relevance to the Polar Regions
â1Introduction
â2Meanings, Perceptions and Values of Wilderness
ââ2.1The Wordâs Meaning
ââ2.2Early Perceptions of Wilderness â from Prehistoric Times until the 19th Century
ââ2.3Wilderness Values from Different Perspectives â Increasing Valuation of Wilderness in the 20th Century
â3Wilderness Movements, Designations, Laws and Policies
ââ3.1Responding to the âillsâ of Civilization â the Evolvement of Wilderness Preservation Movements Worldwide
ââ3.2First Models of Wilderness Protection, Their Objectives and Motivations
ââ3.3Wilderness Protection in Law and Policy â Instrumental Values Still Prevail
â4Downsides of the Wilderness Concept
ââ4.1Criticism from Various Angles
ââ4.2Exclusionary Approaches towards Indigenous and Other Local Inhabitants
ââ4.3Arctic Indigenous Peoples and their Experiences with the Wilderness Concept
3 Wilderness Protection in Antarctica
â1Antarctica â an Introduction
ââ1.1Some General Characteristics in Terms of Size, Climate, Flora and Fauna
ââ1.2Human Presence and Activities in Antarctica
ââ1.3General Legal Framework
â2Wilderness of Antarctica
ââ2.1Human Ideas of Antarcticaâs Wilderness
ââ2.2Wilderness Perceptions Studied
ââ2.3Antarcticaâs Wilderness Qualities
â3Development of Tourism and Non-governmental Activities in Antarctica
ââ3.1Development in Numbers
ââ3.2Development of Most Visited Sites
ââ3.3Increasing Diversity
ââ3.4Tourism Related Infrastructure
ââ3.5Impacts of Tourism on Antarcticaâs Wilderness
â4The Protection of Wilderness in Antarctica in Terms of Tourism and other Non-governmental Activities
ââ4.1The Evolvement of Wilderness Protection in Antarctica within the Antarctic Treaty System
ââ4.2Wilderness Protection under the Environmental Protocol and its Annexes
ââ4.3Regulations with Specific Regard to Antarctic Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
4 Finland
â1Hammastunturi â The Area of Study
ââ1.1Some General Characteristics in Terms of Geography, Climate, Flora and Fauna
ââ1.2Human Settlement and Natural Resource Use
ââ1.3General Legal Framework
â2Wilderness of Hammastunturi
ââ2.1Finnish Ideas of Wilderness
ââ2.2Perceptions of Wilderness
ââ2.3Hammastunturiâs Wilderness Qualities
â3Development of Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
ââ3.1Tourism Development in Lapland
ââ3.2Specifications Towards the Hammastunturi Area
ââ3.3Impacts of Tourism on Hammastunturiâs Wilderness
â4The Protection of Wilderness in the Hammastunturi Area in Terms of Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
ââ4.1Policy and Legal Protection of Hammastunturiâs Wilderness â The Main Setting
ââ4.2Regulations with Specific Regard to Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
5 Norway
â1Svalbard â The Area of Study
ââ1.1Some General Characteristics in Terms of Geography, Climate, Flora and Fauna
ââ1.2Human Settlement and Natural Resource Use
ââ1.3General Legal Framework
â2Wilderness of Svalbard
ââ2.1Norwegian Ideas of Wilderness
ââ2.2Perceptions of Svalbardâs Wilderness
ââ2.3Svalbardâs Wilderness Qualities
â3Development of Tourism and Non-governmental Activities in Svalbard
ââ3.1Development in Numbers
ââ3.2Development of Most Visited Sites
ââ3.3Increasing Diversity
ââ3.4Tourism Related Infrastructure
ââ3.5Impacts of Tourism on Svalbardâs Wilderness
â4The Protection of Wilderness in Svalbard in Terms of Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
ââ4.1Policy and Legal Protection of Svalbardâs Wilderness â The Main Setting
ââ4.2Regulations with Specific Regard to Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
6 United States
â1Denali â The Area of Study
ââ1.1Some General Characteristics in Terms of Geography, Climate, Flora and Fauna
ââ1.2Human Settlement and Natural Resource Use
ââ1.3General Legal Framework
â2Wilderness of Denali
ââ2.1Alaskaâs Wilderness in Distinction to the Lower 48 Wilderness
ââ2.2Perceptions of Denaliâs Wilderness
ââ2.3Denaliâs Wilderness Qualities
â3Development of Tourism and Non-governmental Activities in Denali
ââ3.1Development in Numbers
ââ3.2Development of Most Visited Sites
ââ3.3Increasing Diversity
ââ3.4Tourism Related Infrastructure
ââ3.5Impacts of Tourism on Denaliâs Wilderness
â4The Protection of Wilderness in Denali in Terms of Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
ââ4.1Policy and Legal Protection of Denaliâs Wilderness â The Main Setting
ââ4.2Regulations with Specific Regard to Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
7 Conclusion and Lessons Learnt
â1Summary of Wilderness Protection Approaches in the Polar Regions
ââ1.1Wilderness in the Polar Regions â A Still Abundant but Diminishing Quality
ââ1.2Tourism â A Prospering Industry in the Arctic and the Antarctic
ââ1.3Wilderness Protection Recognized in the Policy and Legal Contexts of Polar Regions
â2Analysis and Comparison of Wilderness Protection Approaches in the Polar Regions
ââ2.1The Relevance of Area Protection and Environmental Impact Assessment to Wilderness Protection in the Antarctic and the Arctic Case Study Areas
ââ2.2Regulations with Specific Regard to Tourism and Non-governmental Activities and the Consideration of Wilderness Protection in this Context
â3Lessons Learnt for Wilderness Protection in the Antarctic
ââ3.1Wilderness Quality Assessments
ââ3.2Measures Towards Tourism and Non-governmental Activities
ââ3.3Conditions for Taking Wilderness Protection Measures in the Antarctic Context
ââ3.4Chances and Challenges for Realisation
â4Questions and Issues to be Addressed in Future
Bibliography
Index
All involved in Antarctic and Arctic law; those concerned with the Polar tourism issues; âProtected Areasâ practitioners such as park managers, rangers, guides, and representatives of competent authorities.