There have been a couple of interesting articles of late that have caught my attention, detailing how the structure of Antarctica is forecast to change - the latest report speculates that grass and trees could grow on the white continent in a century's time, primarily due to increasing carbon dioxide levels and a warming climate.
But it's not only new species of flora that are emerging in Antarctica - the BBC has reported that foreign species such as the North Atlantic spider crab have been found along the Antarctic Peninsula. Scientists have concluded that there is no way that these species could have found their way to the continent of their own accord. Climate change and increased visitor numbers are the prime suspects for the introduction of new species.
Antarctica is without doubt a delicate continent and visitors that come in on expedition voyages to Antarctica need to be very careful about how they conduct themselves. We here at Discover the World work with IAATO voyage operators (the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) who adhere to strict guidelines about conduct of passengers, and who also offer small vessels (max. 110 passengers aboard Antarctica-bound vessels). Staff onboard can therefore ensure everyone has the best experience whilst also ensuring that the delicate environment is protected and preserved. Unfortunately we understand that some of the larger voyage operators are not quite so savvy about environmental issues. The smaller voyage operators that Discover the World work with are however totally dedicated to adhering to and going beyond the call of duty when it comes to IAATO's guidelines. Simple things such as washing boots after every zodiac landing to avoid cross-contamination between penguin rookeries is quite rightly taken very seriously onboard. It's a Catch-22 situation - we want to help people fulfill their dreams of visiting Antarctica, but also keep the continent pristine..... By working together with our Antarctic voyage operator partners we sincerely hope to be achieving a satisfactory solution.
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