Antarctica and Southern Ocean Strategy (ASOS).

This Strategy, implementing the 1996 Antarctic Treaty Acts (Act no. 60 of 1996), expresses the Country’s national intent to maximise its scientific capacity, to maintain its leadership role in international climate change and its geographic strategic advantage in the Antarctic Treaty system, in Southern Ocean and Antarctic conservation and in sustainable use of marine resources and environmental management through a well-directed and coordinated approach, aligned with the sustainable development goals. The content is structured as follows: introduction, including: the Antarctic context, historic context and the Antarctic Treaty System; South Africa’s National Antarctica Programme; South Africa’s investment and footprint in Antarctica, sub-Antarctica and Southern Ocean; Vision, goals and strategic objectives, including: pillars of the Antarctic Strategy; governance and institutional arrangements; implementation plan.
The Strategy is structured on the following five pillars: 1) international engagement and cooperation; 2) research on current state of Antarctica and surrounding oceans and islands, its natural and physical resources; its role in global change, changing climate systems and weather patterns, including drought dynamics in southern Africa, and potential role of genetic resources in developing future biomaterials; 3) conservation and sustainable use of marine and terrestrial biodiversity; 4) capacity development and training; 5) enhance public awareness and interest in Antarctica and Southern Ocean matters. The Strategy aims at achieving the following objectives: 1) to strengthen South Africa’s positioning, role and influence in the Antarctic Treaty; 2) to promote integrated ocean-ice-terrestrial system protected areas; 3) to enhance public awareness and interests in Antarctica and Southern Ocean matters; 4) to plan, provide and maintain infrastructure for operations in Antarctica and Souther Ocean.