31 Nations Sign Pact to Protect Antarctica

The United States and 30 other nations Friday signed a historic accord banning mining and oil exploration in Antarctica, the last wilderness continent, for the next 50 years.

“It’s a prohibition which will be virtually impossible to reverse after that,” said Carlos Blasco, chairman of a meeting of the Antarctic Treaty conference in Madrid.

The protocol, endorsed Thursday by all members at a meeting in the 16th-Century Spanish town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial northwest of Madrid, protects the delicate Antarctic environment, which covers one-tenth of the world’s surface and is 98% icebound.

“The protection of the world’s last great wilderness open space is a cause for celebration,” said British Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine, the first to sign the protocol. “I’m delighted to be here making history.”

The accord bars any activity relating to mineral resources except for scientific research.

Treaty countries were set to outlaw exploration in Antarctica in time for the 30th anniversary of the original treaty June 23. But the United States pulled out at the last minute, saying it needed more time to consider the proposals.

Washington finally came around July 4. U.S. chief delegate Tucker Scully defended the delay. “We have a better agreement for having delayed,” he said.

The accord was signed by 24 of the 26 consultative treaty members--nations with full voting rights--and by seven other countries.

Consultative status is granted to nations that have scientific bases in Antarctica.

Japan and South Korea, the two consultative members who did not sign, said domestic legal procedures had held up the process.