How does the Antarctic Treaty protect Antarctica?

Answer 1

The treaty protects Antarctica's sovereignty, though legally it has none, the treaty prevents countries from actually annexing Antarctica, and thus making Antarctica apart of their country, and that Antarctica is to remain neutral.

Though a few countries, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, such as Australia, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand, along with some further north, such as the United Kingdom and Norway claim portions of Antarctica, though not as sovereign territory, but more of a defined research area, where the country researches Antarctica without the interference of other countries.

An example of a research base located in Antarctica is Scott Base, located in the New Zealand claimed portion, and is headquarters of the operations in the New Zealand claimed portion.

Another Answer

Countries share all research data under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty, and freely conduct research anywhere on the continent.

The United States, for example, also supports a research station in the New Zealand claimed portion, which is the largest research station on the continent: McMurdo Station.

Territorial claims have nothing to do with where a treaty-signatory country establishes a research facility. Options exist on any land south of 60 degrees S., which is the part of the earth governed by the Antarctic Treaty.

Answer 2

The Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals is part of the Antarctic Treaty System. It was signed at the conclusion of a multilateral conference in London on February 11, 1972.

Abbreviated as the "Antarctic Seals" agreement, the convention had the objective to promote and achieve the protection, scientific study, and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain a satisfactory balance within the ecological system of Antarctica. It was opened for ratification on June 1, 1972 and entered into force on March 11, 1978.