Expedition Bases Under Threat
“For a joint scientific and geographical piece of organization, give me Scott; for a winter journey, Wilson, for a dash to the Pole and nothing else, Amundsen: and if I am in the devil of a hole and want to get out of it, give me Shackleton every time.”
Apsley Cherry-Garrard, British Antarctic (Terra Nova) Expedition 1910 – 1913.
The four expedition bases associated with Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Carsten Borchgrevink have stood in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica for over a century.
Although Antarctica covers only an estimated 9% of the Earth's land surface, it contains more than 80% of the world's fresh water locked in its ice. It is also the driest place on the planet. Until recently that contradiction has helped to slow the rate of decay of the bases.
From 1987 to 2001 annual basic maintenance was carried out by the Trust at Scott’s and Shackleton’s bases and infrequent visits made to Borchgrevink’s base at Cape Adare (only accessible by ship).
In 2001, despite best efforts, there was increasing concern about the condition of the bases. The Trust, together with an international group of conservation/heritage experts, recognised an international conservation effort was needed to ensure these sites survived for future generations.
In 2002, HRH Princess Anne, launched the Trust’s Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project (RSHRP) in Antarctica. Its an international. long-term project to secure the four bases and conserve the thousands of artefacts associated with the sites.
At around the same time the international community began to recognise the importance of these sites. That view was reinforced when The Getty Foundation made significant funding available for the project and the World Monuments Fund listed two of the expedition bases on the List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World. Recently all four sites (with a particular emphasis on Captain Scott's base at Cape Evans) were listed on the World Monuments Fund 2008 List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World.
In 2008 we can report the RSHRP work programme is on schedule. We are in the final stages of securing Sir Ernest Shackleton's base and the 4,500+ artefacts associated with the site (read more) and we are now focusing on saving Captain Scott's base at Cape Evans (read more). Recently the Trust has been offered a matched funding challenge towards the Cape Evans project. The offer effectively doubles every dollar we raise for the site up to a maximum of £1M. To find out more about how you can support the matched funding challenge click here.
Related Links and Documents
Read more about the Trust's Ross Sea Heritage Restoration Project (RSHRP).