It was carried out for the first time virtually, with the participation of Delegates of its Members: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay; and of its Observer Members: Colombia and Venezuela.
After three days of information exchange and discussions, which took place from October 20 to 22, the Managers of the Latin American Antarctic Programs demonstrated the great commitment and responsibility with which they will face their activities in the Antarctic continent next season, through the application of measures to minimize the risk of entry of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into Antarctica. International cooperation and maintaining fluid communication between members were identified as key to the safe and successful development of the upcoming Antarctic season.
As points in common, the countries that will develop activities in Antarctica this summer have identified their essential and priority activities, postponing others according to different criteria and thus minimizing the transport of personnel and the time spent on the Antarctic continent. The application of sanitary measures such as quarantines prior to the transfer and the performance of mandatory PCR tests will be the common rule adopted by the countries, among other preventive measures, such as not receiving visitors at Antarctic stations once the endowments are replaced. Also, some countries have decided not to carry out activities during this next campaign.
There was also agreement that the decrease in the number of scientific projects to be developed this summer will generate a significant negative impact, and they highlighted the effort that the Latin American Antarctic Programs will make to carry out those priority scientific activities through the implementation of all the necessary sanitary measures. The countries also expressed the need to resume all usual scientific activities once the current pandemic situation is overcome, in order to avoid a greater impact on scientific development, with science being the priority activity in the Antarctic continent.
Moreover, the delegations present agreed to continue the virtual discussion on international scientific cooperation, marine pollution due to increased activities in Antarctica, and glacier monitoring. This is until the next RAPAL meeting, which will take place in person in 2021 in Uruguay, provided that the health situation allows it.
RAPAL is a Latin American forum for the coordination of scientific, logistical and environmental activities in the Antarctic area. Its objective is to promote cooperation and mutual support in scientific, technical, logistical and environmental aspects of Latin American countries with Antarctic activities, as well as collaboration at relevant educational, socio-cultural and communicational level in the Antarctic area.
