The Protocal on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty calls for regular and effective monitoring to allow assessment of the impacts of on-going human activities on the Antarctic environment and associated ecosystems (Article 3.2d). The goals of monitoring shoud include, but not be limited to, verification of predicted impacts and early detection of unforseen effects (Article 3.2e) in an effort to protect and preserve the values of the Antarctic as resources for the future of mankind and also as an area for scientific research essential to uncerstanding the global environment.