[en] The need to protect the biological communities from anthropogenic disturbances, introduction of microbial taxa from other regions or other sites in the region, trampling and oversampling has driven the initiative of Belgium to propose a multi-site Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA 197) in parts of the Eastern Sør Rondane Mountains (71°50’-72°S; 22°50’-23°50’E) including 7 ice-free areas. The ASPA site N° 179 and its Management Plan were adopted in 2023: https://www.ats.aq/devph/en/apa-database/197.
