The Antarctic continent is the world's last great wilderness, a land of magnificent natural beauty whose ecosystems are unparalleled in terms of their isolation from the impacts of human activity. Largely outside the geographical limits of human exploitation, the continent harbours species found nowhere else on earth.

Living in a land of extremes, Antarctica's flora and fauna are amongst the most vulnerable on earth to human impacts and disturbances. Consequently, minimising the impact of the Extreme South expedition on Antarctica's awesome natural heritage is of paramount importance. To help achieve this, all Extreme South expedition camps will be located in areas that avoid sensitive habitats and vegetation types. In addition, the Extreme South team will use only biodegradable products and all waste will be carried with the team until it can be disposed of sensibly.