| Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty | |
|---|---|
| Signed | 4 October 1991 |
| Location | Madrid |
| Effective | 14 January 1998 |
| Parties | 42 |
The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, also known as the Madrid Protocol, is a complementary legal instrument to the Antarctic Treaty signed in Madrid on 4 October 1991. It entered into force on 14 January 1998.
The Madrid Protocol designates Antarctica as a "natural reserve, devoted to peace and science" (Art. 2). It complements and reinforces the Antarctic Treaty in order to increase the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems.