The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) is an international association created in 1988 and made up of those responsible for coordinating and planning each country’s Antarctic activities generally referred to as “National Antarctic Programs.” Its objective is to develop and promote best practices in the management of support for scientific research in Antarctica, as well as to strengthen the implementation of the recommendations of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATSCs).
COMNAP, one of the three RCTA observers and based on the experience of national Antarctic programmes, provides objective, practical, technical and non-political advice to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
COMNAP has groups of experts in the environment, security, air operations, navigation, medicine, energy and technology, training and dissemination and as an organization develops its own projects to guarantee best practices in Antarctica.
COMNAP currently consists of 32 members, including Spain since 1990, and 5 observer programs.