Integrating Biodiversity Conservation into Oil and Gas ... - EBI

”Our activities do sometimes touch on very ecologically
sensitive areas. Our stated goal is ‘no
damage to the natural environment.’ We’re
determined to keep to that commitment and we
will only work in areas where we’re absolutely
convinced we can do so. Whether such sensitive
areas are open to activity or not is a matter for
governments to decide on the basis of the democratic
will. Some areas no doubt will be put off
limits and we must and will respect those decisions.
And if areas are open, we will only work
in them if we’re convinced, after taking the very
best scientific advice, that we can fulfill our policy
standards – including the protection of biodiversity.
We fully accept that means that there will be
areas which we have to rule out.”
– The Lord Browne of Madingley, FREng
Group Chief Executive, BP
As a basic premise, companies should seek to avoid
protected areas, by examining alternate locations, routes
or technical solutions (see Box 15). While hydrocarbon
exploration and development are prohibited by law
in many kinds of local, regional or national protected
areas, oil and gas operations may be allowed in some
protected areas, if permitted in law or approved by the
government through a valid and transparent process.
However, even if it is legally possible to undertake an
oil or gas operation within a protected area, it is very
important to carefully assess the magnitude of potential
impacts on biodiversity. Those potential impacts may
be so significant that the biodiversity values of the area
would be compromised, presenting a reputational risk
to the company, regardless of the legality of its actions.
In all cases, it is important to fully understand the
implications of relevant laws and policies and to establish
credibility with stakeholders to help avoid unnecessary
costs and project delays. In recent years, Shell has made
a number of decisions to change plans for development
because of biodiversity reasons. For example, an Omani
joint-venture exploration and production company in
which Shell has an interest decided to limit operations in
the country’s Arabian Oryx sanctuary, which overlapped
the company’s concession area, and to work with the
Omani Government to place a moratorium on drilling in
the sanctuary’s “core zone.” Two other examples include
the decision not to operate in the Sunderbans Reserved
BOX 14. RESTRICTING DEVELOPMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS
In October 2002, in Amman, Jordan, the World Conservation Congress (WCC) adopted Recommendation 2.82 relating
to the “protection and conservation of biological diversity of protected areas from the negative impacts of mining and
exploration.” The WCC is the key gathering for conservation organizations (governmental and NGO) and is part of the
governing system of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), where its members approve the IUCN program of work and
propose resolutions and recommendations to be implemented as part of that program. The IUCN has a membership of
about 80 States, 110 government agencies and 750 NGOs, including those represented in the EBI.
Recommendation 2.82 “invites all governments and corporations to promote and implement best practice in all aspects
of mining and mineral extraction,” and calls on all IUCN State members to prohibit by law all exploration and extraction of
mineral resources in protected areas corresponding to IUCN Categories I to IV (see Box 3). It also urges that any proposed
changes to the boundaries of protected areas, or to their categorization, to allow for mineral exploration or extraction
should be “subject to procedures at least as rigorous as those involved in the establishment of the protected area in the
first place.” Although specifically targeted at mining, Recommendation 2.82 could also be extended to include oil and gas
operations.
Most conservation organizations, including the five that are members of the EBI, feel that it is inappropriate that
developments should be allowed that cause significant damage to areas of high biodiversity value, whether they occur
inside or outside of formally protected areas. Furthermore, it is presumed that, where areas have been formally designated
for biodiversity conservation, governments would not authorize activities that would compromise their ecological integrity
or biodiversity values.
40 The Energy & Biodiversity Initiative