2018 Abstract Volume

Understanding freshwater biodiversity and aquatic systems threats for
enhanced decision-making
Presenting
Author:
Co-Authors:
Mr. Leonardo Viana, Conservation International, United States
Ms. Artemis Kostareli, IPIECA, United Kingdom
Ms. Jennifer Michael, chevron, United States
Keywords
industry,biodiversity,ecosystems,water management,stewardship
Highlights
Demonstrate the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) freshwater functionality and explain how
it can be used by industrial and development projects to evaluate site level freshwater biodiversity risks and
understand species’ threats at a watershed scale.
Share case studies that will show how IBAT application has improved conservation outcomes,protected
ecosystems
Introduction and objectives
This seminar will demonstrate application of the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) fresh water
functionality. This functionality enables users including industry, governments, conservation organizations,
and academics, to screen for existing stressors to freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems in a watershed.
This information is critical to making enhanced environmental management decisions to protect ecosystems
and improving conservation outcomes through protection of sensitive ecological.Additional objectives will
be to:
• Promote broader uptake of the IBAT as a tool that helps better inform decision-making with respect
to sensitive ecological resources management.
• Share best practices and learnings from industry and an NGO.
Methodology approach
Recently, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species data was transferred to a new sub-basin system
(HydroBASINS) allowing IBAT queries on freshwater species from upstream and downstream of a site of
interest, providing better understanding of threats and impacts that radiate out from point sources over
large distances.Pilot applications of the enhanced IBAT functionality were conducted at three global Chevron
locations. The output was refined based on the pilots’ lessons learned.This tool is the result of the Chevron
and Conservation International collaboration, focused on advancing science, tools and practices for
managing ecological and social risks in the development
Analysis and results
IBAT can be used to identify specific existing threats to freshwater ecosystems, informing management
decisions by industry, governments, NGOs and others. The technical enhancements in the IBAT tool added
functionality for users to be able to receive a report that:
• Has HydroBASINS as the data base layer
• Shows species upstream and downstream according to a project site
• Presents the IUCN Red List categories, degree of endemism and migratory status of these species
• Shows the protected areas within the same query
• Allows users to select any distance from a site they chose
• Species and protected areas results can be presented according to basin with the option to have
results displayed either separately, cumulative or by basin.
Seminar: Investing in freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity: A key development challenge 175