Biodiversity Action Plans: Sector-Specific Guidance for the Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

Abstract Biodiversity conservation has risen rapidly up the environmental and political agenda and now represents one of the most important challenges of the 21st century. Oil and gas companies can contribute to international, national and local biodiversity conservation targets through careful planning and management of operations, working with stakeholders and partners to develop long-term and sustainable solutions. However, companies face the challenge of how to integrate biodiversity considerations into their day-to-day activities. BAPs are a systematic approach to biodiversity conservation that can build on, and be integrated with, existing company activities and processes throughout the oil and gas project life cycle This paper presents sector-specific guidance, developed by by the oil and gas industry, which will help the industry to develop BAPs for their sites and projects. It describes the principal process steps needed to develop a BAP. The paper highlights the conditions under which BAP may best be integrated in company's HSE management system or developed as a stand-alone product. As stakeholder engagement is always at the basis of the development of a BAP, this paper also addresses the critical elements of that engagement process.