Delivering in Sensitive Environments: Incorporating Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation into Operations

Abstract

Abstract Maintaining a license to operate and access new resources requires that the Oil & Gas (O&G) industry demonstrates its operations are compatible with the conservation and sustainable use of nature. This is particularly critical when activities overlap with sensitive environments where biodiversity and productive ecosystems sustain human populations. This overlap has significantly increased, worldwide, in the last decade. At the same time, pressure has grown from civil society, governments and investors as biodiversity loss has accelerated and ecosystem services have deteriorated. Climate change has raised the stakes. To meet expectations, the O&G industry needs to assess, mitigate and report on biodiversity impacts throughout the project life cycle. It is also asked to positively contribute to nature conservation using market-based mechanisms conceived as innovative business opportunities. Demonstrating that our business can be biodiversity-responsible is challenging. It requires an understanding of biodiversity in operating environments, how onshore and offshore activities depend on and can affect them, and how ecosystem services are used and also affected by local communities. The outcomes must then be incorporated into Environmental Management Systems as part of everyday operational practices. The Ecuadorian Amazon and the Alaskan North Slope are both highly sensitive operating environments. Working in partnership with Fauna and Flora International, local Universities and with our Subsidiaries, we assessed biodiversity and ecosystem service issues in relation to our onshore and offshore operations, including the presence and concerns of local communities. In Ecuador we looked at changes in pattern and quality of the forest over time in and around the operation using GIS analysis of satellite imagery, and compared the effects of oil and non-oil activities on biodiversity using a range of water, floral and faunal indicators. We also examined how recovery of land take areas can be accelerated. On the North Slope, we carried out a biodiversity and ecosystem services risk/opportunity assessment to identify and deal with significant issues, such as polar bears, whales and migratory birds, through targeted action planning. We will use these case studies, among others which Eni is currently involved in, to share best practices and to show how to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services into Eni E&P global operations.