Finding Best Practices for Fossil Fuel Extraction

Abstract

We were happy to see N. Butt et al. draw attention to the issue of fossil fuel extraction and its potential effects on biodiversity worldwide in their Policy Forum “Biodiversity risks from fossil fuel extraction” (25 October, p. [425][1]). For years, diverse conservation non-governmental organizations and academic institutions have been working with extractive industries to incorporate best practices into their operations ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). Many of these efforts have been focused on conventional petroleum extraction methods, and lessons learned from research done alongside extraction have been incorporated into international standards for best practices ([ 3 ][4]). Biodiversity can only benefit from increased involvement of biologists in the identification, avoidance, and mitigation of the effects of fossil fuel exploration and production. ![Figure][5] Athabasca oil sands. CREDIT: NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY IMAGE BY JESSE ALLEN AND ROBERT SIMMON USING EO-1 ALI DATA COURTESY OF THE NASA EO-1 TEAM Given the progress made thus far toward understanding the effects of conventional petroleum extraction, we propose that applied ecological research for conservation should expand immediately to areas with proven nonconventional fossil fuel reserves (such as oil sands, oil and gas shale, and coal bed methane). As conventional fossil fuel reserves reach their peak, the petroleum industry is actively stepping up their efforts to develop technologically and economically feasible extraction of nonconventional reserves ([ 4 ][6]). We call on ecologists and conservation biologists to become actively involved in this transition and to increase efforts to work side by side with national governments, extractive industries, and other stakeholders. In addition, although we agree that northern South America and the western Pacific are important areas for biodiversity, we worry that the analysis presented is far too simplistic to be able to make robust recommendations on where efforts for best-practice enforcement should be focused, particularly when it comes to prioritizing some highly biodiverse areas above others. Any analysis of the pressures of fossil fuel extraction should include analysis of pressures from other sources (such as agricultural activities, legal and illegal extraction of renewable natural resources, lack of rigor in national legislation, and lack of enforcement) that could exacerbate biodiversity loss even when best-practice extraction is used. 1. [↵][7] 1. A. Alonso, 2. F. Dallmeier, 3. G. P. Servat , Eds., Monitoring Biodiversity: Lessons from a Trans-Andean Megaproject (SI Scholarly Press, Washington, DC, 2013). 2. [↵][8] 1. J. Robinson , Conserv. Biol. 26, 1 (2012). [OpenUrl][9][CrossRef][10][PubMed][11] 3. [↵][12] International Finance Corporation, Guidance Note 6: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources (Washington, DC, 2012). 4. [↵][13] 1. R. J. Brecha , Energ. Pol. 51, 586 (2012). [OpenUrl][14][CrossRef][15] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1237261 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: pending:yes [6]: #ref-4 [7]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [8]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [9]: {openurl}?query=rft.stitle%253DConserv%2BBiol%26rft.aulast%253DNoss%26rft.auinit1%253DR.%2BF.%26rft.volume%253D26%26rft.issue%253D1%26rft.spage%253D1%26rft.epage%253D4%26rft.atitle%253DBolder%2Bthinking%2Bfor%2Bconservation.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1111%252Fj.1523-1739.2011.01738.x%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22280321%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [10]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1111/j.1523-1739.2011.01738.x&link_type=DOI [11]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=22280321&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F342%2F6164%2F1316.2.atom [12]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [13]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text [14]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DEnerg.%2BPol.%26rft.volume%253D51%26rft.spage%253D586%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.enpol.2012.09.016%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [15]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.enpol.2012.09.016&link_type=DOI