OIL EXTRACTION OR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Transcription

1 OIL EXTRACTION OR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

2 The Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on Biological Diversity recognizes the sovereignty of States regarding their biodiversity, and the role that indigenous peoples and local communities have played in conserving and preserving this biodiversity

3 The Convention on Biological It encourages countries to respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities that are strongly linked to traditional lifestyles pertinent to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity (Art. 8j) Diversity

4 However, there are many threats to biodiversity and to the collective rights of indigenous peoples and other local communities, such as:

5 Threats to biodiversity Wide-spread extraction of nonrenewable natural resources (oil, gas and minerals) Deforestation for the logging industry The conversion of areas rich in biodiversity to other forms of use Infrastructure such as roads, dams, etc. Military operations

6 BIODIVERSITY AND OIL The oil activities are considered as one of the least compatible industries with the objectives of conservation of biodiversity and its sustainable use The normal functioning of the ecosystems and their structure is destroyed ACTIVITIES

7 BIODIVERSITY AND OIL A large part of the expansion of the oil activities is located in the tropical forests and oceans. Paradoxically, these are the ecosystems, which have the highest indexes of biodiversity and endemism ACTIVITIES

8 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN BIODIVERSITY During the lifecycle of the industry but also in the ordinary practices of oil and gas companies, important biodiversity impacts are generate

9 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN BIODIVERSITY In operations in tropical forests, the most obvious direct impact is deforestation. For seismic prospecting, huge gaps in the forest are opened.

10 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN BIODIVERSITY In areas where oil companies work, pools are filled with a thick, black material. The contain a range of toxic products produced during drilling, exploration and each time the well is re-conditioned. These pools are open, so when it rains, they spill over, contaminating streams, rivers, lakes, forests and nearby crops. The contaminants also reach subsoil water.

11 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN BIODIVERSITY Associated with the crude, there is a mix of water and sediments (formation waters), with high levels of salinity This water eventually reach rivers Fresh water organisms do not tolerate these levels of salinity. It has been found that water in domestic wells also contains high levels of salinity.

12 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN BIODIVERSITY Gas associated with crude is burned. Its luminosity attracts millions of insects and other species that are instantly burned Burning gas produces a series of contaminants, some of which are cancerous or toxic even in small concentrations These contaminants can stay in the atmosphere and fall as acid rain, affecting crops and other components of biodiversity

13 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN BIODIVERSITY In addition, water is contaminated by accidental or routine crude spills or leaks. In areas with low energy, the contamination resides in sediments, constituting a constant source of contamination, affecting the fragility of biodiversity

14 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN BIODIVERSITY When oil operations are in the ocean, marine and coastal biodiversity is affected.

15 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN INDIGENOUS POPULATION

16 IMPACTS OF OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES IN INDIGENOUS TERRITORIES Various indigenous territories are intervened by oil and gas activities The presence of oil companies in their territory is a violation of their collective rights and their existence as indigenous peoples is under threaten

17 IMPACTS OF OIL ACTIVITIES IN INDIGENOUS POPULATION The oil activities interfere with the traditional practices of local and indigenous populations and put endanger their biodiversity The presence of oil companies within their traditional territory means a total change in land and resources use and social relations.

18 OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES IN INDIGENOUS TERRITORIES the Huaorani, Secoya, Kichua and Cofan territories in Ecuador, The Ogoni and others in Nigeria Bakola people in Cameroon U'wa territory in Colombia Karen and Mon in Burma Sakai and Aceh in Indonesia The Weenayek in Bolivia

19 OIL IN PROTECTED AREAS In various protected areas and forested zones of high biodiversity in the world, oil activities are carried out, including World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves

20 OIL ACTIVITIES IN PROTECTED AREAS The Reserve of the Biosphere Maya and the Laguna del Tigre National Park in Guatemala, Reserve of Biosphere Pantanos de Centla and Laguna del Carmen in Mexico Tambopata-Tamdamo Reserve and the Manú National Park in Peru Carrasco and Isoboro Sécure National Parks in Bolivia Arabian Oryx Sanctuary (Oman)

21 OIL ACTIVITIES IN PROTECTED AREAS Yasuní and Sumaco National Parks, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, and the Limoncocha Biological Reserve in Ecuador The forested regions of Port-Gentil and Gamba in Gabon El Vizcaíno (México)

22 OIL ACTIVITIES IN PROTECTED AREAS Various protected areas and fragile ecosystems are crossed by pipeline, including: The Tung Yai and Karen protected areas in Thailand, Chiquitana region in Bolivia Plateau of Adamaoua which feeds the largest part of the rivers of Cameroon, Pantanal Zone of Brazil 11 protected areas in Ecuador

23 Energy and Biodiversity Initiative Energy and Biodiversity Initiative (EBI), was made up of a group of conservation organizations and 4 oil companies in a document, called Integrating Biodiversity Conservation to Oil and Gas Development

24 Energy and Biodiversity Initiative Oilwatch consider that this initiative will weaken the struggle of the people against these companies Is part of a greenwashing program, due to the poor reputation of these oil companies in terms of environment and human rights standards

25 Energy and Biodiversity Initiative I would like to called the attention of the oil company CHEVRONTEXAC O as part of this initiative Is really this company concern about the biodiversity?

26 Energy and Biodiversity Initiative ChevronTexaco has a great opportunity to demonstrate its commitment with biodiversity, by recognising the ecological debt that it has with the Ecuadorean Amazonian, where the company is responsible of mass destruction of biodiversity

27 CONCLUSION The Oilwatch Network has called for a moratorium on the expansion of the oil and gas frontier, due to the local and global impacts which oil activity generates, including the loss of biodiversity and climate change. We also call for a ban of oil and gas activities in protected areas, ecologically fragile zones, and indigenous territories.

28 CONCLUSION Oilwatch consider that it is not possible to conciliate oil and gas operations with: Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity With the objectives and principles of Art. 8j of the CBD

29 CONCLUSION We would also like to call to the conservation organizations, specially those which are part of the EBI, to support this initiative We also call then to support the Amazonian population in the suit case introduce against ChevronTexaco by for the damage produced in the biodiversity and people And also all the local populations which are defending their land, biodiversity and life style, which is threatened by the operation of the oil and gas companies