The World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated globally each
year on June 5 to stimulate awareness of the environment and encourage
political attention and action. According to the United Nations, WED aims to
give a human perspective to environmental issues; empower people to become
active agents of sustainable development and advocate multi-stakeholder
partnerships in support of the environment.
The theme for 2016, which was celebrated few
days ago, was on the illegal trade in wildlife under the slogan ‘Go Wild for Life'ZERO TOLERANCE FOR THE ILLEGAL
WILDLIFE TRADE
The growing illegal trade in wildlife
not only has adverse effects on biodiversity but is also valued billions
of dollars according to World Wildlife Fund. According to United
Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP), the booming illegal trade in wildlife
products is eroding the Earth’s precious biodiversity, robbing humans of their
natural heritage and driving whole species to the brink of extinction while the
killing and smuggling is also undermining economies and ecosystems, fueling
organized crime, and feeding corruption and insecurity across the globe.
As noted by the Nigerian Environment Society
(NES), Nigeria’s wildlife has increasingly been threatened and endangered over
the years as result of deforestation, increased poaching, development
activities, and weak enforcement of national and international
regulations/conventions.
Happily, some corporate bodies have
made Environmental stewardship part of their social investments. One of such
organisations in Nigeria is Chevron
Nigeria Limited (CNL), the operator of the NNPC/CNL Joint Venture. The
company has
remained an active agent of sustainable development and strong
advocate of partnerships in support of the environment.
Over 50 years, CNL has been supporting and sponsoring
various programmes aimed at preserving the environment. The efforts, according
to the company are in line with its commitment to Operational
Excellence and Environmental Stewardship (ES) process.
The Company says its Operational Excellence and ES
Process helps it to identify, assess and manage environmental issues/concerns
in a sustainable manner and ensure Chevron conducts its operations in a way
that will ensure protection of human health and the environment – including
wildlife and other natural resources.
Mr. Clay Neff, Chairman and Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria
Limited explained that the company’s ES Process is supported by the
Natural Resources Environmental Performance Standard that sets minimum
standards for managing environmental footprints, and consequently the ecosystem
that supports wildlife which he said are done in accordance with the company’s Corporate Biodiversity Statement.
“The interaction between our capital projects and Wildlife
is regularly assessed and monitored. We ensure that appropriate mitigation
steps are taken, where necessary, as part of the expectations of our
Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) Process.
“The ESHIA, or local Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA),
involves broad participation by the regulators, local communities and other
relevant stakeholders. The process ensures that our projects are carried out
with due consideration to human health and for environmental protection –
including wildlife. For Deepwater seismic activities, we have an established
process for protecting marine life by utilizing the services of Marine Mammal
Observer (MMO),” he said.
Further explaining CNL’s commitment to the
environment, Clay Neff noted that Chevron is always glad to be part of
the solution to global environmental issues, wherever the company operates,
through its sound environmental management policy that supports environmental
stewardship and sustainable development.
Chevron’s commitment to wildlife conservation is also
demonstrated by its continued support for the enduring landmark known as the
Lekki Conservation Centre which is reserved as a sanctuary for diverse wildlife
and rich flora of the Lekki Peninsula.
The 78-hectare facility was established by the company in
partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Nigeria’s foremost
non-governmental organization and an affiliate of the World Wide Fund for
Nature. NCF is dedicated to the preservation of the full range of Nigeria’s
biodiversity and promotion of sustainable use of natural resources for the
benefit of the present and future generations. The Foundation has served
as a center for wildlife research over the years and has hosted students from
different institutions, including researchers.
Chevron’s commitment to environmental protection is also
evidenced in the following initiatives:
Nature Conservation and Education
In 2005, CNL established a yearly postgraduate research
scholarship for PhD students in environment and conservation. In addition, the
company hosts the annual S. L. Edu Memorial Lecture to promote environmental
management awareness. The company is also working with the NCF to evaluate the
possibility of establishing the Niger Delta Conservation Centre.
Chevron’s efforts in environmental conservation were
applauded by various stakeholders during the commissioning of a 401 meters
Canopy Walk in the Family Park at Lekki Conservation Centre. At the occasion, former
Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola commended the company saying; “The
whole purpose of this gathering today is environmental sustainability and we
agreed to follow in the footsteps of partners like Chevron because we
understand that Nature doesn’t need people, rather it is people that need
Nature.” In the same vein, thePresident of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Izoma
Philip Asiodu also expressed appreciation to Chevron Nigeria Limited for its
financial support to the Lekki Conservation Centre since 1992.
Assessment of Environmental, Social and Health Risks
CNL has developed and is implementing processes to identify,
assess, mitigate and manage potential risks to human health and the environment
(including natural resources) associated with existing operations and capital
projects. The company’s natural resources requirements also highlight the
need to manage land and water from its operations.
Zero-flare
In response to global initiatives against climate change,
CNL has developed and is implementing a strategy towards eliminating flared
gas. The strategy, includes the execution of the three-phased
Escravos Gas Project (EGP), the Escravos Gas-to-Liquids project (EGTL) and the
West African Gas Pipeline project (WAGP) - all aimed at ending routine gas
flaring in its operations, while delivering other important values for Nigeria,
NNPC, and for CNL. The Agbami project was also developed for zero routine
flare.
Old Land Drill Sites
CNL, with an inventory of its legacy sites that are no
longer in use, embarked on priority decommissioning and restoration activities
to return the sites to their initial states and subsequently transferred such
restored sites to their original owners for sustainable uses.
Putting Back: Restoring the Mangrove
CNL has developed, and applied expertise in mangrove
restoration through a combination of modern afforestation techniques, including
natural recovery and direct planting of mangroves. The company commenced the
regeneration of the mangrove vegetation with a pilot scheme involving the
planting of mangrove seedlings of different species at three selected sites
along the Abiteye-Escravos right-of-way. Renewed efforts are also ongoing for
further restoration utilizing Nigerian consultants with expertise in mangrove
restoration.
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