International conventions and agreements form

an important backdrop to the issues surrounding

biodiversity and the oil and gas industry, and they are

a significant pressure driving the development of a

strong business case for biodiversity conservation.

This document will assist users of the EBI’s Framework

for Integrating Biodiversity into the Site Selection Process

(the Framework) in considering the implications of

international conventions.

Integrating Biodiversity Conservation into Oil and

Gas Development contains a summary of the analysis

and recommendations of the EBI.

Within the Framework, conventions are especially

important during the review of legal/regulatory issues

although they may be relevant to subsequent stages

as well. While the focus here is on the international

and regional levels, information on country-specific

legislation will also be required in applying the

Framework. The need for such information will vary

according to the regulatory, legal and political context

of the country in question, whether that country is a

party to the relevant international conventions and

agreements, and whether these have been implemented

at the national level. Therefore, when the Framework is

applied, country-specific aspects of legislation must be

considered as appropriate by the user to supplement the

information supplied here.

Further information on the business case for

biodiversity conservation can be found in

Integrating Biodiversity Conservation into Oil and

Gas Development (Section 2).

The conventions in this document are listed in groups

with a common theme (ordered by year). The overall

list includes conventions that address the issues of

conservation and biodiversity at a global level and also

at the level of specific geographical regions. This should

enable the user to focus on the particular project area

of interest. Agreements and conventions relating to the

more general issue of pollution prevention have also

been included as pollution and its avoidance during

exploration and production have a significant bearing on

the type and degree of negative impacts on biodiversity.

Where possible, links are given for websites1

containing

more detailed information on the conventions and

agreements (including in some cases the specific text).

The web address of the site can be entered manually

by readers using a hardcopy version of this document

or for those using an electronic version the website

can be viewed by placing the mouse pointer over the

underlined text at which point the address of the site

will be displayed in a box. A left click on the mouse will

automatically connect to the site if the reader’s computer

has a connection to the Internet. The reader may then

return to this document simply by clicking the back arrow

on the browser tool bar.

Section 2 highlights those conventions that are

considered to be the most important in relation to

biodiversity – generally known as the “Big Five.” Section

3 then addresses other international legislation and

conventions, of which those that are considered the most

important are marked with a leaf.

Finally, the continued improvement of this document

is dependent on the active participation of end-users

and stakeholders. Therefore, we welcome any comments

and suggestions relating to conventions and legislation

directly or indirectly related to biodiversity.

1. INTRODUCTION

1 Links last verified on 26 May 2003.

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