Shell commits to biodiversity

One of the world's biggest oil firms thus pledged not to explore or develop oil and gas resources within 149 natural sites designated under the World Heritage Convention. These include such areas as the Galapagos Islands and Victoria Falls or, in the Arab region, Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. Shell is the first energy company to make such a commitment.

The World Heritage Convention, signed to date by 175 State Parties, was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972 to conserve the world's heritage by drawing up a list of sites whose outstanding values should be preserved for all humanity. Of the 754 properties on the global World Heritage list, the bulk is of cultural significance such as Petra, the Pyramid fields and the Taj Mahal.

Paul Steele, Chief Operating Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) received Shell's pledge with cautious optimism. 'This is one giant leap for an oil company, but one small step for biodiversity,' he said. 'But it is significant.'

WWF's Jean Paul Jeanrenaud, Head of Business and Industry Relations, however, wondered if it would become more difficult to designate areas as World Heritage sites. 'Because if there are potential minerals underground, companies would lobby pretty hard,' he said, hoping that it doesn't make things more complicated.

Watts emphasised that the announcement represented a 'real commitment,' pointing out the Shell had given up a plan of oil exploration in the Sundarbans forest, a World Heritage site in Bangladesh. 'Underneath is the intent to work with the other stakeholders and participate in the debate about how to treat much broader protected areas,' he said.

Dr. Frederic Launay, Director, WWF UAE, was positive about the oil major's assurance. 'The news from Shell is very welcome. It should have a direct impact in the region as the White Oryx Project in Oman is a World Heritage site that is under constant pressure for mineral exploitation.'

Of the 59 World Heritage sites in the Arab region, the only natural property is Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. Besides flora comprising several endemic plants, it is home to the first free-ranging herd of Arabian oryx since its global extinction in the wild in 1972. The species was reintroduced into its natural habitat in 1981 with the help of WWF.

The Sanctuary is one of the only wild breeding sites in Arabia of houbara bustard and also houses the largest wild population of Arabian gazelle, besides other species such as Nubian ibex, Arabian wolf, honey badger and caracal.