Biodiversity (diversity of plant and animal life) is intrinsically important to the region's ecology. These resources provide essential benefits and services to human society - food, clothing, shelter, fuel, and medicines - along with spiritual and aesthetic values. The Angola LNG Project is committed to preserving biodiversity and the ecological and social resources in the Soyo area.

The Energy and Biodiversity Initiative (EBI) Report and its accompanying products, provide guidance for integrating biodiversity conservation into upstream oil and gas development. Angola LNG Project utilized the "Integrating Biodiversity into Site Selection Process" tool for the site selection of our onshore facilities.

Angola LNG Project is committed to identifying, understanding and managing the social-environmental impacts, and implementing management plans that contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainability of local communities.

Angola LNG determined that the magnitude of the project and type of environment merited a full Environmental, Socioeconomic and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA). The broad based ESHIA explicitly includes biodiversity considerations, as per EBI recommendations. A Scoping Phase Supporting Document and Non-Technical Summary were produced. This summary is available online in a pdf format. "Scoping Phase Supporting Document" ( 2.5MB, 135/143 pages, or 225KB in a simple text version) and "Non-Technical Summary" ( 588KB, 8/8 pages).

Angola LNG's Biodiversity Action Plan has defined key biodiversity issues within the scope of the project. Biodiversity actions and initiatives were derived to safeguard the environment and the affected communities. Angola LNG project participants will engage in several site specific activities to protect sensitive species and/or habitats. Environmental protection measures are included in the engineering design contactor requirements to ensure biodiversity concerns are carried throughout the project lifecycle.

Angola LNG Project Faunal Inventory (Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles) Kwanda Base: A Pictorial Guide has been developed and utilized to aid in faunal monitoring during Angola LNG site clearing operations. The field guide has been prepared through reference to a number of regional-scale publications on animal distributions and ecology (it is not based on field observations). Reptiles are being trapped and relocated to locations identified on a GIS map. A summary of the Faunal Inventory will be available at the completion of the site clearance work.

AviFauna of the Soyo Area: In May, 2006, Dr W. Richard J. Dean, Research Associate, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa, conducted a survey of birds and their habitats around the Kwanda base, LNG plant site and in mixed habitats to the southwest of Soyo. Dr. Dean found the avifauna of the area to be poor, both in terms of species richness and in terms of abundance of individual birds. The terrestrial habitats of the area were describe as poor in soil nutrients and in plant species richness, with most dry habitats being of rather low-growing and rank vegetation with few patches of trees. This survey was conducted during the dry season and will be repeated in the Spring to more fully understand the environment.

The summary of this review was that none of the bird species are rare or endangered and none of the habitats that will be disturbed are restricted to the Soyo area. Much of the area (including the proposed pipeline route) is disturbed by subsistence agriculture and firewood collecting. Therefore, removal of the vegetation and the disturbances associated with excavations and construction along with the proposed pipeline route will have little impact on the populations of birds in the Soyo area.

Additional studies planned for the area include a turtle and manatee survey and marine mammal observation during sand extraction activities in the southern part of Zaire Province, known as the Zimbi area. More information will be provided once the scope of work is finalized.

Angola LNG is evaluating various funding opportunities to contribute to biodiversity initiatives in Angola.

Angola LNG Project Faunal Inventory (Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles) Kwanda Base: A Pictorial Guide has been developed and utilized to aid in faunal monitoring during Angola LNG site clearing operations. The field guide has been prepared through reference to a number of regional-scale publications on animal distributions and ecology (it is not based on field observations). Reptiles are being trapped and relocated to locations identified on a GIS map. A summary of the Faunal Inventory will be available at the completion of the site clearance work.

Mammals ( 2.2 MB)

Amphibians ( 1.3 MB)

Reptiles ( 2.9 MB)