Case Study 2: Energy Development + Biodiversity Conservation

Venezuela, Bahia Amuay, crab fishermen. A unique partnership in Venezuela has conducted multiple objective planning to address competing needs for energy development and protection of marine resources. Photo © Eduardo Klein

Goal: Design and implement a comprehensive, ecoregional assessment that considers the needs for maintaining energy production while ensuring that objectives for biodiversity conservation are met.

Geography: Southern Caribbean Basin, Venezuela

Venezuela is among the top 10 most biologically diverse countries in the world, and its Southern Caribbean Basin is a center of extraordinary marine biodiversity. In addition to harboring a number of ecosystems inhabited by numerous threatened species, the basin is an important site for fishing and tourism. Due to the demand and pressures placed on its rich resources, the basin is at high risk of degradation. Although Venezuela has marine protected areas, especially in coastal waters, they cover only 3.4% of the country's waters. As in most places, there is a struggle to effectively conserve and manage the protected areas. Investment is urgently needed to abate the numerous threats to this ecologically vital area and to significantly increase its level of protection.

Main objectives:

  1. Identify priority sites for conservation of biological diversity in the Venezuelan Caribbean Sea, with special attention to places of potential interest to the oil and gas industry.
  2. Identify best practices for the oil and gas industry, with a focus on avoiding impacts to ecosystems, biodiversity, and priority sites.
  3. Develop conservation guidelines for oil and gas extraction in each leased area, and incorporate these guidelines into the bidding documents and contracts awarded to energy companies.

Project Partners: