ARCTIC BIODIVERSITY. We seek to: n work with others to maintain ecosystems; n respect protected areas; and

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1 ARCTIC BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life that enriches the environment. It ranges from microscopic algae to the tallest trees and from the smallest mites to the largest mammals. It helps provide benefits to people such as clean air, fresh water, food, medicines and shelter. But the health of plant and animal life depends on the survival of their habitats. Shell recognises that oil and gas operations can potentially result in harm to or loss of biodiversity, or damage to habitat. For this reason, we have policies in place to assess environmental risks, including potential impact on biodiversity, from new activities or significant changes to existing operations. We closely manage activities in internationally recognised, ecologically-sensitive areas. This includes consulting key stakeholders such as non-governmental organisations like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Wetlands International. We seek to: n work with others to maintain ecosystems; n respect protected areas; and n form partnerships to enable Shell to contribute towards the conservation of global biodiversity.

2 2 Arctic biodiversity The need to conserve biodiversity is central to the way we approach new projects and major changes to existing operations. We adopted our industry-leading biodiversity standard in 2001, an approach that today is an integral part of our business control framework for health, safety, security, environment and social performance. It includes mandatory standards that set strong principles and expectations for managing environmental impacts, supported by more detailed requirements in our biodiversity manual. For new projects or large expansions at existing operations, we carry out impact assessments on the risks to biodiversity and assess the ways in which to avoid, mitigate and manage such risks. Where these projects or expansions are taking place in particularly sensitive areas with high biodiversity value, our impact assessments include biodiversity action plans. The plans help us to set targets, define specific actions and monitor progress in meeting our requirements. Engagement with environmental organisations, local communities and biodiversity experts continues to help us improve our approach to biodiversity. The Arctic ecosystem The Arctic ecosystem owes its uniqueness to the presence of ice, either in the ground as permafrost or offshore as land-fast and floating ice. Species have evolved that are able to benefit from these conditions, with some occurring only in Arctic and sub-arctic regions. Among these are large sea mammals such as the bowhead, narwhal and beluga whales, walrus and some fish species such as capelin and polar cod. Microscopic plants form the base of the Arctic marine food chain, providing food for both the bottom-dwelling animals (benthos) and microscopic animal life. These in turn provide food for the larger marine animals. The zone where ice cover varies according to season advancing in winter, retreating in summer is especially rich in this kind of life. There are animals such as polar bears and seals that live mainly on the ice or in the sea. And there are animals such as caribou (reindeer), musk ox and Arctic fox, which live on land. Many bird species including ducks and geese fly north in the spring to breed in the short Arctic summer, and then migrate south in the winter. On land the scene ranges from polar deserts where biodiversity is scarce, through tundra peatlands to shrublands and forests. Many Arctic plant species are also unique to these locations. Sea ice shapes the complex food chain of Arctic marine life. (Illustration based on Gradinger, Hopcroft and Blum, 2004)

3 3 Through better understanding of the Arctic ecosystem, we can recognise how, where and when our exploration and production operations might have an impact. For example, the more we understand the tundra and permafrost environments the more effectively we can adapt our construction activities to protect them. We also study whale migration routes and the potential impacts of drilling during migration. Similarly, we seek to understand where and when caribou are migrating, so that we can minimise activities near migration routes. Arctic wildlife is rich and varied. Adult bull musk oxen, Northwest Territories, Arctic Canada. Arctic vegetation varies from almost plant-free polar desert through different types of tundra, comprising low-growing mosses and plants, to coniferous trees. The Arctic fox. On next page, the walrus and snow owl. (Illustation based on Bliss and Matveyeva, 1992)

4 4 Arctic biodiversity Protecting Arctic biodiversity Conserving biodiversity is crucial to the future of our operations. In addition to environmental concerns there are legal and regulatory requirements as well as business reasons for Shell to focus on biodiversity. Shell is investing in research and development and technologies that will help reduce impacts our activities might have on biodiversity. We are also involved in a number of joint industry projects, such as studying the impact of sound on fish, turtles and marine mammals. We are working with a number of research and academic institutes, including the University of Alaska, on the environmental aspects of working in the Arctic. These include the potential impact on biodiversity. The Alaska experience Shell s research in the seas off Alaska is yielding valuable scientific information that will be used for generations to come. There are a number of research projects taking place in both the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, much of a kind never undertaken before. These projects include: n detecting the migration routes of whales and other mammals; n tagging of walrus with the US Geological Survey; n using unmanned aircraft to identify marine mammals; n examining the effects of ice masses on the seabed; n analysing coastal erosion and deposition, which can affect local communities; n examining water quality and sampling sediment chemistry; and n establishing the types of life that live on the seabed and on which many other species depend. A large network of microphones placed on the seabed record the sounds of whales, seals, and walruses as well as seismic activity. This helps us to understand the distribution, numbers and migration routes of the marine mammals as well as possible behavioural changes in response to oil industry activity. Expert observers and biologists monitor the mammals from aircraft and small ships, collecting visual data. Around onethird of the biologists are native Inupiat. We are also testing unmanned drones for this work (see next section). Shell helps fund these programmes and uses the results for impact assessments and project planning. The studies are carried out by independent scientific consultants working with research and academic institutes, including the University of Alaska. Advancing research with novel technology In the Alaskan Arctic, observers monitor from aircraft possible impacts the offshore oil industry activity might have on marine mammals such as whales, seals, walrus and polar bears. Shell is also testing the use of unmanned aerial drones. They are safer, quieter and produce less carbon dioxide than manned aircraft. At an altitude of around 450 metres (1,500 feet), the drones cannot be heard from the ground, and therefore do not disturb the animals they are observing. They can be launched and recovered from a marine vessel the size of a standard fishing boat and are able to fly in poor weather. In Alaska, Shell is working with communities and tribal governments to make the best use of their Arctic experience. The aim is to blend their traditional knowledge of local species, migration patterns, ice movement, land use and subsistence activities into study programmes.

5 5 Polar bear mother and her cub hurry across ice floes in the Arctic summer in Svalbard, Norway. Polar bears For many, the polar bear is a symbol of the Arctic s rich and sensitive environment. Any potential impact on its habitat attracts attention. Shell s approach to polar bears follows regulatory requirements, including reporting their presence and training staff in how to deal with them and ways to avoid them. Shell will work with regulatory agencies and other organisations to help decide whether we need to take further measures in the future. The polar bear is one of the largest predatory carnivores. We use a number of tactics to safeguard our people from polar bear encounters. To date we have used only noisemakers such as cracker shells, firecrackers, horns, and sirens if we have needed to scare off polar bears, or we have temporarily shut down operations in response to the presence of these animals. into force. Scouts trained in managing interactions with polar bears work with us. Many of these scouts are members of the indigenous Inupiat communities. Their knowledge and experience play a vital part in improving our understanding of polar bear behaviour. Studies are under way into how the polar bear is responding to changes in its habitat as a result of climate change. Shell is helping some of this research by contributing to the US National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Polar Bear Conservation Fund. Examining the tracks of a polar bear. In the case of Alaska, an environmental impact study conducted by the U.S. Minerals Management Services found that expected offshore activity in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas would have no significant adverse effects on the polar bear. Our approach to the polar bear will remain similar to that taken towards the bowhead whale. We meet or exceed the requirements of all current regulations and will continue to work with agencies and other relevant organisations if new requirements come

6 6 Arctic biodiversity Global partnerships We have global partnerships with IUCN and Wetlands International to work together on the sustainable management of ecosystems, including biodiversity conservation. Humans depend on biodiversity as well as energy. IUCN has worked with Shell for more than 10 years to help the company conserve nature through changes in Shell s policy and practice, says Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director- General, IUCN. Together IUCN and Shell have delivered real conservation results in places as diverse as Russia, Qatar, China and Italy. Our collaboration continues to expand, and our aim remains the same: sustainable energy, healthy biodiversity, and better standards for Shell and the energy sector. In short With its abundant oil and gas resources, the Arctic will continue to be a potentially significant source of energy for the world. Efforts to develop these resources, however, must address how to reduce possible impact on biodiversity and the Arctic ecosystem as a whole. In 2008, Shell and Wetlands International initiated a joint project to study the impact of the oil and gas industry on Arctic tundra and permafrost, including the protection and restoration of wetland habitats. The study is designed to help support operations in tundra and permafrost environments, which are known to be susceptible to damage by operations on and below ground. It aims to find engineering and ecological solutions to avoid longterm impact and improve industry practices. Wetlands International team studying the site of old oil and gas equipment, Russian Arctic. Wetlands are the main ecosystem type in the Arctic region; peatlands, rivers, lakes, shallow bays and other wetland types cover up to 70% of the total Arctic surface. These ecosystems are vulnerable and disturbance often has irreversible impacts. They also play a crucial role in global climate change by storing CO 2 and protecting permafrost and they are crucial for global biodiversity. Wetlands International works with Shell to minimise the impact of the oil and gas sector on these ecosystems. Together we mobilise information and influence policies and standards that can result in better decision making and more sustainable operations, safeguarding the valuable Arctic for current and future generations. Ward Hagemeijer Head of Programme and Strategy for Biodiversity and Ecological Networks and Shell Relationship Manager, Wetlands International.

7 Shell supports studies into whale migration routes. 7

8 This publication is one of a series of briefing notes on challenges related to oil and gas development in the Arctic. The series includes Shell in the Arctic, Arctic Biodiversity, Working with Indigenous People, Technology in the Arctic, Preventing and Responding to Oil Spills, Climate Change and Developing Arctic Oil and Gas. Disclaimer Royal Dutch Shell plc and the companies in which it directly or indirectly owns investments are separate and distinct entities. The collective expression Shell and Shell Group may be used for convenience where reference is made in general to those companies. Likewise, the words we, us, our and ourselves may be used to refer to the companies of the Shell Group in general. These expressions may also be used where no useful purpose is served by identifying any particular company or companies. Correspondence address Royal Dutch Shell plc Carel van Bylandtlaan 30, 2596 HR The Hague, The Netherlands Design by Creative Services, The Hague Printed by Charterhouse under ISO April 2011 Published by Royal Dutch Shell plc, for Shell Exploration and Production International B.V., The Netherlands. All rights reserved. XXX-XXX-XXXXX