Simply put, biodiversity is the variety and number of living things that make up a healthy ecosystem. These living organisms include trees, shrubs, mosses, lichens and other plant life; animal life, from toads and turtles to bees and bats; and aquatic populations of zooplankton and other micro-organisms.
An ecosystem is defined as a biological community made up of living organisms that interact with each other and with their physical environment. Biodiversity is an important measure of a well-functioning, healthy ecosystem because when there is a great deal of biological interaction between healthy populations of different species – with each other and with their environment – ecosystems are stronger and more resilient.
Ecosystems with less diversity of species and lower populations can be less resilient to stressors such as fire, or other natural or human caused disturbances.
That’s why Pathways Alliance members and other oil sands operators are keenly focused on biodiversity. Wherever they operate, their commitment is to keep people safe, protect wildlife and return the sites that are disturbed by operations back to habitats that will support the area’s native species.
There are many things they can to do achieve greater biodiversity, such as contouring the soil to encourage vegetation growth, or adding features, such as nesting boxes and snags (standing dead trees), to encourage wildlife.
In fact, biodiversity is so important that it is addressed in the environmental impact assessments (EIA) that all oil sands operators are required to file and obtain approval for before facilities are constructed. The discussions around biodiversity are guided by applicable regulations and include input from different stakeholders, such as local communities and Indigenous groups.
Land reclamation planning begins long before a well is drilled or any infrastructure is constructed and is implemented progressively over the life of the oil sands facility. Reclamation activities increase when the facility is no longer producing.
Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), helps enable its members to work together on a wide range of projects aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of operations, accelerating reclamation and enhancing the biodiversity of reclaimed sites. A great deal of science and research is involved in these efforts and members share their learnings so that each company can apply them to their own sites. Collaboration is important because members can share resources and expertise to do more research than would be possible alone and move them along at a faster rate.
Partnerships with academic institutions is another way to fast-track biodiversity science. The Alberta Biodiversity Conservation Chairs program at the University of Alberta, for example, supported on-the-ground research in the boreal forest of northern Alberta, uncovering new knowledge to support and inform land management best practices. Phase two of that exciting partnership is underway.
These findings are publicly available on COSIA’s website and shared through networks such as the Canadian Conservation and Land Management (CCLM) Knowledge Network giving reclamation experts around the world access to the latest research and innovation.
Here are a list of useful links with more information about biodiversity initiatives carried out through COSIA, the innovation arm of the Pathways Alliance.
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Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions at the time the statements are made. Actual future results, including expectations and assumptions concerning: demand growth and energy source, supply and mix; amount and timing of emissions reductions; the adoption and impact of new facilities or technologies, including on reductions to GHG emissions; project plans, timing, costs, technical evaluations and capacities, and the ability to effectively execute on these plans and operate assets; that any required support for the pathways from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada will be provided; applicable laws and government policies, including climate change and restrictions in response to COVID-19; production rates, growth and mix; general market conditions; and capital and environmental expenditures, could differ materially depending on a number of factors. These factors include global, regional or local changes in supply and demand for oil, natural gas, and petroleum and petrochemical products and the resulting price, differential and margin impacts; political or regulatory events, including changes in law or government policy and actions in response to COVID-19; the receipt, in a timely manner, of regulatory and third-party approvals including for new technologies; lack of required support from the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada; environmental risks inherent in oil and gas exploration and production activities; environmental regulation, including climate change and GHG regulation and changes to such regulation; availability and allocation of capital; availability and performance of third-party service providers; unanticipated technical or operational difficulties; project management and schedules and timely completion of projects; reservoir analysis and performance; unexpected technological developments; the results of research programs and new technologies, and ability to bring new technologies to commercial scale on a cost-competitive basis; operational hazards and risks; general economic conditions, including the occurrence and duration of economic recessions; and other factors referenced by the companies’ in their most recent respective annual reports and management’s discussion and analysis, as applicable.
Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, some that are similar to other oil and gas companies and some that are unique to the companies. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by its forward-looking statements and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. Pathways Alliance Inc. and its member companies undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained on this website, except as required by applicable law.
