Protecting biodiversity We plan our activities based on a scientific understanding of the biodiversity in our areas of operation. As part of our commitment to operating in an environmentally responsible manner, we conduct research and support initiatives to help improve biodiversity management. In 2015, we contributed approximately $4 million to organizations focused on biodiversity protection and land conservation. For many years, we have sponsored research efforts to study the effects of sound on marine mammals to avoid potentially adverse impacts of our operations. In 2015, Exxon Neftegas Limited, an ExxonMobil subsidiary in Russia, conducted a seismic program covering all three Sakhalin-1 offshore license areas. Throughout the design and implementation of the program, being protective of the western gray whale — a species classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — was very important. Our detailed monitoring and mitigation strategy Since 2008, the ExxonMobil Foundation has provided core funding for the Moka Wildlife Center, the country’s first and only biological field station. Here, BBPP hosts educational programs designed to illustrate the value of biodiversity and to foster an environmental ethic in local children. To build upon this initiative, we sponsored the construction of an interpretative nature trail in 2015. Up Close: Protecting the biodiversity of Bioko Island Bioko Island, located 20 miles off the Gulf of Guinea coast in West Africa, is one of the most biologically diverse places on earth, with critical habitat for seven species of endangered monkeys and four species of nesting sea turtles. For nearly 20 years, the ExxonMobil Foundation has supported the Bioko Island Biodiversity Protection Program (BBPP) in Equatorial Guinea, in association with Drexel University and the National University of Equatorial Guinea, to conserve the island’s biodi- versity through educational and research programs as well as conservation activities.
was based on 17 years of research on these animals and their habitat and the best practices developed and enhanced during previous seismic operations, as well as knowledge of the timing and behaviors of whales in the area. We also support research aimed at improving our management of biodiversity. For example, ExxonMobil’s Upstream Research Company is investigating the application of environmental genomics in biodiversity assessment and monitoring. Advances in DNA technologies have enabled the rapid characterization of the biodiversity of environmental samples. This has the potential to improve our ability to manage environmental risks by significantly reducing the time required for environmental surveys and analyses compared with conventional methods. Working in protected areas ExxonMobil manages elevated biodiversity or species risks by examining the environmental context of the areas where we operate and ensuring adequate protective measures are The trail runs adjacent to the BBPP Moka Wildlife Center and allows visitors to observe the local fauna and flora up close. The trail is also marked with signs that display various facts about the biodiversity in the area. In addition to providing information on the various plants and animals, the signs explain their use or impor- tance to the local community. Local children in Moka and other nearby villages can visit the center, walk the trail and learn more about the importance of preserving the biodiversity of Bioko Island. “The ExxonMobil-BBPP relationship is an internationally recognized model of successful corporate, government and international education cooperative activities. This two-decade relationship built a solid foundation for saving the biodiversity of Bioko Island, for providing sustainable livelihoods for Equatoguineans who depend on the nation’s rich natural resources for survival and for improving the international profile of Equatorial Guinea.” Dr. Mary Katherine Gonder Director, Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program Protecting the biodiversity in Equatorial Guinea
Local children reading a book series developed by BBPP learn about the importance of biodiversity in their lives and for their nation.
developed and implemented. We periodically screen the locations of our major operating facilities against databases of the IUCN and World Protected Areas. In 2015, an estimated 25 percent of our major operating facilities were within 5 kilometers of designated environmentally sensitive areas. These data inform our emergency response contingency plans and environmental impact surveys by helping prioritize areas needing special protection. We continue to collaborate with the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) to develop educational and outreach programs through the Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) program. Currently, we have five CLL programs certified at or near our facilities, including the Billings (Montana) refinery, the Baton Rouge (Louisiana) complex, our Clinton (New Jersey) research facility, the Fife (United Kingdom) ethylene plant and Lentol Garden in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York. These programs help us promote environmental awareness, biodiversity and science initiatives in our workforce and local communities.
Environmental performance exxonmobil.com/citizenship
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