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IUCN: Generální ředitelka IUCN Inger Anderson píše premiéru Cameronovi kvůli frakování
21. prosince 2015 | IUCN
Please note that the IUCN Director General Inger Anderson and the Chair of WCPA Kathy McKinnon have sent the attached letter to the UK Prime Minister David Cameron following the adoption of legislation by the UK Parliament that would allow fracking (hydraulic fracturing) under or near protected areas, World Heritage Sites and Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the UK.
Dear Prime Minister,
We have just returned from COP21 of the UNFCCC where it was very exciting to see many developing countries, including those in Latin America, committing to expand and strengthen protection and management of their protected areas as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions towards addressing climate change. Given this commitment to conservation from other nations, it is particularly disappointing to note the decision of the UK Parliament to allow hydraulic fracturing under national parks and other protected areas, including World Heritage Sites and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The UK is a valued member of IUCN, but this change of policy is in direct conflict with several IUCN resolutions adopted at the World Conservation Congresses [1].
These resolutions have confirmed that mining activities and other infrastructure developments, including hydraulic fracturing should not take place in or near protected areas, including World Heritage Sites. They further emphasize that no destructive activities should take place that have direct or indirect negative impacts on protected areas, and that where there is uncertainty on whether an activity may be incompatible, it should be subject to a stringent environmental impact assessment.
IUCN notes that the UK government has authorised hydraulic fracturing in specific landscapes in the UK, many of which include or are adjacent to important protected areas, and that hydraulic fracturing could take place by way of drilling adjacent to - and below the surface of - protected areas and World Heritage sites. IUCN maintains that the UK should, in accordance with IUCN’s resolutions, and its international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), avoid any negative impacts on protected areas and on areas of particular importance for the conservation of biodiversity, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
IUCN observes that hydraulic fracturing in other parts of the world has been assessed as having direct impacts on groundwater, hydrological systems and associated natural ecosystems, and that in every context, the actual scale and significance of the impacts is characterised by a high degree of uncertainty.
What is not uncertain, however, i s that the infrastructure, including drilling rigs, water supplies, power requirements, access roads etc., has direct visual and site impacts that have the potential for significant negative impacts on protected areas, increasing their physical isolation, damaging adjacent ecosystems, destroying the visual quality and affecting the sense of place.
In any event, any proposed project should be subject to the most stringent of environmental impact assessments, and in the case of uncertainty regarding the scale, magnitude and significance of impacts and the degree to which they can be avoided or mitigated, the precautionary principle should apply.
We understand that more than 100 concessions for hydraulic fracturing are about to be issued by the UK government, and are very concerned to learn what special safeguards will be put in place.
The decision by the UK is likely to set a precedent for other countries where it may be more difficult to establish appropriate safeguards. Nevertheless, IUCN, and its World Commission on Protected Areas and Species Survival Commission, are willing to assist wherever possible to support the application of the most stringent safeguards, and provide the most accurate information available on the location of areas of particular importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including through making available experts to contribute to the review of environmental impact assessments for clearly defined activities.
Notes:
[1] Resolution 2.34 Multilateral and bilateral financial institutions and projects impacting on biodiversity and natural features (World Conservation Congress, Amman, 4
– 11 October 2000)
Resolution 2.82 Protection and conservation of biological diversity of protected areas from the negative impacts of mining and exploration (World Conservation Congress,
Amman, 4 – 11 October 2000)
Resolution 4.087 Impacts of infrastructure and extractive industries on protected areas (World Conservation Congress, Barcelona, 5 - 14 October 2008)
Resolution WCC-2012-Res-090-EN Exploration and exploitation of unconventional fossil fuels (World Conservation Congress, Jeju, 6 - 15 September 2012)
Dear Prime Minister,
We have just returned from COP21 of the UNFCCC where it was very exciting to see many developing countries, including those in Latin America, committing to expand and strengthen protection and management of their protected areas as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions towards addressing climate change. Given this commitment to conservation from other nations, it is particularly disappointing to note the decision of the UK Parliament to allow hydraulic fracturing under national parks and other protected areas, including World Heritage Sites and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The UK is a valued member of IUCN, but this change of policy is in direct conflict with several IUCN resolutions adopted at the World Conservation Congresses [1].
These resolutions have confirmed that mining activities and other infrastructure developments, including hydraulic fracturing should not take place in or near protected areas, including World Heritage Sites. They further emphasize that no destructive activities should take place that have direct or indirect negative impacts on protected areas, and that where there is uncertainty on whether an activity may be incompatible, it should be subject to a stringent environmental impact assessment.
IUCN notes that the UK government has authorised hydraulic fracturing in specific landscapes in the UK, many of which include or are adjacent to important protected areas, and that hydraulic fracturing could take place by way of drilling adjacent to - and below the surface of - protected areas and World Heritage sites. IUCN maintains that the UK should, in accordance with IUCN’s resolutions, and its international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), avoid any negative impacts on protected areas and on areas of particular importance for the conservation of biodiversity, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
IUCN observes that hydraulic fracturing in other parts of the world has been assessed as having direct impacts on groundwater, hydrological systems and associated natural ecosystems, and that in every context, the actual scale and significance of the impacts is characterised by a high degree of uncertainty.
What is not uncertain, however, i s that the infrastructure, including drilling rigs, water supplies, power requirements, access roads etc., has direct visual and site impacts that have the potential for significant negative impacts on protected areas, increasing their physical isolation, damaging adjacent ecosystems, destroying the visual quality and affecting the sense of place.
In any event, any proposed project should be subject to the most stringent of environmental impact assessments, and in the case of uncertainty regarding the scale, magnitude and significance of impacts and the degree to which they can be avoided or mitigated, the precautionary principle should apply.
We understand that more than 100 concessions for hydraulic fracturing are about to be issued by the UK government, and are very concerned to learn what special safeguards will be put in place.
The decision by the UK is likely to set a precedent for other countries where it may be more difficult to establish appropriate safeguards. Nevertheless, IUCN, and its World Commission on Protected Areas and Species Survival Commission, are willing to assist wherever possible to support the application of the most stringent safeguards, and provide the most accurate information available on the location of areas of particular importance for the conservation of biological diversity, including through making available experts to contribute to the review of environmental impact assessments for clearly defined activities.
Notes:
[1] Resolution 2.34 Multilateral and bilateral financial institutions and projects impacting on biodiversity and natural features (World Conservation Congress, Amman, 4
– 11 October 2000)
Resolution 2.82 Protection and conservation of biological diversity of protected areas from the negative impacts of mining and exploration (World Conservation Congress,
Amman, 4 – 11 October 2000)
Resolution 4.087 Impacts of infrastructure and extractive industries on protected areas (World Conservation Congress, Barcelona, 5 - 14 October 2008)
Resolution WCC-2012-Res-090-EN Exploration and exploitation of unconventional fossil fuels (World Conservation Congress, Jeju, 6 - 15 September 2012)
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