IUCN - The World Conversation Union

IUCN's Forest Programme is working with Unilever and other partners to develop guidelines for sustainable harvesting of seeds from an indigenous tree species (Allanblackis) as a possible alternative to palm oil. This commodity has significant impacts on biodiversity. A market for oil produced from sustainably harvested seeds will provide a positive incentive for conservation.

The identification of alternative and sustainable ways in which natural resources can be exploited is one of IUCN's key challenges. The sustainable use of biodiversity is one of the many options for the reduction of poverty in rural areas.

In 2002 IUCN formed a public private partnership with Unilever, the International Centre for Research in Agroforestry and the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) that aims at demonstrating the feasibility of producing new and valuable food grade oil from the Allanblackia seeds. However no formal agreement has been signed between IUCN and UNILEVER as IUCN receives the funds from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs.

Unilever role in this partnership is crucial as it provides the marketing know how as well as the future distribution channel. Unilever in fact wants to secure a sustainable supply of Allanblackia seeds to produce new edible oil for use in products such as margarine and soaps. IUCN role is to support the development of credible standards for the harvesting and eventually cultivation of the plant.

Link to IUCN Marine Programme

Sakhalin: Oil extraction and Western Gray Whales

Sakhalin Energy is a consortium of 4 companies, Gazprom, Shell, Mitsui and Mitsubishi, established to develop one of the oil rich fields along the Coast of Sakhalin Island, in Eastern Russia.

This area is also the only known feeding grounds of the remaining population of the western gray whale, estimated at about 120 individuals in total, with only 25-35 reproductive females, and the oil and gas development was considered by many local and international NGOs of a real threat to the whale population.

When Sakhalin Energy started its developments, concerns were expressed over the risks posed to the already threatened western Gray whale, particularly because the planned pipeline route from the offshore platforms would have crossed the whales’ feeding grounds. Sakhalin’s initial Environmental Impact Assessment also did not meet completely the requirements of the Russian governments as well as of the lenders.

IUCN engagement has focused on providing an independent and science based advice to the consortium through an Independent Scientific Review Panel brining together 14 independent experts. Since the beginning of the engagement in 2004, a number of outcomes have been achieved, including:

• Sakhalin Energy revised its operations and construction plans to reduce the risks to the whales. In particular the company decided to change the route of the underwater pipelines to avoid feeding areas, a decision requiring 180 km of additional pipeline
• Researchers working for oil companies and independent scientists have agree to share certain type of scientific data .
• A more robust scientific monitoring has been integrated by Sakhalin in their operational cycle
• An authoritative and credible mechanisms – has been established to follow up the operations during eth next phases of the development
• The establishment in 2006 by IUCN of the Western Gray Whale Advisory Panel that provides scientific advice and recommendations on the company’s operational plans and mitigation measures