MacRonald admits that there are effects of a lasting nature that cannot be reversed after the oil and gas activities, but that the company will ensure opposite actions are made to counterbalance the negative impact.
More than 3,000 animal snares have been removed from Murchison Falls National Park by TotalEnergies Uganda (TEP) in the last 18 months under a program aimed at fighting poaching and biodegradation.
Poachers in the parks where TotalEnergies' Tilenga Project activities are concentrated mainly target elephants, lions, bucks and buffaloes, among other big wild animals.
Other activities and targets completed and achieved include collaring of most at-risk animals to ease their monitoring, as well as conducting aerial and ground surveillance and monitoring patrols.
A total of 15 elephants were re-collared as part of the elephant monitoring program, while another total of 24 animals (lion, hartebeest, hyena and kob) were re-collared for stress and ranging behaviour monitoring.
This is aimed at keeping track of the animal movements and any other behaviour that might suggest stress, requiring attention.
At least 86 poachers were arrested by UWA enforcement officers in the area.
The first ever produced TEP Uganda Biodiversity Program report shows that a carnivore census was completed across the Murchison Falls Protected Area, while rounds of aerial wildlife monitoring and four rounds of wetlands and water quality monitoring were done.
It also says that 45 joint inspections were completed in joint activities with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) teams, and another 363 drone flights were completed across the project area.
The program also saw 118 hectares of habitat successfully restored while evasive plant species measuring 19,000 cubic metres in total were removed from the park.
Currently, 84 percent of alien invasive plant species found in the project footprint are being actively managed through early detection and removal.
Speaking on the authenticity or accuracy of this report, TEP Uganda General Manager Philippe Groueix said that the TotalEnergies Uganda Biodiversity Report 2024 has not been verified by an independent third party.
"However, our activities are subject to third-party review and oversight through various means including Environment and Social Due Diligence reviews and annual visits by the independent bodies including the Independent Biodiversity Livelihoods Advisory Committee (IBLAC) and theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature ARRC Task Force," he says.
The oil and gas giant says their focus on biodiversity for the Tilenga project demonstrates the company’s commitment to creating lasting value and positive impact in communities where it operates.
"Over the past 18 months, we have upheld our commitments to stakeholders while rapidly advancing construction on the Tilenga Project and delivering optimal biodiversity performance."
They also focus on forest cover restoration through communities.
"We also launched the first phase of our forest corridor restoration program by supporting communities to replant 350 hectares of degraded woodland and riverine forest habitats," the GM says.
Other partnerships made to achieve their target were with the Ministry of Water and Environment, the National Forestry Authority, and the Uganda Biodiversity Fund.
The company has also established a new directorate dedicated to achieving the Net Positive Impact commitment.
Pauline MacDonald, Biodiversity Director, says the Net Positive Impact of the Tilenga project requires the negative effects on biodiversity to be outweighed by positive ones.
She admits that there are effects of a lasting nature that cannot be reversed after the extractive activities, but that the company will ensure opposite actions are made to counterbalance the negative impact.
"This can be achieved by implementing measurable conservation actions in the same area as the project is taking place for the benefit of wildlife, habitats and local communities."
The company is also implementing compensatory measures to address residual impacts - those impacts that are expected to remain even after applying avoidance and reduction measures.
These compensation (sometimes referred to as offset) measures are designed to result in quantifiable conservation gains to address significant biodiversity losses that cannot be mitigated any other way.
"This long-term strategy has been developed by TEP Uganda to address the challenges faced by communities and wildlife in the North Albertine landscape."
The program also saw more than 4,600 TEP Uganda staff and contractors trained
in biodiversity management, 108 UWA personnel trained in the use of the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART), 160 teachers and 2880 pupils across 10 schools participated in Phase I of the Chimpanzee Conservation Education Program.
Under the Corridor Restoration Program, 248 community members participated in the training, with the participation of 6 Communal land Associations and 120 individual farmers.