Page 40 - ADOC Sustainability Report

ADOC 2021 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

At ADOC, we are mindful of the surrounding environment within our operational areas in Mubarraz Island. The potential
environmental impacts associated with our operation include non-greenhouse and greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions,
generation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, disposal of wastewater, spills, habitat disturbance on marine and terrestrial
environment. In accordance with the ADNOC HSE Standards (2020) and international best practices, we operate with three
main principles in mind: the Precautionary Principle, the No Net Loss Principle, and the Ecosystems Approach.

Ecosystems
Precuationary No Net Loss Approach
Approach Principle We recognize that all
We always assume that We strive for a balance ecosystems are intrinsically
there are risks to the between impacts linked and a wider impact
environment no matter and offsets to reach on various environmental
the task, and all activities a 'break even point' components and geographical
areas may need to be
are planned in favor of where there is no net considered outside our
biodiversity protection. loss of biodiversity. operational areas.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2021) defines biosphere reserves as
a protected area meant for the conservation of plants and animals. Biosphere reserves promote solutions reconciling the
conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. Our offshore fields are located within the Buffer Zone of Marawah Marine
Biosphere Reserve (MMBR), including Mubarraz Island, Hail Field and AR and GA Fields.

The MMBR was designated as a protected area by the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Decree No. 18 of 2001, and a world-biosphere
reserve in 2007 as part of UNESCO’s ‘’man and biosphere program’’, with an area of 4,225-kilometer square (km ). It is the only
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reserve in the country which supports important habitats such as seagrasses, mangroves, coral reefs and coastal sabkhas. The
reserve represents 40% of Abu Dhabi’s coral reefs, 32% of the Emirate’s seagrass and 3% of its mangroves. It is an important area
for foraging green turtles (Chelonia mydas – Endangered) (EN – IUCN) and Least Concern (LC – local IUCN) and nesting sites for
hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata – Critically Endangered) (CR – IUCN) and
EN – local IUCN), both are native species in the country. The MMBR also serves as
a home to the second largest population of dugongs (Dugong dugon – Vulnerable
(IUCN and local IUCN). These species, as well as the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
(Tursiops aduncus – Data Deficient (DD - IUCN and local IUCN), Indian ocean
humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea – EN (IUCN) and VU (local IUCN), Indo-Pacific
finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaeoides – VU (IUCN) and EN (local IUCN) and
Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis – VU (IUCN) and EN (local IUCN)),
have all been sighted in ADOC’s operating waters. The MMBR is also a breeding
area of several bird species such as crab plover (Dromas ardeola – LC (IUCN) and
VU (local IUCN), great knot (Calidris tenuirostris – EN (IUCN) and CR (local IUCN),
and great spotted eagle (Clanga clanga – VU (IUCN) and CR (local IUCN). Flora
species occurs in MMBR includes sea-lavender (Limonium axillare – Not Evaluated
(NE - IUCN) and EN (local IUCN) and Egyptian fig marigold (Mesembryathemum
nodiflorum – NE (IUCN) and VU (local IUCN).

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