The Arctic region (see information about Arctic wetlands) is one of the world’s largest last pristine areas. Most of the Arctic land area consists of permafrost peat swamps; marshes that only are accessible in the winter when the wet soil is frozen. Few people live in the area; and production from using the lands is generally low. As a result, many countries around the polar circle, do not specifically value these wetlands.

Still, these regions harbour a rich nature; and many migratory species such as geese species and waders depend on the area for molting and breeding in the summer. The vast peat swamps contain literally billions of tonnes of organic carbon dioxide; many times more than the annual global fossil fuel emissions.

The Arctic holds large and only partly-discovered reserves of oil and gas. Over the next few decades, the Arctic will become an area of strategic interest for many stakeholders pursuing hydrocarbons for energy security, as well as those concerned by environmental problems.

The  arctic environment is very fragile; due to low temperatures, recovery due to for instance a minimal oil spill will take ages. It is clear that an improvement of current practices and standards is needed in order to minimise impacts on the Arctic environment and the traditional lifestyles of indigenous people.

Our activities

Wetlands International is concerned about the activities in the Arctic region and against offshore oil mining, with the current state-of-the arts techniques. We aim for higher standards. For achieving this, we see opportunities to work with the oil and gas sector, rather than critising only.

Under the overall partnership between Shell and Wetlands International, we have initiated a programme for the Arctic to promote and implement a more responsible approach for activities in the region. The ambition is to develop standards that do not just apply to Shell, but to all activities in the region, including those from other oil and gas companies.

The programme is focused on introducing best practices to avoid and mitigate impacts and to introduce compensation and restoration standards and technologies. At this moment, the focus is on the inland Arctic wetlands (permafrost marshes).

Seeking support for ambitious standards

Together with Shell, we call for attention within the oil and gas sector IPIECA) as well in public bodies such as the governments meeting at  the Arctic Council and the Ramsar Convention. We work towards encouraging the governments and companies to agree on and apply higher standards for the operations in the Arctic region.

What we achieved

• Working alongside experts, we carried out a key study of Arctic wetlands and the ecosystem services they provide. This provides guidance to better plan and design oil projects in order to protect or limit the impacts on important natural functions, such as water flows and feeding grounds for many species of animals.
• We reduced the impacts of oil and gas development in the Upper Dvuobje Ramsar site in Western Siberia (Russia). In collaboration with other NGOs, we mapped ecosystems and monitored bird populations to determine the most valuable and vulnerable wetlands to avoid in one of the richest waterbird habitats and nesting areas in the world.
• We developed a strategy to protect the environment and indigenous peoples affected by oil production activities planned for the Russian regional nature park “Numto,” located in Western Siberia. In 2010, our influence resulted in the relocation of two planned onshore oil rigs to locations that better protect peatlands.

Contact: Tatiana Minaeva