Engineering Procedure

SAEP-359 28 September 2014

Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)
Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Objective and Scope……………………….…….. 2

2 Instructions…………………………………….…... 2
3 Responsibilities………………………………….… 4
4 Glossary and Acronyms……………………….…. 6
5 Applicable Documents…………………….……… 6

Appendix 1 - Selection Criteria for Designation

of a Site as a Saudi Aramco
Biodiversity Protection Area………..... 9
Appendix 2 - Saudi Aramco Biodiversity
Protection Area Proposal
Template…..……………………….… 11
Appendix 3 - Biodiversity Action Plan Template…. 12

Previous Issue: New Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019

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Primary contact: Loughland, Ronald Anthony on +966-13-8800469

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2014. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

1 Objective and Scope

1.1 The objective of this Procedure is to ensure that Saudi Aramco (Company) has a
positive impact on the status of biodiversity for the benefit of current and future
generations by designating and managing Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection
Areas.

1.2 This Procedure was developed in response to Saudi Aramco's Environmental

Protection Policy (INT-5) Statement, which commits the Company to manage
and conduct its activities in an environmentally responsible manner.
Implementation of this policy is provided under GI-0002.714 and promotes
protection of the environment, conservation of natural resources, and protection
against liability.

1.3 This Procedure aligns with the Strategic Objectives specified by the Kingdom’s
National Strategy for the Conservation of Biodiversity, the Saudi Government’s
response to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, and the
national and international protocols listed in Section 5.

1.4 This Procedure requires Saudi Aramco to:

1.4.1 Formally designate areas of significant ecological value as Saudi

Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas; and

1.4.2 Develop and implement Biodiversity Action Plans to enable protection

and enhancement of Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas.

2 Instructions

2.1 Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas

2.1.1 Parcels of Company reservation areas demonstrated to be of significant

ecological value may be proposed for designation as Saudi Aramco
Biodiversity Protection Areas.

2.1.2 Designated sites shall be identified within the Saudi Aramco Land Use
Permitting System (GI-0002.716).

2.1.3 The objective of a Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area is to

protect important habitats and landscapes, and to enhance the plant and
animal species that naturally occur (or historically occurred) within the
designated area.

2.1.4 Criteria to be used in determining whether an area qualifies for

consideration as a Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area are set out

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

in Appendix 1.

2.1.5 A template proposal for designating an area as a Saudi Aramco

Biodiversity Protection Area is provided in Appendix 2.

2.1.6 The designation of a Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area shall be

approved by the Chief Executive Officer or his designee and shall be
based on robust scientific data.

2.1.7 Notification of designation of a Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection

Area shall be disseminated by EPD and accessible through EPD’s
website.

2.1.8 Each designated Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area shall

remain in perpetuity.

2.1.9 Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas shall be demarcated (ideally

with a suitable fence or barricade) and managed to (i) prevent
unauthorized access, (ii) eliminate negative physical impacts on the site,
and (iii) control the impacts of domestic or feral animals on biodiversity.

2.1.10 Each Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area shall be cleared of

rubbish and debris and kept free from further littering and dumping.

2.1.11 Each Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area will be demarcated

appropriately on Company maps.

2.1.12 Each Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area shall be signposted to

identify the area and to further reduce unauthorized access.

2.1.13 Access to a Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area shall require

authorization from the Manager (or his designee) of the facility or
reservation area containing the Biodiversity Protection Area.

2.3 Biodiversity Action Plans

2.3.1 A site-specific Biodiversity Action Plan shall be developed and

implemented for each Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area (using
the template provided in Appendix 3).

2.3.2 Each Biodiversity Action Plan shall be approved by the Manager of EPD
(or his designee).

2.3.3 A Biodiversity Action Plan shall be submitted for approval within six (6)
months of the designation of the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection
Area.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

2.3.4 The focus of each Biodiversity Action Plan will vary depending on the
characteristics of the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area.
In each case, the objective of the Biodiversity Action Plan shall be to
identify and prioritize actions, targets and timelines that will enhance the
protection of native species, particularly threatened, endemic or
migratory species.

2.3.5 The Biodiversity Action Plan shall include actions to control non-native
plant and animal species that are significantly impacting the native
biodiversity.

2.3.6 The Biodiversity Action Plan shall include prescriptions for

communicating to local staff, community members and contractors
living or working on the Company facility or reservation area about the
location, objectives and benefits of the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity
Protection Area.

2.3.7 The Biodiversity Action Plan shall include prescriptions for routine
biodiversity monitoring of the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection
Area. The objective of the biodiversity monitoring program will be to
measure the effectiveness of management actions in protecting and
enhancing biodiversity within the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection
Area. Therefore, the methodology, frequency and intensity of
biodiversity monitoring will be determined by the characteristics of the
Biodiversity Protection Area.

2.3.8 The Biodiversity Action Plan shall include prescriptions for developing
and implementing an educational campaign (such as the use of
pamphlets, interpretive signage, or establishing a visitor’s center) for
improving awareness and appreciation of the natural and cultural values
of the Biodiversity Protection Area.

2.3.9 The results of biodiversity monitoring shall be digitized and added to the
Saudi Aramco Environmental Information Management System (GIS).

2.3.10 Biodiversity Action Plans shall be accessible through EPD’s website.

2.3.11 Biodiversity Action Plans shall be reviewed and updated on a five (5)
year cycle.

3 Responsibilities

3.1 Corporate Management

Incorporate the objectives of this Procedure into Operating and Business Plans.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

3.2 Executive and General Management

Approve designation of suitable Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas.

3.3 Project Proponents, Engineering Services, Facilities Planning and Project

Management Departments

3.3.1 Ensure that services performed by staff and contractors do not negatively
affect the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas and adhere to
approved Biodiversity Action Plans.

3.3.2 Comply with the specific requirements of approved Biodiversity Action

Plans within Company reservation areas.

3.4 Facility Management, Operating Departments and Service Organizations

3.4.1 Identify and propose suitable areas for designation as Saudi Aramco
Biodiversity Protection Areas (in collaboration with EPD) as per the
template provided in Appendix 2.

3.4.2 Apply for a Land Use Permit (as per GI-0002.716) for designation as a
Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area.

3.4.3 Develop and implement Biodiversity Action Plans (in collaboration with
EPD), including fencing (where feasible), clean up, removal of non-
native species, and monitoring of designated Saudi Aramco Biodiversity
Protection Areas.

3.4.4 Ensure that services performed by staff and contractors do not negatively
affect Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas and adhere to
approved Biodiversity Action Plans.

3.4.5 Assign the additional task of Biodiversity Protection Stewards to

Environmental Coordinators.

3.5 Environmental Protection Department

3.5.1 Administer, coordinate, and execute the Biodiversity Protection Area

program.

3.5.2 Identify and propose suitable areas for designation as Saudi Aramco
Biodiversity Protection Areas (in collaboration with Facilities
Management, Operating Departments and Service Organizations).

3.5.3 Review and approve suitable Biodiversity Action Plans.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

3.5.4 Prepare an annual report on the status of Saudi Aramco Biodiversity

Protection Areas and Biodiversity Action Plans.

3.5.5 Provide support and advice to other Saudi Aramco Departments on

matters relating to Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas.

4 Glossary and Acronyms

4.1 Glossary

Biodiversity: “the variability among living organisms from all sources

including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within
species, between species and of ecosystems.” (Convention on Biological
Diversity, Article 2: United Nations 1993)

4.2 Acronyms

EPD: Environmental Protection Department

5 Applicable Documents

All projects, facilities, and operations shall refer to and comply with applicable Saudi
Aramco documents including, but not limited to the following:

5.1 Saudi Aramco Reference Documents

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-32 Environmental Performance Assessments
SAEP-13 Project Environmental Impact Assessment
SAEP-339 Marine Dredging and Landfilling

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard

SAES-A-103 Discharges to the Marine Environment

Saudi Aramco Policy Statements

INT-5 Environmental Protection

Saudi Aramco General Instructions

GI-0002.714 Environmental Protection Policy Implementation
GI-0002.716 Land Use Permit Procedures

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

GI-0430.001 Implementing the Saudi Aramco Hazardous Waste

System

5.2 Government Regulations and Standards

General Environmental Regulations and Rules for Implementation in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Presidency of Meteorology and Environment 2004
General Standards Environmental Protection Standards in Document No. 1409-
01 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Presidency for Meteorology and the
Environment and Revisions
Royal Decree No. M 9 (27/3/1408): Regulations for fishing, Exploitation and
Protection of Marine Life in Saudi Territorial Waters.
Royal Decree No. 1004 (20/1/1419): Prohibiting ownership or construction
within 400 m of the Kingdom’s shoreline, except for security requirements
Royal Decree No. 982-M (15/9/1419): Establishing the Quartate Committee
responsible for permitting and mitigating the impact of coastal reclamation
Royal Decree No. 12375 (12/4/1423): Preservation and establishment of
reserves for black coral communities along the Kingdom’s Red Sea coasts and
coral reefs
Royal Commission Environmental Regulations: Volume 1 Royal Commission for
Jubail and Yanbu 2004
The Uncultivated Land Act 1978
The Forests and Rangelands Act 1979
The National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development Act 1986
The Fishing Exploitation and Protection of Live Aquatic Resources in the
Territorial Waters of Saudi Arabia Act 1987
The Wildlife Protected Areas Act 1995
The Wild Animals and Birds Hunting Act 1999
The Act on Trade in Endangered Wildlife Species and their Products 2000

5.3 International Protocols and Conventions

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and Saudi Government
Response
United Nations Convention on Combating Desertification
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and
Other Matter, 1972 and 1996 Protocol Thereto, otherwise known as the
London Convention.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973 as

Modified by the Protocol of 1978 and Six Annexes Relating Thereto:
International Maritime Organizations Marine Pollution Convention
1973/1978.
Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
Against Pollution from Land-based Sources (also known as the Jeddah
Convention) 1982
Protocol Concerning Regional Co-operation in Combating Pollution by Oil and
Other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency: Regional Organization for
the Protection of the Marine Environment 1982
Protocol Concerning Marine Pollution Resulting from Exploration and
Exploitation of the Continental Shelf: Regional Organization for the
Protection of the Marine Environment 1989
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: Article 145 – Protection of
the Marine Environment

Revision Summary
28 September 2014 New Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedure to ensure that the Company has a positive
impact on the status of biodiversity for the benefit of current and future generations by
designating and managing Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Areas.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

Appendix 1 - Selection Criteria for Designation

of a Site as a Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area

This appendix sets out the criteria to be used in assessing whether a portion of Saudi Aramco
reservation area has sufficient ecological value to be designated as a Saudi Aramco
Biodiversity Protection Area.

The criteria are indicative and whilst they will fulfil most purposes there may be situations
where sites are considered ecologically valuable for biodiversity reasons that have not been
foreseen by these criteria. In addition, there may be occasions where sites meet the criteria but
for other reasons can not be designated. These criteria are not the sole arbiter for designating a
Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area.

The designation process will establish the boundaries of the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity
Protection Area. The size of the Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area shall be
commensurate with the need to protect the integrity of the habitat for which the site has been
designated. In some circumstances, adequate protection may require a suitable buffer zone
around areas of core habitat of high biodiversity value. Designations shall be based on sound
scientific data.

Criteria

A site shall be considered for designation if it is shown to meet two (2) or more of the
following criteria:

a. The area supports significant native biodiversity.

b. The area contains two (2) or more species that are listed as Near Threatened under the
International Union for Nature Conservation.

c. The area contains one (1) or more species that are listed as Threatened under the
International Union for Nature Conservation. This includes those species that are
defined as Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered.

d. The area contains two (2) or more species that are listed as requiring High Conservation
Priority (as per Criteria 1–5) in the Saudi Arabian government response to the United
Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

e. The area contains one (1) or more species that are endemic to Saudi Arabia.

f. The area frequently contains five (5) or more migratory bird species.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

g. The area is important as a traditional, colonial nesting site / social roosting area / social
foraging area for resident or migratory fauna.

h. The area contains significant ecological features or habitats/landscapes that are rare
and/or declining within their natural range.

i. The area plays an integral role in the ecosystem functioning of a valued area.

j. The area has the potential to benefit the education and/or well-being of local residents.

k. The area exhibits potential for restoration of important or rare habitat.

l. The area acts as an important link or ecological corridor between other sites of
biodiversity value.

m. The area is a significant source of native seed, or larval and/or juvenile recruits.

n. The area contains landscapes of particularly high aesthetic value.

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

Appendix 2 - Saudi Aramco Biodiversity Protection Area Proposal Template

 Name of Facility/Operating Department

 Proponent

 Contact details of proponent

 Location of proposed Biodiversity Protection Area

 Description of proposed Biodiversity Protection Area

 Coordinates (Lat, Long) of proposed Biodiversity Protection Area

 Area / dimensions of proposed Biodiversity Protection Area

 GIS map of proposed Biodiversity Protection Area

 Criteria used in determining proposed Biodiversity Protection Area (see Appendix 1)

 Summary of ecological value of the proposed Biodiversity Protection Area

 Brief summary of proposed Biodiversity Action Plan

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Document Responsibility: Environmental Standards Committee SAEP-359
Issue Date: 28 September 2014
Next Planned Update: 28 September 2019 Biodiversity Protection Areas (Designation and Management)

Appendix 3 - Biodiversity Action Plan Template

 Name of Operating Department

 Proponent
 Contact details of proponent
 Location of Biodiversity Protection Area
 Description of Biodiversity Protection Area
 Coordinates (Last, Long) of Biodiversity Protection Area
 Area / dimensions of Biodiversity Protection Area
 GIS map of Biodiversity Protection Area
 Criteria used in determining Biodiversity Protection Area (see Appendix 2)
 Summary of ecological value of the Biodiversity Protection Area
 Other (non-Saudi Aramco) Stakeholders
 Overall and specific objectives
 Actions
o Area clean-up plan (including proposed methods and timeline)
o Native species present and proposed protection and enhancement actions, targets
and timelines
o Invasive species present and proposed control actions, targets and timelines
o Additional proposed modifications to the area
 Biodiversity monitoring protocol
 Existing or proposed activities or development that may impact the Biodiversity
Protection Area
 Stakeholder engagement plan (if non-Aramco stakeholders will be affected)
 Schedule of actions and priorities
 Timeline for revision of Biodiversity Action Plan

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