Intriguing Success in 3D Seismic Acquisition in Ecologically Critical Lawachara National Park of Bangladesh

- Delawar Bakht PEng, M N A Siddique & M A Masud BETS Consulting Services Limited, Bangladesh

Abstract: In-depth environmental studies were conducted in 2008 by a multi-disciplinary team of international and national specialists of SMEC International for Chevron Bangladesh for obtaining Environmental Clearance for 3D seismic acquisition in Moulvibazar Gas Field. This included Lawachara National Park which was declared as an ecologically critical area in 1996. Exclusive monitoring of potential impact mitigation mechanism identified through EIA studies resulted in to completing the project with intriguing success. This has displayed a glaring example of sharing expertise leading to successful initiative in technology transfer in the developing country like Bangladesh currently in dire quest of harnessing natural gas.

Key Words: 3D Seismic Ecology

Introduction:

Bangladesh is a developing country of South Asia with 150 million people living within 147570 sq. km. About 2000 Million Cubit Feet Per Day (MMCFD) of natural gas, some coal and hydro electric sources and 3.5 million tons of imported petroleum per year constitute about 70% commercial energy consumption. Agricultural residues, fuel wood, cow-dung etc. fulfill the rest of 30%. This energy usage is approximately 190 kilograms oil equivalent, compared with 270 kilograms in India, an average world consumption of 1,500 kilograms per capita. Natural Gas accounts for approximately 86 percent of Bangladesh’s commercial electrical consumption Current demand of natural gas in Bangladesh is about 2,500 mmcfd. Production capacity is some what less than 2100 mmcfd but due to transmission constraints, current production is about 2,000 mmcfd resulting in to a shortage of 400 mmcfd and thus an acute crisis prevailing in the country. Such situation can only be redressed by either enhancing production from existing wells, bringing suspended wells back to production or re- evaluation of reserve of existing fields and drilling new wells and simultaneously removing transmission bottlenecks.

The gas fields of the country are being operated both by state owned companies and the International oil Companies (IOC) under Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with the Government of Bangladesh through Petrobangla. Chevron Bangladesh Blocks Thirteen and Fourteen, Ltd. (Chevron) being one such IOCs now operates all wells in the Moulavi Bazar Gas Field area. Chevron’s role, as a contractor, for executing the Moulvibazar Production Sharing Contract is to satisfy as outlined in the PSC: “Contractor shall be obliged to conduct all petroleum operations in contract, and generally accepted standards of the international petroleum industry which are designed to achieve efficient and safe exploration and production of petroleum and prevent loss or waste of petroleum above or below the surface, and to maximize the ultimate economic recovery of petroleum from the contract area.”

Since taking over control of the Moulavi Bazar gas field Chevron has begun investigations into options for further gas extraction from the reservoir and also into the reasons behind the zero yield of the southern-most well. In order to confirm the reasons behind the absence of gas in this well and also to delineate any further potential gas locations, Chevron did proposed the 3D seismic survey of the project area for collecting data to identify the three dimensional character of subsurface features, including different strata, as well as any folding or faulting present. This information would be used to assess the site for the potential presence of unrealized reserves within the area, and to potentially increase the overall gas production from the field in the course of time. Important to note is that this EIA study was not concerned with any future gas extraction activities, only the present seismic survey of the site.

1 to 20

Railway

Sreemangal

Lawachara National Park and West Bhanugach reserve Forest

Figure 01: Project Context and gas well locations

2 to 20 Accordingly, in-depth and comprehensive EA studies were conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of international & national geo-physicists, environmental specialists, socio-economists, legal experts, plantation ecologists and bio-diversity specialists of SMEC International Pty Ltd. in association with NACOM & IUCN who worked for Chevron Bangladesh Blocks Thirteen & fourteen Ltd for the approval process of Environmental Clearance from the Department of Environment for executing the afore mentioned 3D seismic acquisition for delineating reserves in this Moulvibazar Gas Field in the north-eastern part of Bangladesh, roughly 64 km south of Sylhet and 7 km north-east of Srimongal town. The project area included West Bhanugach Forest, part of which has been declared as Lawachara National Park, an Ecologically Critical Area under Environmental Conservation Act 1995 of the Government of Bangladesh.

Subsequently, exclusive monitoring of impact mitigation mechanism identified through EIA studies deploying specialized team and adopting restrictive and early warning system resulted in to an intriguing success in completing the 3D seismic acquisition project 2008-9 in the area which included a number of endangered species of plants & animals like Hoolock Gibbons in the Park and for which the Park area was declared an ecologically critical area in 1996. The extensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies and subsequent field monitoring during execution of work was required to identify any potential impacts which might arise from the project’s implementation. The EIA also identified appropriate measures implemented to mitigate these potential impacts.

Protecting the biodiversity resources was the core issue of Chevron’s Environmental Management Plan in conducting the 3D Seismic Survey over the gas field. An intensive consultation between IUCN experts and Chevron’s Operation staff identified the need for a monitoring methodology to better connect results of monitoring with decision making during the survey operation. Consequently, a reporting procedure incorporating an early warning system was developed to report the monitoring results on a daily and a weekly basis. This Monitoring Report has been based on the findings of the independent Bio-Diversity Management Team (BMT) fielded by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Bangladesh.

The intent of the paper is to highlight the salient features of the entire process of preparing the EIA doc, obtaining environmental clearances and successfully executing the project of 3D Seismic Acquisition in an Ecologically Critical Area through a multidisciplinary team of national and international consultants and thus setting an example of sharing expertise, ensuring transfer of technology and contributing to empowerment with knowledge for gainful utilization in harnessing energy which is predominantly essential for the developing countries like Bangladesh.

Current Energy Scenario of Bangladesh

Current demand of natural gas in Bangladesh is about 2,500 mmcfd. Production capacity is some what less than 2100 mmcfd but due to transmission constraints, current production is about 2,000 mmcfd resulting in to a shortage of 250 mmcfd and thus an acute crisis prevailing in the country. Such situation can only be redressed by either enhancing production from existing wells, bringing suspended wells back to production or re-evaluation of reserve of existing fields and drilling new wells and simultaneously removing transmission bottlenecks.

Another report states Gas demand by 2012-13 & 2014-15 will range between 2500-2873 & 2669-3087 mmcfd respectively. In order to meet such demand, experts opine that the country has no option but to involve oil companies under Production Sharing Contracts for offshore exploration and increase onshore activities as well as tap other resources or import energy.

Unless new finds are there, the current natural gas reserve of the country will be reduced to less than 50 % at a demand growth rate of 7 %. Electricity generation is 85 % gas based and the power sector demand of 990 mmcfd can hardly be made by 780 mmcfd. Thus all categories of industrial, commercial and industrial consumers are feeling the pinch. 40 % production loss has been reported. Linked to this, the availability of primary fuel is a worrisome factor. Gas accounts for some 70 percent of primary fuel for commercial use. Rapid growth in demand for gas without commensurate expansion in supply has caused the emergence of excess demand for gas. Present shortfall in gas supply exceeds 10 percent

3 to 20 leading to rationing and in fact, in order to avert the situation gas rationing in ready made garment industrial units had to commence from 27 January, 2010.

Energy crisis is already constraining growth by an estimated half percent of GDP. This constraint is rapidly growing in intensity and needs to be tackled on a crisis footing. To meet expected power demand of 6,600MW in 2010, installed capacity needs to grow to 8,000MW as compared with present 6,000 MW. This shortage of power generating capacity will challenge other policies.

Load-shedding continues to worsen as the heat drives people to use more electricity at homes and offices. The officially estimated power demand every-day is around 4,500 MW which will rise to 5,800 MW next summer. This is against current reliable generation capacity range between 3,800 and 4,500 MW. Around 800 MW power is not being generated due to short supply of gas to many power plants. The demand for electricity is rising at the rate of 8 % on an average.

The present government is planning to take a long-term policy on electricity and energy very soon and has plans to use oil, gas, coal, hydro power, wind power, and solar energy is a bid to maintain constant energy supply to the people. Big and small power generation stations, coal extraction, and oil and gas exploration will be given priority. The government is planning to increase power production to 7,000 MW by 2013 further to 8,000 MW by 2015.

At present 47 % of the population has come under the purview of electricity coverage. Around 75 million are remaining out side this coverage and the rest 70 million do not get reliable supply yet. Current per capita electricity consumption is 184 kilowatt-hours which is very low compared to other countries of the world. Need for the Project

The supply capacity of gas within the country is currently insufficient to meet the needs of a number of expanding industries, particularly given that demand is expected to increase by approximately 10% per year. At projected consumption growth rates, currently developed gas reserves are likely to be exhausted soon unless new finds are there to expand the reserve numbers.

The proposed 3D Seismic Survey of Moulavi Bazar Gas Field was intended to delineate any currently under-utilized parts of the gas reservoir, with a view to potentially increasing extraction activities in the future. This was also intended to more accurately delineate the geological structure of the gas reservoir of the Moulavi Bazar gas field. When production drilling was first conducted on this site, it was discovered that one of the wells was dry. This led Chevron to postulate that further geological intricacies of the site were not defined in the original 2D survey. The proposed 3D survey would provide a more detailed geological image of the site in order to inform future field management actions. This could act to augment the current gas supplies within Bangladesh.

Project Description

Three dimensional seismic surveys (3D) involves the generation of acoustic pulses from a source on or just beneath the surface, and the measurement of the acoustic waves reflected of the boundaries between different rock strata using specialized recording devices (geophones) situated at various positions on the surface. The initial shot and subsequent return signals are recorded onto magnetic tape for detailed analysis at a later date, allowing the surveyor to infer a three dimensional representation of the physical nature of the subsurface strata. See Figure-02 for an illustration of this process.

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Receiver lines

Recording truck

Seismic waves Detonation

Figure 02: Propagation and detection of subsurface seismic waves.

Lawachara National Park–it’s Location, Area, Wild Life Habitat & History of Establishment.

Civil administrative location of Lawachara National Park is at Mouza: West Bhanugach Hill Forest, Union: Kamalgonj, Upazila: Kamalgonj of District: Moulavi Bazar, Sylhet Division of Bangladesh. It was established in 1996 with an area of about 13 sq. km at an altitude of 25 m and is located 60 km south of the Sylhet city. Temperature varies from 10 c to 33 c and rain fall is about 555cm per year.

Though the current notified area of the park covers some 1250 ha, the proposed park area included 281 ha of West Bhanugach Reserved Forest. The total area thus stands at 1531 ha which has been considered for inclusion in the Forestry Sector Project Management Plan (FSP) of 2000. The GPS location of the park is: 24032’N and 910 47E and falls under Moulavi Bazar Forest range of the Sylhet Forest Division. It is located at around 11 km of the Srimongal - Bhanugach road of the Roads and Highways Department of the Government of Bangladesh.

The wild life habitat of the Park broadly includes Slow Loris, Pig-tailed Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Assamese Macaque, Capped Langur, Phayre’s Leaf-monkey, Hoolock Gibbon, Jackal, Wild Dog, Sloth Bear or Himalayan Black Bear, Yellow-throated Marten, Tiger, Leopard, Fishing Cat, Leopard Cat, Wild Pig, Sambar, Barking Deer and Indian Giant Squirrel.

Lawachara National Park was established through a Gazette Notification PBM (S-3) 7/96/367 on 07 July 1996. This is a part of the West Bhanugach Reserved Forest established through an order under the Forest Act. Further proposal was made for extension of the park as per recommendation of Forestry Master Plan of the GOB in 1992 and feasibility study carried out by FRR and DU in 1996.

Why Lawachara National Park is an Ecologically Critical Site?

Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) is defined by the government of Bangladesh under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA), 1995 as an environmental protection zone, where ecosystem is considered to have been threatened to reach a critical state. In other words, ECA are those ecologically defined areas or ecosystems which are not to be affected adversely by the changes brought through human activities.

5 to 20 In fact, BECA, 1995 has provision for declaring an area to be an ECA by the Director General of the Department of Environment in certain specific areas when the government is satisfied that due to degradation of environment, the ecosystem of that particular area has reached or is threatened to reach a critical state. In those cases, government may, by notification in the official gazette, declare such areas as Ecologically Critical Areas. The government shall specify, through the notification provided in sub-clause (1) or by separate notification, which of the operations or processes cannot be initiated or continued in the Ecologically Critical Area.

Although a large number of ecosystems in Bangladesh could accurately be described as "threatened", it would be impossible for the government to declare and manage all of them as ECAs. In order to identify priority sites, a series of biodiversity 'importance criteria' have been taken into account in addition to the 'urgency criterion'. All ECAs thus far selected include a combination of public and private lands, with relevant restrictions equally applicable to both. The regulation promulgated in 1996 on the areas covered under Lawachara National Park is no exception to it.

What are the Legal status and regulatory provisions to protect this national park?

Protection to the Lawachara National Park is also being provided under the provision of Article 23 (3) of the Bangladesh Wildlife (Preservation) Order, 1973 (President’s Order No. 23 of 1973) as amended by the Wildlife (Preservation) (Amendment) Act, 1974 (Act XVII of 1974). As stated in the order, any type of hunting, killing or capturing of wildlife or making any disturbances to the wildlife is prohibited within the park as well as within 1 mile radius area from the outer boundary of the park. The Act also prohibits cutting of trees, gathering of other forest products, extraction of barks or causing any harm to the plants. Similarly, the forest or any part of it can’t be cleared for mining or for any other purposes or for cultivation etc. The Act also prohibits fishing or polluting stream/rivers flowing through the park. However, such activities may be allowed to some extent by the government only when it is deem necessary for its improvement, beautification or for any scientific reasons.

What are the Environmental Regulations and Policy initiatives of the Government & its relation to executing 3D seismic acquisition in Lawachara National Park?

The concern about environmental and natural resources management issues has been reflected in different policy initiatives taken and Acts, Rules promulgated and the international Conventions endorsed and respected by the Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh from time to time. The major policy initiatives, strategies and plans have emphasized on environment and natural resources management to achieve sustainable development.

The National Environment Policy 1992, National Forest Policy 1994, National Water Policy 1999, National Agriculture Policy 1999, National Agriculture Policy 1999, National Land Use Policy 2001 are all aimed to ensure development in harmony with the natural environment. National Environment Management Action Plan (NEMAP) 1995 is the major policy document that recognized links between environmental degradation, poverty & population growth. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2004 put due priority on the recovery and conservation of degraded ecosystems.

In accordance with the National Environment Policy 1992, the Bangladesh Environment Act 1995 and Environment Conservation Rules (ECR) 1997 were promulgated aiming at systematic industrialization to ensure sustainable development keeping the environmental cost at the minimum. But continuing environmental degradation indicates a missing link between environmental pollution control and the laws and regulations.

Having due regards to the aforementioned regulatory provisions, any project relating to natural gas exploration, production and marketing has been placed in the Red categories under the provisions of ECR 1997 so far as its environmental clearance is concerned. So such project execution initiatives have to pass through due process of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in conformance with the prescribed rules and guidelines for preparing these IEE & EIA reports.

6 to 20 But because of prohibitive regulations in carrying out 3D seismic acquisition in proceeding with natural gas exploration by Chevron in their Production Sharing Contract Block 13 & 14 encompassing Lawachara National Park within Moulvibazar Gas field area, the approval process involved a good deal of exceptionally rigorous and extensive study & research. This was required not only for identifying the impacts on the sensitive and delicate ecosystem of the park with all its endangered species of flora & fauna but also for devising the most appropriate mitigation mechanism of such potential impacts. Further, the existence of some human settlement of the ethnic communities within and adjoining areas were also other important issues to be duly addressed to under public consultation system so far as their socio-economic, health and environmental issues were being potentially impacted.

Figure 03: The Moulavi Bazar gas field site showing 3D seismic acquisition grid lines.

Literature Review

An extensive study & review of the available literatures were carried out to search for procuring the relevant information on topography & physiographic formations, human settlements and ecological & biological resources of the park as revealed from field surveys and taxonomic studies conducted from time to time in the past. These are presented in the form of summaries of the aforesaid study reports and concerned literatures in the following sub-sections:

7 to 20 Topography & Physiography: The soils of Lawachara are brown, sandy clay loam to clay loam of Pliocene origin. The area is undulating with slopes and hillocks, locally called tilla, ranging from 10-50 m and are scattered in the forest. Numerous streams flow through the forest. The south east, south and east sides are boarded by tea gardens and the west by coffee plantation. Numerous trails and tracks are found within the forest, created by the local people for collecting wood from the forest The forest of Lawachara do not fall markedly under one recognized type, but as semi-and /or mixed evergreen, where tall trees are deciduous and the under storey evergreen. The old plantations of around 1920’s are of primarily native species and many of them are exotic to the forest which have developed a multistoried structure, including re-growth of creepers and naturally occurring trees and Undergrowth species.

In the oldest of these areas, the vegetation cover has taken on the structure of natural forest, and evolution towards a natural structure. Only some small remnant patches of rich primary forest remain, most significantly including an 8.6 ha, un-logged BFRI research plot, but also including small patches of natural forest cover within the old plantations areas. Other areas of approx. 130 ha natural forest are utilized for betel leaf cultivation. The forest is semi- evergreen. The canopy height varies from 10 –30 m. The top canopy comprises Tectona sp., Ariocarpus chaplasha, Tetrameles sp., Hopea odorata. Toona ciliata, Pygenum sp. etc. The second canopy comprises Quercus spp., Syzygium sp., Gmelina sp., Dillenia sp., Grewia sp., Ficus sp. etc. The underneath includes Bambusa spp., Alsophila sp. Geodorum sp., Eupatorium odoratum etc. and several ferns and epiphytes.

Human Settlements: Altogether, there are 14 villages, of which two are located within the park and the rest lie on the boundary of park and/or just at the outskirt of the park and all have stake with the forest. The settlement history dates back to early 1940’s with the people who were employed for logging and/or plantation in the forest. The largest inside village, Magurchara punji, was established around 1950 and presently consists of 40 households (HHs) and is inhabited by Khasia people. The other inside village, Lawachara punji, was established in the 1940’s and currently consists of 23 HHs. There is another village, called Dolubari, a long established Tripura (tribal) settlement of 75 HHs at the hill foot flat at the south-west boundary of the park. The villagers largely depend on the resources of the park and also regarded as one of the intensively used sites of the park. The rest of the 11 villages are located along the northeastern boundary, inhabited by migrants from Noakhali, Comilla and neighboring India and major influx of people occurred about 50 years ago and converted the low laying forest areas to paddy cultivation. Homesteads are located outside of the park, but adjacent to plantation areas of the forest and people depend on subsistence use of forest resources and livestock grazing in the forest.

The park and the proposed extension area are bordered on the north, west, south and southeastern part largely by 7 tea estates. The estates provide refuge a large number of their laborers and their dependants. These people have also stake with the forest to some extent as they enter the forest. These estates also support some secondary vegetation which forms continuation of the wildlife habitat of the park.

Plants: A floristic survey was carried out during1997 recorded 107 species of plants. 40 species of plants recorded in 1994).during earlier study on food and feeding habit of Monkeys, Langurs and Hoolock Gibbons in the Lawachara Forest. Another discussion on human impact on non-human primates of Lawachara mentioned the names of 8 species of plants. Similarly, while analyzing threats to primates in Lawachara Forest mentioned the names of 19 plants. Other reports state that West Bhanugach Reserved Forest was planted with 8 species of plants (viz. Tectona grandis, Xylia dolabriformis, Cinnamomum cecicodaphane, Michelia champaca, Aquilaria agallocha, Gmelia aarborea, Lagerastomia speciosa, Terminalia tomentosa). It also recorded 14 tree species in natural forest. It was then mentioned that while one species of native bamboo (Bambusa tulda) occurs in the forest, 2 species of exotic bamboo species (viz. Thyrosostachys oliveri and Bambusa anundinaceae) were introduced in the forest. The tree density in Lawachara was reported to be 203 trees/ha and 271 trees/ha, respectively.

Amphibian animals and reptiles: 4 species of amphibians and 4 species of reptiles were recorded in 1997 two additional species of reptiles were observed in the forest in 2000.

Birds: A study in 1999 recorded 237 species of birds from Lawachara NP and further study in 2003 made new records of 4 species of birds from the forest.

8 to 20 Mammals: 6 species of non-human primates, viz. one species of slow loris (Nycticebeus bengalensis), Rehesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), pig-tailed macaque (M. nemestrina leonina), capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus), Phyre’s leaf monkey (T. phayrei), and Hoolock gibbon were recorded in 2000 in Lawachara National Park. The densities for Macaca nemestriana leonina, Trichypithecus pileata and Hylobates hoolock were estimated to be 3.8, 2.6 and 1.2 indiv./km2, respectively. Earlier study in 1997 reported 6 species of mammals, and that of 1995 described two species of non-human primates from the forest. 1994 study reported 6 species of non-human primates; 1 species of leopard was sighted 1982), while other report of 1998 states 6 non-human primates from the forest. 7 species of mammals was reported in 1981 and 8 species of mammals were reported from the forest in1996.

Insects: A survey of Odonate insects in 2000 in Lawachara recorded 17 species of Odonates, belonging to 14 genera under 4 families.

Summary of biological studies on animals: In 1992 the report of the study of the activity pattern, ranging behavior, movement, food and feeding behavior of Hoolock gibbon in West Bhanugach Forest Reserve reported that the gibbon live in groups of 2-5 individuals, maintain territory in a home range of 30-35 ha. The day range varies from 600m to 1600m. The gibbon spends 39% of the day time in feeding, 25% in moving, 26% in resting, 4% in calling and 6% in other social activities. Tectona sp., Artocarpus chaplasha and Aquilaria agallocha were found to be used by the gibbon for sleeping. Feeding activity is highest in October and lowest in July, usually decreases during May to July. About 40 food trees of Hoolock gibbon were recorded in West Bhanugach Reserved Forest and in Chunati. It was also estimated that there won’t be more than a population of 200 Hoolock gibbons in the above mentioned two forests.

Another study in 1994 covered food and feeding behavior of Hoolock gibbon and Macaca nemestrina and Presbytis pileatus in Lawachara Forest Reserve during February 1990 and February 1991 revealed that sixty three plant species were recognized as the food of these primates, of which 40 were eaten by gibbons, 44 by Langurs and 33 by pig-tailed macaque. Hoolock gibbon spent 39% of their active time in feeding, Langurs 34% and pig-tailed macaque 27%. Hoolock gibbon was frugivorous (89% fruits and figs). Capped Langurs feed both on fruits (67%) and leaves (20%) and pig-tailed macaques ate a variety of plant parts as their food. Four types of grooming sequences were recognized in pig-tailed macaque during social grooming; unilateral grooming (76.8%), mutual grooming (12.6%), reciprocal grooming (2.9%). The adult male was the main recipient of grooming (35%) and swollen female was the main groomer (33%). The 2000 study reported the height and substrate use by pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestriana) in Lawachara NP on the basis of field study during May 1996 and September 1997. The feeding and foraging heights varied significantly between different age-sex classes. Juveniles used larger vertical areas (1-28 m) and the adult female with infant used the smallest vertical areas (3-19 m). The group spent more than 85% of their feeding and foraging time on the middle canopy (5-13 m). The use of different substrates during feeding and foraging also varied significantly between different age-sex classes, the adult male used a wide range of substrates while the juveniles and infant-2 spent most of their feeding and foraging time in the twigs and thin peripheral branches.

The breeding activities of the pig-tailed macaque (Macaca leonina) in West Bhanugach Forest Reserve, including Lawachara National Park was reported in 2003 which included the sexual activities, copulation and birth of the species during the period June 1996-June1997. It revealed that 62% adult female gave birth and 16 new born infants were recorded. The gestation period was estimated to be 160 days. Extensively study was conducted in 1994 on aspects of behavioral ecology of Hoolock gibbon in Lawachara and Chunati forests and reported that gibbons are frugivorous, eating a variety of fruits, specially figs, with smaller being the most preferred. The study also included the home range, travel range, habitat preference, time allocation for daily activities, territoriality and calls of the animals and other social and ecological behavior of the species. It was found that plantation of short rotation trees and extraction of forest resources as the major causes for the habitat losses for the wildlife, gibbons in particular.

9 to 20 Status of Hoolock Gibbon: There are four types & world. Gibbons are the smallest of the apes. The Hoolock gibbon or white-browed gibbon (Hoolock) only lesser ape found in Bangladesh.

Photo-01: Hoolock gibbon found in the Lawachara National Park

Gibbons are monogamous, living in a family of one female her mate and one to three offspring. Average group size ranges from 2.7-4.0. Young gibbons leave their natal groups when they become adult. Hoolock are completely arboreal and diurnal species. They prefer the upper canopy of the forest, and sleep and rest in emergent trees.

The Hoolock gibbon ranges from Bangladesh, Myanrnar and North East India to South West China, extended to Brahmaputra River to the Salween River in Bangladesh, the Hoolock gibbon is found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Sylhet, Chittagong and Chittagong Hill tracts. Twenty live areas have been identified as gibbon habitat in Bangladesh. At present around 200 individuals of Hoolock gibbon have been estimated throughout the country.

Lawachara National Park has the largest single population of this species. Past statements shows that Feeroz & Islam recorded 9 gibbon groups from here in 1992 and Hasan cited a record of 11 gibbon groups containing 33 individuals in 2003. During the present study, a total of 12 groups containing 39 individuals have been recorded from the Lawachara National Park area.

During the activities of Chevron inside the National Park area, Hoolock groups were also found to show their normal daily activities. They rarely changed their daily movement routes. During the post survey gibbon groups were also found active in Chevron s survey places. They did not expand or change their home range all the gibbon groups wire found within their home range during the post survey. Group size and composition also did not change as observed during the post-project survey. Present state of floral and faunal resources in the park: Survey of available literature shows that biological resource inventories for the Lawachara National Park are incomplete, inadequate and therefore, are misleading. FSP compiled lists for animal and plant resources based on several sources in 2000. The compiled lists for plants, amphibians and reptiles, birds and mammals were based on different studies and the findings are summarized in the table below:

Description Number of Species Plants 167 species Amphibians 4 species Reptiles 6 species Birds 246 species Mammals 20 species Odonate insects 17 species

Convention of Biological Diversity & Recommendations: The core of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD)’ is the promotion of an integrated approach to natural resource management on large landscapes and to biodiversity conservation through enhancing wildlife habitat and reducing habitat fragmentation. In this context an integrated approach is proposed which will include but not limited to the following:

10 to 20 a) Introducing biological corridors’ b) Maintaining buffer zones in between core and peripheral zones; c) Preventing fragmentation of land blocks and ecosystems; d) Developing restoration program in conjunction with local communities; e) Involving indigenous peoples and traditional communities in conservation program; f) Strengthening forest monitoring, research and development, education and capacity building to maintain a “cradle of biodiversity within the core areas of each protected forests; g) Halting the continued introduction of alien invasive species; h) Gap filling by rare tree species; i) Deforestation and reforestation by native and natural species; j) Facilitating natural regeneration in degraded forests; k) Leaving denuded forest lands as untouched for 20 years to promote natural succession of forests; l) Stopping further clear felling and illegal logging m) Protecting natural regenerations (seedling, sapling and juvenile trees) from cutting, n) Introducing pioneer and early succession species in the degraded forests; o) Taking effective actions against the encroachers and land grabbers; p) Establishing gene banks to conserve the gene pool of endangered species; and p) Bringing endangered animals in captivity for breeding.

Identified threats to the forest ecosystem and its resources: A number of studies made by different agencies and forums in 1994, 1995, 2002 and 2003 attempted to identify and analyze the threats to the forest ecosystem and its resources. Based on these reports and studies the identified threats are compiled below:

• Fuel wood collection by the inside and outside villagers • Illicit timber extraction • Plantation/ monoculture/ exotic species (production forestry) • Betel leaf cultivation • Modification of underneath/removal of undergrowth • Hunting/ trapping of animals • Unplanned tourism

Suggestions for ecosystem/ resource improvement and management: The following are the suggestions and recommendations so compiled from the 2 report prepared in 2000.

I. Plantation of short rotation exotic species should be stopped or at least be selective

i. Timber poaching must be stooped ii. Commercial exploitation of firewood must be stopped iii. Ensure protection in reality iv. Public awareness about forest and wetland program should be extended to a grass root level v. Wildlife Circle of Forest Department must be revived with sufficiently trained man power as separate entity from the forest department i. All factors accelerating habitat destruction should immediately be stopped. ii. All types of fuel wood extraction should be banned. Systematic timber logging as well as illegal logging should be stopped. iii. Expansion of betel-leaf cultivation, crop cultivation and introduction of exotic tree species should be monitored. iv. People living around the reserve should be encouraged in social forestry which will meet their fuel wood demand and reduce forest destruction v. Care should be taken for not to wipe out any fruit producing plant species specially the figs (Ficus spp.), which provide food to primates and other wildlife species. vi. Unplanned picnicking should be stopped. All form of army training should be stopped. vii. Controlled eco-tourism program can be undertaken which would relieve pressure on forests. viii. No more gas field excavation in and around the reserve should be allowed. ix. New plantation, especially fruit yielding plants, should be undertaken in the affected areas.

11 to 20 x. A buffer Zone should be established around the reserve. Any form of forest extraction should be stopped from the core areas.

Recommended Management Plan: Government efforts for the management of the forest initiated with the process of declaration of Lawachara National Park and a feasibility study was carried out with the help of Fountain Renewable Resources (FRR) and Desh Upodesh. The agencies prepared a Management Plan in 1996 for the then Lawachara National Park. The key elements of the Plan included:

i. Zoning and detailed management plan ii. Boundary definition, marking and regulations iii. Staff development, upgrading existing facilities iv. Restoration of habitats in the National Park v. Participatory buffer zone management vi. Participatory management of buffer zone plantations

A further Management Plan for the Lawachara National Park was developed under the Forestry Sector Project of GOB (FSP 2000a and 2000b) at the initiative of the Ministry of Environment and Forest, under Co-Management of Tropical Forest Resources of Bangladesh. This was prepared by Nature Conservation Management (NACOM) and submitted to International Resources Group (IRG) in November, 2003 under the caption Secondary Data Collection for Pilot Protected Areas: Lawachara National Park at the initiative of USAID- Bangladesh. The major broad elements of the Management Plan were:

i. Administrative program ii. Resource management and protection program iii. Land use management (Ecosystem and Habitat management) iv. Activity specific management measures v. Habitat management and monitoring vi. Visitor use and visitor management vii. Development program

Pre-development and Survey Activities

The first step in gas development is the desk study. It reviews available geological, geophysical and satellite data in the search to identify areas with favorable geological conditions for gas formation. Aerial photography may then be used to identify promising landscape formations such as faults or anticlines. More detailed information is assembled using a field geological assessment, following by one of three main survey methods: magnetic, gravimetric or seismic. Of these, a seismic survey is the most common and can be the first field activity undertaken. Magnetic and gravimetric methods are undertaken using aircraft flying in straight lines and at a fixed altitude.

Seismic methods on land require the direct input of mechanical energy to the Earth’s core at specific points along a survey line. The energy produces acoustic waves that are reflected by changes in the sub-surface geological strata. The reflected seismic waves are, in turn, detected by many sensors (geophones), arranged along several kilometers of the survey line. Information is then recorded.

Prior to surveying the data points and sensor locations, line preparation can involve the removal of some vegetation cover depending on the terrain. While recording progress along the line by the use of successive data points, the sensors are moved from the rear to the front by crews using vehicles or helicopters. Data are then computer processed to map the underlying strata, and to help define the size and shape of any structure worthy of further investigation.

A variety of methods is available to produce the release of energy, but 90% of surveys use shot hole or Vibroseis techniques. The shot hole method involves the detonation of small explosive charges placed in narrow holes drilled to depth of 1-30 m. Shot holes are usually placed some 35 m apart in a straight survey line along a specific compass bearing. The detonation produces the required acoustic waves.

12 to 20 In the Vibroseis methods, a group of three to five heavy vehicles each lower and then vibrate heavy pad at specific points on the ground. The vibrations create the acoustic waves used for the survey. A series of usually identical sweeps are made at closely-spaced intervals and the results integrated. Vibroseis work is generally confined to roads or other hard surfaces.

Why 3D Seismic is Chosen?

The overall objective of the seismic work was to investigate the potential for increasing gas reserves in a cost efficient and environmentally acceptable manner. More specifically, the objective of conducting a 3D seismic survey is to improve the general understanding of a field’s inherent geological characteristic that would enable Chevron to investigate options for further development and operation of the gas field in an optimal manner.

“This may include potential new drilling for undeveloped or underdeveloped reserves, maximizing the use of existing wells, or avoiding the unnecessary future drilling of wells in unsuitable areas.”

In conducting the Initial Environmental Examination process, a number of different project options were assessed. These are summarized below:

ƒ Do nothing ƒ Aeromagnetic survey ƒ Ground penetrating radar ƒ Repeat 2D survey ƒ 3D seismic survey

Within the selected method of 3D seismic survey, a number techniques have also been assessed including:

ƒ Surface techniques ƒ Down-hole techniques ƒ Underground seismic pulse generation

Several survey planning methods have also been evaluated including:

ƒ Straight gridlines ƒ Partially modified gridlines ƒ Fully modified gridlines

Following this assessment the implementation of an underground 3D seismic survey using fully modified gridlines was recommended for implementation in the field and accordingly its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts were further examined in details.

Potential Negative Environmental Direct Impacts in onshore Oil and Gas Development

During the planning process, it was kept in mind that one or more of the following potential negative environmental direct impacts might have been resulted in the 3D seismic activities in varying degree and because of the fact that Lawachara National Park being an eco- biologically critical and protected national park of Bangladesh, it deserved more careful steps in the EA studies undertaken there of:

1. Disturbance of cultural resources, historic sites, vegetation, wetlands, surface drainage and wildlife.

2. Degradation of surface waters by soil erosion from disturbed areas, discharge of drilling slurries and produced waters, equipment servicing and sanitary and domestic wastes.

3. Degradation of air quality from routine operational emissions. Contamination of groundwater aquifers cracks and damage of nearby households due to vibration following detonation of charges in the shot holes and subsidence of land surface.

4. Mortality and reduced reproduction of wildlife from habitat disturbance or loss, road kills and hunting.

13 to 20 5. Loss of birds and animals in sludge ponds and Injury loss of life from accidents.

6. Degradation/ loss of vegetation (and soil productivity) from discharge or spills of produced water, oil, and drilling mud.

7. Modification of vegetation and introduction of non-native species.

8. Land use conflicts and conflicts with native cultures, traditions, and life styles.

9. Degradation of remote areas through improved access and increased use as well as use of local surface water or groundwater for project activities.

10. Road damage, accidents and traffic delays from increased truck traffic on local roads.

11. Visual intrusions from wells, tanks, and production facilities. Cleared linear rights-of way for pipelines utilities, and roads, and processing facilities.

12. Disturbance of humans and wildlife by noise from seismic surveys, drilling pumping, and processing facilities.

13. Increased demands on services and facilities in local communities, social and cultural conflicts, concern with community stability (boom and bust scenario)

What were the significant findings in EIA studies?

Key Features of the Existing Biophysical and Social Environment

In order to establish a comprehensive database on the biophysical baseline conditions existing within the study area, the study team had to compile and assess local and regional primary and secondary data from reports and field visits. This included information on parameters such as surface and groundwater, air quality, meteorology, geology, soils, noise and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Key features of the existing biophysical environment are described below:

• The region is characterized by very high rainfall, particularly between the months of June and October (rainy season); • The study area has an elevation of between 30 and 50 meters above sea level; • The study area wholly contains the West Bhanugach Reserve Forest, which in turn contains the Lawachara National Park; • The main rivers of the study area are the Manu, the Dhalai and the Juri rivers; • The study area shows no signs of arsenic contamination of groundwater; • The major sources of air emissions in the study area are road dust, motor vehicle exhaust, construction dust, windblown dust from agricultural lands, smoke form biomass burning and smoke from brick kilns; • The major biological habitats present within the project area are tea gardens, cultivated land, homestead vegetation, roadside vegetation, exotic plantation and natural and secondary forests. Apart from the natural forest, dominated by chapalish, jarul and other indigenous species and the tea gardens, all of the remaining habitat types are widespread throughout Bangladesh; • In total, 334 wildlife species (about 37% of the Bangladesh total) occur in the West Bhanugach Reserved Forest and Lawachara National Park, of which 13 species are amphibians, 28 species of reptiles, 251 species of birds and 42 species are mammals; • Several threatened species occur within the forested area of the site including the Hoolock Gibbon and Capped Langur.

Key features of the existing socio-economic environment are described below:

• Most of the study area (47 percent) is comprised of agricultural land, about 24 percent area is covered by tea gardens, about 11 percent is settlement areas, 8 percent is hill areas, about 5 percent forest, which includes the Lawachara Forest. The remainder of the study area is covered by rubber gardens, water bodies and transport corridors;

14 to 20 • The overall population o the Moulavi Bazar Zila is approximately 1,612,374; • Main crops grown in the study area are Aus, Aman and Boro paddy in the main three seasons of the year. Besides this, tea, rubber, potato, vegetables, arum, til (sesame), betel leaf, betel nut, wheat, sugarcane, mustard, bottle gourd etc. are cultivated in the study area. Fruits like pine apple, jackfruit, lemon, watermelon are also produced; • The major employment activity in the study area is Agricultural production, with wage laborer, industry and commerce, and service by large employers; • The dominant religion in the are is Islam, with area of Hindu, Buddhist and Christian also present; • The majority of the roads in the area are unpaved.

Key potential Issues and Management Strategies

As with any development of this nature, there will be inevitable impacts associated with its implementation. However, these impacts can be minimized through the development and implementation of appropriate environmental and social management plans that also make provision for project monitoring and reporting. Chevron aimed to implement best practice survey technology where practicable in order to ameliorate any undesirable impacts.

The key biophysical and environmental issues associated with the project were prepared and their proposed mitigations were further translated into an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the implementation of the project.

Environmental Management Plan

As indicated above a detailed Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was proposed for this project. This Environmental Management Plan (EMP) was intended as a practical guide to the implementation of the environmental and social mitigation measures described in the EIA report. It was also intended to set out the finer detail of what was required ‘on the ground’, including the ‘what, who, how, when and what cost’ factors associated with these measures. The EMP formed the primary mechanism for management, accountability and reporting on the project’s social and environmental performance.

The main goals of the EMP were that:

• Impacts arising as a result of project activities were appropriately managed and reduced to an acceptable level in terms of their biophysical and social impact; • Environmental and socio-economic management and rehabilitation were maintained as integral to day-to-day operations; and • The concerns and interests of the community potentially affected by the survey were recognized in all phases of the project’s execution.

The EMP was consistent with international best practice principles, and addresses the following areas:

• Damage minimization • Noise and vibration management plan • Biodiversity management • Waste management plan • Archaeological and cultural site • Site rehabilitation plan management • Socio-economic impact management • Environmental monitoring and plan reporting plan • Air quality management plan • Emergency management plan • Erosion and sediment control plan • Hazardous material plan • Damage minimization • Noise and vibration management plan • Biodiversity management • Waste management plan • Archaeological and cultural site • Site rehabilitation plan management • Socio-economic impact management • Environmental monitoring and plan reporting plan • Air quality management plan • Emergency management plan • Erosion and sediment control plan • Hazardous material plan

15 to 20 What was the monitoring and observation status on plantation ecology?

Monitoring and observation were conducted on 11 selected lines in the project site. Plant survey was done in 700 selected drilling points on such lines. A special effort was made to locate any plant species in the selected drilling points listed as national or globally threatened or endangered, or to identify important plant species for medicines, ecology and environment.

The vegetation in the study area of West Bhanugach Reserve Forest consists of natural forest as well as old and new plantations. Sampling survey revealed that forest stratum of the forest consists of 67 tree species, 120 shrub species and 94 herb species.

What were the biodiversity monitoring design and implementation methodologies?

Comparing the pre-project data with the overall vegetation assessment, no seed or fruit bearing trees were affected during the 3D seismic work activities. The wildlife field biologists monitored biodiversity elements, particularly wildlife fauna and subsequent impacts on the wildlife fauna along with their ecosystem created by the Chevron Bangladesh survey crews while carrying out pre and post-drilling project activities in the Lawachara National Park.

The baseline biodiversity monitoring design and the implementation methodologies were previously stated in the EIA doc and subsequently reinforced with further field observations. Accordingly, the wildlife biologist teams obtained baseline data on different attributes of wildlife comprising amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals along with their various feeding, breeding and nesting activities during implementation of the project activities. This monitoring and acquired database provided an overall scenario of the animal distributions and occurrence in the park areas and provided opportunities to compare and evaluate wildlife density, diversity and impacts of project activities on these wildlife species.

Signs of different activities such as footprints, burrowing signs, trails and tracks, pellets, corridors, etc. of different wildlife species were also recorded. Wherever appropriate and necessary, the learn recommended shifting of such shot hole points away from the drilling lines to limit and minimize the disturbance made by survey crews and their activities during project implementation. For example, low noise was recommended and ensured after observing wild boar and Orange-Bellied Himalayan Squirrels during project activities around some shot hole points.

According to pre-drilling observations, the wildlife biologist team recorded monitoring observations at a total of 841 shot points along nine drilling lines to record the amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammalian fauna with their individual number, feeding, nesting and breeding activities, footprints, burrowing signs at the time of plotting shot points by Chevron Bangladesh in and around the Lawachara National Park.

The monitoring team recorded a total of 55 wildlife species comprising 3 amphibians, 4 reptiles, 41 birds and 7 mammal species, specifically recording 3, 28, 272 and 51 individuals respectively. At ground level observations, the team recorded footprints of wild boar around the shot points along few other drilling lines and ensured the shifting of those points away from the original drilling points of the lines.

The team also recorded the species of conservation significance like wild boar and Orange- Bellied Himalayan squirrel around some shot points; nesting activities; burrowing signs of wild boar and pellets during the monitoring along drilling lines and therefore recommended and ensured shifting those shot points away from the original drilling line.

At ground level observations around some shot points, the team recorded footprints of Barking Deer, an endangered species of the country and Red Jungle Fowl.

According to post-drilling observations, the wildlife team recorded observations at 73 shot points following the lines during drilling activities conducted by Chevron Bangladesh. The team recorded a total of 33 wildlife species comprising 2 species of reptiles, 26 birds and 5 mammalians along with 15, 150 and 55 individuals respectively.

16 to 20 The team ensured the implementation of their recommendations made during lying of the shot points alongside the drilling line and made sure to limit and diminish noisy activities and disturbance particularly around the ecologically sensitive areas of the aforesaid shot points under this drilling line. The major group of wildlife fauna comprising amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals along with their individuals were recorded during all of these three surveys carried out in this monitoring.

Additionally, data were also recorded on signs of animal activities such as foot prints, burrowing signs, pellets, feeding and breeding activities as well as nest of birds, etc. However, at pre-and-post biodiversity monitoring, a total of 185 species were recorded comprising 10 species of amphibians, 17 reptiles, 148 birds and 12 species of mammalians. Avifauna (78.9%) was the dominant group among the four groups of wildlife fauna followed by reptiles (9.2%), mammals (6.5%) and amphibians 5.4%.

How was the monitoring and follow up actions?

The Biodiversity Monitoring Team (BMT) recorded monitoring observations through visual observations in the field and photographic documentation on the 3D seismic survey points. The 3D survey within the forest area consisted of shot hole drilling in eleven survey lines.

Photo-02: Seismic crew at work

The BMT followed an early warning system of monitoring and guide Due to its environmental sensitivity and biodiversity significance, Chevron engaged IUCN Bangladesh to form and lead a BMT to guide and supervise Chevron’s field activities. The supervision was intended to minimize potential damage or disturbance to species of conservation significance and prevent significant damage to globally or nationally significant biodiversity.

Chevron has given utmost priority in protecting the biodiversity of the area, per the recommendations of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the requirement of the environmental clearance letter issued by the Department of Environment (DOE).ed Chevron’s field crews to avoid drilling shot holes in areas having any threatened or econom- ically significant plant specks or any places with wildlife activity.

A GIS-based interactive map was produced documenting the pre-and-post-survey status of shot hole points and post-project recovery status of the vegetation.

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Photo-03: View of Lawachara during post evaluation

Any post evaluation done?

A post evaluation study on Lawachara National Park revealed there had been no significant changes in the population status of the wildlife due to the three-dimensional (3D) seismic work. No trees or threatened plants of conservation significance were damaged during the 3D seismic work. Some small patches of ground vegetation consisting of herbs and seedlings which were removed due to shot hole drilling during the seismic have now recovered due to monsoon rainfall, revealed the post-project assessment.

The post-project survey recorded a total of 1 53 species of wildlife fauna comprising 9 species of amphibians, 11 reptiles, 122 birds and 11 species of mammalians,

This time, avifauna (79.8%) was again the dominant group of wildlife following reptiles (7.2%), mammalians (7.2%) and amphibians (5.9%). However, the extent of both species and individuals’ variations is found negligible and nominal which was mainly related to seasonal changes and areas covered during the surveys.

The density of recorded species of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals during the project and post-project surveys varied insignificantly. At species level, Common Skunk (50% of the total reptiles’ individuals) from the reptiles, Common Tailor Bird from birds (19% of the total birds’ individuals) and Hoolock Gibbon (22% of the total mammals’ indi- viduals) from the mammals were the highest in individual number recorded during the monitoring surveys.

Some of the major, prominent and conservation significant wildlife species, for example, Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langurs, Pig-Tailed Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Orange-Bellied Himalayan Squirrel, Hoary-Bellied Squirrel and Wild Boar among the mammals and Emerald Dove, Hill Myna, Green-Billed Malkoha, Greater and Lesser Racked- Tailed Drongo, Asian Barred Owlet and Crested Serpent Eagle. etc., among the notable species were found all through the surveys.

The presence of these species throughout the entire survey time and negligible variation of species and their individuals’ indicate and prove that whatever impacts occurred during the project activities have been recovered by this period of time, particularly on the wildlife fauna of Lawachara National Park.

A number of drilling points on the selected lines were found with threatened species or species of conservation significance. Such species for example, were Hoolock Gibbon, Capped Langurs, Pig Tailed Macaque, Rhesus Macaque, Orange-Bellied Himalayan Squirrel, Hoary-Bellied Squirrel and Wild Boar among the mammals and Emerald Dove, Hill Myna, Green-Billed Malkoha, Greater and Lesser Racked-tailed Drongo, Asian Barred Owlet and Crested Serpent Eagle, etc., among the category of wildlife species.

To avoid threatened species such selected points were not considered as drilling points. The points moved away from the location of threatened species.

18 to 20 Lessons Learnt

It is an accepted historical fact that environmental problems are followed by industrialization. The history of industrialization and environmental problems give a very important lesson to mankind that industrialization must not be at the cost of environment. Bangladesh is yet to be an industrialized country and whatever industrialization has happened should no longer proceed in unplanned and unconsolidated manner so that the activities so involved pose any serious threat to its environment so far as polluting its air, water and earth and thus bringing in any imbalance in growth and sustainability of its living beings.

The awareness about this requirement is more important for the conservation of biodiversity and the ecological systems. In other words, any such activity intervening the environment and thus directly or indirectly putting threats to social, health and economic lifestyle of its population and those of other species of flora & fauna in general and the over all eco-system with the endangered species in particular must be covered under the rules and regulations for appropriate mitigation mechanism to follow.

Fortunately, the history of development of oil & gas industry has demonstrated such awareness and responded to preparing and implementing integrated functional environment management plan through continuous research & development, adopting innovative technologies, training & development of human resources and updating & harmonization of appropriate policies, rules & guidelines. It’s also a proven fact that provision of adequate budget allocation is an essential requirement for effective implementation of the environmental management plan and the mitigation mechanism drawn under the same. Further, all players deployed for implementation monitoring of such management plan are always expected to act in responsible manner because of the fact that any damage once done to the environment in general and its eco-biological system in particular may be slow, have a long term effect and often irreversible.

Lastly, it may not be out of place to mention here that, ECA 1995 and ECR 1997 were framed with ‘Red categories’ for oil & gas exploration & production activities and has retained provision for declaration of the ecologically critical areas with spelling out certain prohibitive actions, it has also retained provision for the government to allow such actions up ‘to some extent when it is deemed necessary for its improvement, beautification or for any scientific reasons’. Now, considering 3D seismic acquisition in quest of oil & gas within the area, for example, as one of such scientific reasons for the public good, any specific rules or guidelines are yet to be drawn by the government as to how best the EA studies could be conducted and report be submitted for the same. As a matter of fact, unlike mineral gas safety rules 2003 as in existence for the downstream pipeline system, any environment and safety rules are also not framed and promulgated exclusively for the upstream oil & gas exploration & production activities itself as of date. Eventually, authors have to base their studies and reporting systems broadly on international best practice.

Acknowledgement

The authors wishes to acknowledge with thanks the cooperation and support received from their colleagues from BETS Consulting Services Ltd. and all others who has directly or indirectly assisted in developing the paper. They want to put in record that they have freely consulted and used contents the EIA document prepared by SMEC International for Chevron Bangladesh Ltd. as well as documentation published by Energy and Power. Finally they also sincerely acknowledge the inspirations received from the WECMontreal2010 authorities and particularly that from Marie Cloutier.

19 to 20 References:

Kabir A S M Alamgir, The Daily Star, Feb 14, 2010 “Relevant Issues of Power Sector Development” Ali Dr. M. Sohrab, The Daily Star, 13 February, 2010, “Department of Environment. The development–environment conflict: Lessons learnt” Prothom Alo, 13 February 2010, “Power Shortage 1,000 MW” Ahmed Sadiq Forum, The Daily Star, 08 February, 2010, “Rising Tides” Hasan Khalid Forum, The Daily Star, February, 2010, “One Year on” The Daily Star, 23 January, 2010, “Gas Rationing in RMG Units from Wednesday” Kagoj Bhorer, 16 December, 2009, “Country on the Face of Acute Gas Crisis” Rahman Dr. Md. Mizanur, The Daily Star, 21 November, 2009 “Impact of forest fragmentation on biodiversity” EP Report, Energy & Power: November 16, 2009, “Lawachara IUCN Disclosures After 3D,” Prothom Alo, 13 September, 2009 “Scope of Gas Production Neglected” Chevron Bangladesh Block Thirteen & Fourteen Ltd., 18 December 2007, “EIA Report for 3D Seismic Survey in Moulvibazar Gas Field” Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (BECA), 1995 Bakht D, 08 October, 2009, 24th World Gas Conference 2009, Buenos Airs, Argentina, “Environmentally critical issues & options in Seismic Acquisition for Gas Exploration in Off- Shore Blocks of Bangladesh.”

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