IBP1207_09 VEGETATION ASSESSMENT IN A PIPELINE INFLUENCE AREA: THE CASE STUDY OF PETROBRAS AMMONIA PIPELINE

1 2 3 Marcos A. Basbaum , Ricardo Z. P. Guimarães , Patrícia P. Porciano , Bianca F. Torggler 4, Renato Fernandes 5, Elisa D. R. Vieira 6, Fábio L. Bonafini 7

Copyright 2009, Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute - IBP This Technical Paper was prepared for presentation at the Rio Pipeline Conference and Exposition 2009 , held between September, 22- 24, 2009, in Rio de Janeiro. This Technical Paper was selected for presentation by the Technical Committee of the event according to the information contained in the abstract submitted by the author(s). The contents of the Technical Paper, as presented, were not reviewed by IBP. The organizers are not supposed to translate or correct the submitted papers. The material as it is presented, does not necessarily represent Brazilian Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels Institute’ opinion, or that of its Members or Representatives. Authors consent to the publication of this Technical Paper in the Rio Pipeline Conference Proceedings.

Abstract

This ammonia pipeline is about 30 km long and links the Fertilizer Plant (FAFEN-BA) to the Urea Marine Terminal (TMU) at the Port of Aratu in Candeias (Bahia State, Brazil). In this study, we characterize the remnants of vegetation and quantify the Permanent Preservation Areas. Furthermore, we propose areas and techniques for their recovery and / or management. The methodology was based on the Rapid Ecological Assessment, which combines selection of areas through remote sensing image analysis, with rapid field campaigns in the selected points. This methodology, successfully applied in Petrobras refineries, is first applied in a pipeline influence area. During these campaigns, the main aspects of vegetation, such as phytophysiognomy and ecological succession stages, were registered in field data sheets prepared for this purpose. The most representative remnants of vegetation that could be quantified were Atlantic Forest fragments, as well as those in the Permanent Preservation Areas.

1. Introduction

PETROBRAS is an energy company with more than 50 years of expertise in the oil & gas sector. The operation of its physical structures has several types of interaction with the surrounding nature. For Petrobras, biodiversity preservation and recovery is one of its corporate principles as stated in its Code of Ethics (Petrobras, 2009A), as well as in several of its internal management guidelines and operational standards. In this context, many biodiversity-related initiatives were launched in several distinct Company sectors. One of them is the project Biodiversity of Refineries, a corollary of the pioneer biodiversity initiative of the Abastecimento Corporate Area. The project seeks, among other objectives, to survey biodiversity characteristics at the landscape level in Petrobras’ refinery plants and surroundings. Derived from this initiative, the present study is the first systematic attempt within the Company to survey biodiversity aspects of one of its existing linear structures, namely the ammonia pipeline. This pipeline is about 30 km long and links the Fertilizer Plant (FAFEN-BA) to the Urea Marine Terminal (TMU) at the Port of Aratu in Candeias (Bahia State, Brazil) (Figure 1). In this study we focus on the classification of land use along the influence area of the ammonia pipeline, especially regarding natural vegetation cover and legally protected areas, namely the Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA).

______1 Biologist – [email protected] - SEEBLA in service of PETROBRAS 2 Biologist – [email protected] - PETROBRAS 3 Systems Analyst – [email protected] - SEEBLA in service of PETROBRAS 4 Biologist – [email protected] - PETROBRAS 5 Biologist – [email protected] - PETROBRAS 6 Msc, Biologist – [email protected] - PETROBRAS 7 Draftsman – [email protected] - SEEBLA in service of PETROBRAS

Figure 1. Localization of study area.

2. Methods

Rapid Ecological Assessment is a field survey methodology developed by The Nature Conservancy non- governmental organization, which originally aimed a quick characterization of natural elements in selected sites and the indication of conservation targets. It is more directed at characterizing the spatial distributions of biota than the ecological processes, and can identify conservation targets either at the landscape as well as at the species level (Sayre et al ., 1999). The method involves initial analysis of aerial and/or satellite images, land cover classification as well as field trips which help the identification of species and spatial distribution of main ecosystems. We based our study on this methodology, with the additional use of local surveys done first by helicopter and then by car.

2.1. Maps Land use and Permanent Preservation Area polygonal delimitation was done through image processing techniques. High resolution satellite images as well as aerial photographs were initially analyzed with Erdas ® and Autocad ® softwares. Erdas ® algorithms helped identifying vegetated areas, as well as different types of vegetation. Following that, preliminary PPA polygons were generated based on the presence/absence of water bodies and on the ground digital model.

2.2. Study Area After the image processing phase, a row 100 m wide was drawn at each side of the pipeline. Thus, the study area is a 30 km long and 200 m wide contorted polygon (Figure 2). This line was divided in 6 segments each 5 km long. The combination of field data and image information analysis rendered tree different approaches: one refers to the general land use of the Directly Influenced Area (DIA), the second refers to the specific use of the PPAs and the third to individual evaluation of each field station. At the core of the DIA lies the ROW area, or the Right of Way area, an area 20 to 30 m wide, which is the only area where Petrobras has actual management rights.

Figure 2. Map of the ammonia pipeline over satellite image mosaic. Source: Petrobras, 2009B.

2.3. Field data sheets For field work, specific data sheets were designed to allow fast recording of observable data. Data acquisition was mostly related to general characterization of vegetation (presence of epiphytes, lianas, etc.), names and sizes of dominant tree species, types of human activities taken place, degree of ecosystem perturbation and forest stage of ecological succession.

2.4. Permanent Preservation Areas PPAs constitute one of the several categories of protected areas defined by the Brazilian environmental legislation. Federal law n° 4771, published Sept 15 th 1965, commonly known as the Brazilian Forestry Code, decreed that mount- summit vegetation, riparian vegetation, coastal vegetation and mangroves are classified as “Permanent Preservation Areas”, whenever under certain geographic parameters. This means that artificial modification in such landscapes depends upon special authorization. Additional legislation, such as CONAMA resolutions numbers 302, 303 and 369 further detailed PPA regulation. In this study, the following landscape features fall into PPA definitions: - Strip 50 m wide along each side of the Joanes River; - All mangrove area

3. Results

The pipeline influence area was historically covered by the Atlantic Forest (IBGE, 2008). Originally there were in this area two basic phyto-physiognomies, namely the Atlantic Lowland Dense Moist Forest and the Mangrove alongside the coast. Nowadays the area is largely altered due to human interference. Aside from remnants of the original phyto- physiognomies (Figures 3 to 6), there are secondary-vegetation fragments in their initial and medium recovery stages, aside from pasture (Figures 6 and 9) and banana plantations (Figure 4). The study area has about 590 ha, and its land use classification is depicted in Table 1 and Figure 7.

Figure 3. Aerial view of buried stage of ammonia Figure 4. Aerial view of buried stage of ammonia pipeline crossing the largest Atlantic Forest remnant of pipeline crossing a banana plantation with a mangrove the area. Source: Petrobras, 2009 B. forest in the back. Source: Petrobras, 2009 B.

Figure 5. Exposed stage of ammonia pipeline crossing Figure 6. ROW area of ammonia pipeline crossing River Joanes . Source: Petrobras, 2009 B. Atlantic Forest remnant. Source: Petrobras, 2009 B.

Table1. Land use classification along the Ammonia pipeline influence area.

Land Use Area (ha) % Atlantic Forest / scrubland 257,33 43,80 Mangrove 19,14 3,30 Fruit species plantation 7,59 1,30 Total Vegetated area 284,06 48,40 Human settlements 63,28 10,8 Exposed soil / pasture 239,93 40,80 Total Area 587,25 100

Atlantic Forest / scrubland Mangrove 41% 44% Fruit plantation

Human settlements

Exposed soil / pasture 3% 11% 1%

Figure 7. Percentage of land-use coverage along the Ammonia pipeline influence area.

The pipeline intercepts the Menino Jesus community (Figure 8) and the Rio Joanes (Figure 5). It follows the contour of a white mangrove fragment as well as the Rio Joanes Dam. Aside from the Camaçari Industrial Zone, there are several other industries within the pipeline surroundings.

Figure 8. Ammonia pipeline crossing Menino Jesus Figure 9. Ammonia pipeline ROW area used as pasture. community. Source: Petrobras, 2009 B. Source: Petrobras, 2009 B.

From the total 590 ha studied, only 21 ha, or 3.5 %fit the PPA definitions, and almost all of it are represented by mangrove forests (Table 2; Figure 10). This formation is concentrated between kilometers 21 and 25, and is mostly composed of white mangrove trees ( Laguncularia sp.).

Table 2. Land use classification in Permanent Preservation Areas identified in the Ammonia pipeline influence area.

Land Use Area (ha) % Secondary Atlantic Forest 1,33 6,3 Mangrove 19,14 90,6 Exposed soil / pasture 0,65 3,1 Total 21,12 100

3% 6%

Secondary Atlantic Forest Mangrove

Exposed soil / pasture

91%

Figure 10. Percentage of land-use coverage along in Permanent Preservation Areas.

4. Conclusions and Recommendations

There are significant human interferences along the ammonia pipeline influence area, as shown by the numerous inhabitances, roads, industrial areas and patches of exposed soil. The existing forest fragments, which cover about half of the evaluated area, are mostly small, highly spread and bear an initial ecological succession stage. Some of them contain exotic species. Only 3.5 % of the ammonia pipeline influence area are Permanent Preservation Areas, most of it represented by mangrove forests (90 %). It is worth noticing that almost every ecosystem changes observed in the areas beyond the ROW limits were not caused by Petrobras. Furthermore, Petrobras’ land-use management is restricted to the ROW area and thus any intervention in such areas will depend upon negotiation with land owners. Nevertheless, the implementation of such methodology in a 30 Km pipeline would represent an innovative practice for Petrobras regarding ecosystem management around its installations.

5. Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mr. Paulo Henrique Fernandes Ferreira, Mr. Gedson Geraldo Oliveira Silva and Ms. Lívia Fernanda Tavares e Almeida from UN-FAFEN-BA for kindly providing local support.

6. References

IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, 2008. Mapa da Área de Aplicação da Lei 11.428 de 2006. Scale: 1:5.000.000. Polyconic projection; Horizontal Datum SIRGAS2000. 1 st edition. PETROBRAS, 2009A. Code of Ethics of the Petrobras Group. Available at: .

PETROBRAS, 2009B. Mapeamento e Caracterização dos Fragmentos Vegetacionais e Áreas de Preservação Permanente nas Unidades de Negócio do Abastecimento: Duto de Amônia da FAFEN-BA. Internal Report . 30 pp. SAYRE, R., E. ROCA, G. SEDAGHATKISH, B. YOUNG, S. KEEL, R. ROCA, S. SHEPPARD, T. LOVEJOY & S. SHEPPARD, 1999. Nature in Focus: Rapid Ecological Assessment . Island Press, 202 pp.

7. Glossary of terms:

CONAMA: Conselho Nacional de Meio Ambiente, is the Brazilian official consultive forum for environmental matters.

DIA: Directly Influenced Area, is the area around a certain undertaking where the direct effects of this undertaking are significantly detectable.

NGO: Non-Governmental Organizations, are legally constituted, non-business organizations that have no participation of any government.

PAA: Permanent Preservation Area, these are areas protected by Brazilian federal legislation in order to preserve, among other physiognomies, vegetation alongside rivers, streams and other water bodies.

ROW: Right of Way area, is the area strip usually 20 to 30 m wide where the Company responsible for the pipeline has a number of land use rights, even though it does not necessarily own the land.