64 Fostering Sustainable Ecosystems About the Report Leadership Messages About the Theme Corporate Overview Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality Assessment Our ESG priorities and Performance The Ramsar Convention, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971, is an international treaty aimed at conserving and sustainably utilizing wetlands worldwide. It promotes the conservation of wetlands as crucial ecosystems for biodiversity, water resources, and human well-being. With over 170 member countries, the convention encourages the designation of Ramsar sites and the implementation of measures to protect and manage these invaluable habitats. Our special economic zone in Benin, Gabon (Ikolo) and Togo fall under the Bas Ogooue, Basse Vallée de l’Ouémé and Zones Humides Du Littoral Du Togo Ramsar sites, respectively. To protect the biodiversity around these sites, we have developed robust Biodiversity Management Plans, and conducted Environment & Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), across all our significant operational locations. Ramsar sites surrounding our operational locations Arise IIP has created comprehensive Biodiversity Management Plans for our operations. These plans are dedicated to strategic planning, particularly in the context of our carbon-neutral initiatives and sustainable agriculture value chain development across Africa. We have undertaken a comprehensive biodiversity management plan for our SEZs that provides a strategy for the effective implementation of mitigation measures, as well as appropriate monitoring throughout the life of the project to ensure that these mitigation measures are effective and sufficient. The project will also adopt an adaptive management strategy whereby the results of the monitoring Habitats Protected and Restored program will be regularly evaluated, and mitigation measures adapted in line with the results and/or possible changes in national and international regulations. Our intention is to comply with the IFC’s Performance Standards 6, which define best practice standards in biodiversity management for the private sector. Therefore, our SEZ site-specific biodiversity management plans are based on the IFC PS6 guidance notes and follow the hierarchy of mitigation measures. This is a key component of our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development. These biodiversity hotspots are not merely repositories of life; they are essential lifelines for the communities reliant on them for sustenance. These areas provide invaluable ecosystem services such as clean water, food, and climate regulation. Our mission is intrinsically linked to the preservation of these vital ecosystems. We recognize that infrastructure development must be coupled with environmental conservation efforts.
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