Louise Johnson is an independent biodiversity conservation and management specialist, and Director of Broc Environment Ltd.

I perform audit and review of industrial energy and extractive projects:

• where there is the potential to impact threatened wildlife and landscapes,

• seeking to avoid adverse consequences on nature and natural resources wherever feasible, 

• enabling progress towards positive impacts, both ecologically and socially.

Core specialism: Acting as Lender's Independent Expert, reviewing major projects in their implementation of IFC PS6 (& interlinking PSs). Performed via risk review, due diligence audit and compliance monitoring for the duration of the loan.  

Since 2011, I've specialised in biodiversity and natural resource-related ESG Due Diligence review and compliance auditing on behalf of a range of international Lenders. My work uses technical safeguards such as IFC's Performance Standard 6 to systematically identify material risks and review the performance of projects seeking/being financed in emerging economies - currently Mozambique, Guinea, Uganda, Tanzania and Papua New Guinea.  This entails in-depth assessment of a Client's management of their biodiversity impact mitigation against Lender requirements, including biodiversity offset implementation. I work primarily within Category-A higher risk industries such as mining (feasibility, extraction, rail export and port facilities) and oil & gas (exploration, construction, pipelines, operation) projects.

My focus areas for biodiversity risk and management include:

• • ecological impact management across multiple threatened habitats and species, 

  • monitoring/evaluation of pressure/state/response characteristics, 

  • biodiversity offset design & implementation to compensate for significant residual impacts, 

  • ecosystem service preservation, 

  • reinstatement/regeneration, of impacted landscapes,

  • invasive species management,  and

  • mitigation of impacts associated with enhanced and/or induced access.

This entails assessing a project's systematic implementation (then maintenance) of the full mitigation hierarchy, prioritising avoidance, minimisation and management of impacts on biodiversity and natural resources. This typically requires the attainment of good industry practice at appropriate levels and project phases.  

I've worked with, and on behalf of, a variety of Lenders, conservation NGOs, responsible businesses and government agencies, on projects at global, national and site levels. 

I'm privileged to be a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and Institute of British Geographers. 

My non-Lender, biodiversity conservation work has also included projects in Republic of Congo, Uganda, Madagascar, Tanzania, Gabon, Ireland and Scotland, such as:

• Development of a HSE framework and fisheries program risk assessment for a conservation program (Myanmar)

• Critique of current practice in offshore Rigs to Reef programs (NE Atlantic)

• Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme (BBOP):

  • Lead Consultant engaged to develop the BBOP Standard

  • Chair of the BBOP Assurance Working Group guiding the Standard's development

• Biodiversity Program Manager, conservation NGO-lead partner contracted for pre-feasibility species/habitat studies for the Zanaga iron ore mine, railway & port construction (Republic of Congo)

• Technical review of environmental & conservation impacts from Lake Natron soda ash production (Tanzania)

• Independent follow-up review of multiple Lake Albert oil development EIAs, revisiting adequacy of assessment and mitigation of biodiversity impacts (Uganda)

• Technical editing of IUCN offshore renewable energy industry guidelines

• Writing/production of a modular training DVD to build capacity in oilfield development & operations, EIA, impacts and mitigation measures (Africa & S.America)

• Lead consultant on development & delivery of Lake Albert oil development EIA training courses (incl. desk-based and drill-site audit) for EIA Practitioners, NGOs, local govt environmental & planning officials involved in EIA and oil development (Uganda)

• Development of baseline and monitoring mechanism to assess civil society engagement in O&G (Madagascar & Uganda)

• Observer-representative on OSPAR’s Offshore Industry Committee (NE Atlantic)

• Independent review of multiple Lake Albert oil exploration EIAs, leading Govt agency capacity-building & field visits to review impacts and implementation of appropriate mitigation (Uganda)

• NGO-representative member of the UK and Irish Govt's Offshore Energy/Oil & Gas SEA Steering Groups, critiquing/guiding multiple offshore SEAs

• Ongoing support to The WiSe Scheme, the UK's training scheme for minimising disturbance to marine and coastal wildlife