ID: 1590
Presenting Author: TUGBA ARIK
Session: 678 - Advancing government approaches to effective science communication in Impact Assessment
Status: pending
TANAP demonstrates how transparent science communication, data verification, and adaptive monitoring counter misinformation while protecting biodiversity, discovering new species& preserving culture.
The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), an 1,811-km project across Türkiye, posed unique challenges in environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA). Baseline studies combined global biodiversity datasets, national archives, and field surveys. Yet, site realities shaped by drought, climate change, and data scarcity often revealed inconsistencies. A Deviation Request (DVR) system was introduced to log, review, and resolve contractor claims through evidence-based verification. Similar complexities arose in archaeology, where parts of the route crossed poorly documented heritage areas. Many chance finds absent from national archaeological records were discovered. Close coordination with cultural authorities ensured timely protection while maintaining project schedules. Ecological monitoring revealed 16 new species not previously recorded in national or international biodiversity databases. Eight years of monitoring and biodiversity offset projects inform an updated Biodiversity Action Plan. TANAP’s offset management plans are integrated into authority-approved forest management plans, embedding conservation zones and biodiversity guidelines across multiple forest management units. While some habitats require continued protection, others show measurable recovery. This case shows how transparent science communication, adaptive monitoring, and traceable decision systems can counter misinformation, bridge data gaps, and sustain trust. Lessons from TANAP highlight that ESIAs are evolving processes protecting both biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Tugba Arık is a Senior Environmental Engineer with 17 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, leading TANAP’s biodiversity, ESIA, and sustainability projects on ecological monitoring&heritage.