Ben Kirundas role as Biodiversity Field Officer at TotalEnergies Uganda places him directly at the operational front of biodiversity conservation in the oil & gas/extractives sector. TotalEnergies biodiversity programme (Tilenga, EACOP) emphasises protecting high-conservation-value ecosystems, coordinating with the National Forestry Authority and the Ministry of Water & Environment, and implementing strategic biodiversity management plans. He is familiar with international conservation policy instruments, including the CBD and, in particular, the Nagoya Protocol, which concerns genetic resources (plants, soils, microbes, and wildlife) used in environmental impact assessments or research. He would need to ensure that local community knowledge and genetic resources (if collected) are accessed under PIC/MAT frameworks and that benefits are shared. His field role also means enforcing or promoting compliance and awareness among contractors, communities, and partners.
