Block V encompasses an area of the Virunga National Park, a World Heritage Site, which includes part of Lake Edward. 

SOCO's area of interest is the lowland savannah area around Lake Edward and the lake itself.

It is emphasised that Block V is not located within the mountainous Mikeno Sector, home to the famous Mountain Gorillas. This has been subject to much inaccurate media speculation. 

Furthermore, SOCO has stated it will never seek to have operations in the Mountain Gorilla habitat, the Virunga Volcanoes or the Virunga equatorial rainforest.