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Nature-Based Solutions

Dec 15, 2023

 

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2016), SbN is an umbrella concept that includes all actions of protection, restoration and sustainable management of natural or modified ecosystems, which simultaneously provide benefits to human well-being and biodiversity, to respond to the most pressing socio-environmental challenges, such as food security, water security, climate change, disaster risk, biodiversity loss, human health, among others.

The nature-based solutions axis seeks to protect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in strategic areas, as well as improve the livelihoods of local communities. The main lines of action of this axis are: Ecoreservas, Natural Climate Solutions and Tree Planting.

 

 

Ecoreserves

 

The *Ecoreserves Network was born from the alliance between the Alexander von Humboldt (I. Humbolt) Biological Resources Research Institute (FIBRAS Agreement) and Ecopetrol, as a voluntary conservation mechanism based on area, which through the preliminary analysis of properties owned by the Ecopetrol Group companies, proposed the designation of areas for the protection of strategic ecosystems.

Currently there are 15 Ecoreserves designated; approximately 15,085 hectares are designated for conservation and the goal is to have 50 Ecoreserves by 2030. The Ecoreserve Network is present throughout the country and provides demonstration areas where the productive operations of the sector coexist harmoniously with nature. Of the 15 designated Ecoreserves, currently Ecopetrol S.A. has ten (10), Cenit Transporte y Logística de Hidrocarburos S.A.S. has four (4) and Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S. has one (1).

Location of Ecopetrol Group's Ecoreserves

Ecopetrol's designated Ecoreserves in collaboration with the Alexander von Humboldt Institute.

 

We have the first six (6) **Biodiversity and Strengthening Plans, which will allow us to carry out activities aimed at improving the supply of ecosystem services and Biodiversity.

*Ecoreserve: "A geographically delimited area, owned by the companies of the EG, which is voluntarily destined in part or completely to the conservation of biodiversity and the supply of ecosystem services, without limiting its productive and exploratory vocation".

**Biodiversity and Strengthening Plans: these are a planning instrument that guides the management of each of these areas to achieve specific conservation results.

 

 

Types of ecoreserves

There are five (5) types of Ecoreserves that determine the way in which they relate to the activities of the Ecopetrol Group, described in the following image:

 

Ecoreserves with implemented Biodiversity and Strengthening Plans

 

Six of the first 15 Ecoreserves designated until 2021 have Biodiversity and Strengthening Plans developed through the FIBRAS Agreement (Instituto Alexander von Humboldt).

Likewise, these six Ecoreserves have a images and sounds catalog, taken from the registry of fauna and flora. Below, you can learn more about the characteristics and species of each Ecoreserve:

 

 

Ecoreserva La Tribuna - HuilaLa Tribuna Ecoreserve · Huila, San Francisco

  • Tropical dry forest, a highly threatened ecosystem in Colombia, unique in the area.

 

Ecoreserva El Tucán - Casanare

El Tucán Ecoreserve · Casanare, Cupiagua

 

Ecoreserva La Doncella - Bolívar

La Doncella Ecoreserve · Bolívar, Isla IV

 

Ecoreserva Centenario La Pácora - Santander

Centenario La Pácora Ecoreserve · Santander, Refinería

  • Its conservation management will complement existing regional efforts, such as the Ciénaga de San Silvestre Integrated Management District, among others.
  • It has tourist potential for navigation in rivers and marshes for bird and primate watching.
  • Learn about and listen to the species found in this ecoreserve: Centenario La Pácora Ecoreserve images and sounds catalog.

 

Ecoreserva La Danta - Meta

La Danta Ecoreserve · Meta, Rubiales

 

Ecoreserva ASA La Guarupaya - Meta

ASA La Guarupaya Ecoreserve · Meta, Castilla

 

 

 

Recognition of the Ecoreserves Network

In 2022, Red Colombia of the United Nations Global Compact and the Bogota Chamber of Commerce awarded recognition for good sustainable development practices to the Ecopetrol Group's Ecoreserves Network initiative, for its contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 15.

 

“This recognition is an additional motivation to continue working on the implementation of practices that respond to the environmental and social challenges we face today as a society. The Ecoreservas initiative, in addition to being a pioneer in the industry at national and international level, has great potential to conserve our biological wealth and generate well-being for the surrounding communities".

- Santiago Martínez, Head of Sustainability and Decarbonization, Ecopetrol.

 

 

Nature-Based Solutions Platform

 

The NbS Platform is a tool developed by TNC and Ecopetrol to strengthen the environmental management capacities of multiple institutional actors, both in the public and the private sector. It seeks to facilitate access to information and contribute to the preparation, formulation, planning, implementation and monitoring of projects that positively impact comprehensive metrics associated with water security, climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

 

What can be achieved with the NbS Platform?

We hope that planners, environmental authorities, project formulators, academia, consultants and private investors will benefit from the contents of the Platform for the construction of NbS projects. The platform has three main services:

  • Toolboxes with conceptual and methodological resources (guides, maps, protocols) that technically guide the construction of the different stages of the NbS project cycle (preparation, formulation, planning, implementation and monitoring).
  • Library with international success stories and informative videos on Nature-based Solutions.
  • NbS selection assistant to relate the system with areas of implementation, environmental issues or  socio-environmental challenges, including climate change, water security. The latter is useful in light of consultation procedures that require data bases to identify the most appropriate NbS.

Check the Nature Based Solutions Platform.

 

 

Contributions to ecological restoration 

 

The Business Group joined the initiative - 1t.org - whose objective is to mobilize, connect and empower the global reforestation community to conserve, restore and cultivate one billion trees by 2030.

Find more about Ecopetrol's commitment.

 

The Ecopetrol Group joined this movement of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, which seeks to generate an epic milestone in the history of the world by protecting, conserving and ecologically restoring our country through the planting of 500 million trees by the year 2030, with strategies that allow the rebirth of our soils and ecosystems Respira 2030.

 

The Ecopetrol Group's goal was to plant 6 million trees in the period 2018-2022 and 12 million trees accumulated by 2030. At the end of 2022, the Ecopetrol Group internally recorded a total of 6'509,368 trees planted, delivered, and supported in conjunction with its partners. See table with records in the Our ambition section.

Our goal to plant 12 million trees by 2030

** The report of information to the Respira 2030 program of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development is made individually by each of the companies of the Ecopetrol Group, without taking into account the trees that some allies upload directly to the counter of the Respira 2030 platform. For this reason, the total number of trees registered internally by the Ecopetrol Group exceeds the data reflected on the Respira 2030 web page. For more information about this government program go to: https://www.respira2030.gov.co/

 

 

Natural Climate Solutions 

Natural Climate Solutions correspond to actions that avoid greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in forests, grasslands and wetlands. Some of these solutions include forest conservation, restoration, and management.  Restoration not only returns forests in a healthy state, but also increases the amount of sequestered carbon, improves biodiversity, soil and water quality in the ecosystem, and brings economic benefits to the communities that depend on that forest. World Economic Forum, 2021.

 

Portfolio of Natural Climate Solutions

The Greenhouse Gas offset portfolio is based on the Natural Climate Solutions prioritized for Ecopetrol’s Bussiness Group, with the greatest potential to reduce emissions and carbon quantification methodologies endorsed by certification programs. In case new methodologies are developed, these solutions can and will be incorporated into the portfolio.

Ecopetrol and The Nature Conservacy (TNC) structured the SNC portfolio with the purpose of recognizing projects with high potential for mitigation and compensation, to support Ecopetrol's Decarbonization Plan.  The selection criteria for projects that are part of the SNC portfolio are:

1. The most cost-effective CNS pathways prioritized for Colombia by TNC

 

  • CEB: Avoided deforestation
  • RB: Forest restoration (includes reforestation)
  • ATA: Planting trees on agricultural land (silvopastoral and agroforestry)
  • CEP: Avoided conversion of páramo areas
  • CEHC: Avoided conversion of inland wetlands
  • CESN: Avoided conversion of natural savannas
  • MNB: Natural Forest Management
  • RH: Wetland Restoration
  • MN: Nutrient Management
  • CL: Firewood Collection
  • OP: Grazing Optimization
  • MF: Fire Management
  • PF: Forest plantations
2. Potential mitigation validation by forest type Deforestation avoided (REDD+)
  • BHM: montane rainforest
  • BHMb: low montane rainforest
  • BHpM: premontane rainforest
  • BHT: tropical rainforest
  • BmHM: very humid montane bosque
  • BmHMb: very humid low montane forest
  • BmHpM: very humid premontane forest
  • BmHT: very humid tropical forest
  • BmST: very dry tropical forest, BPM: montane rainforest
  • BPMb: low montane rainforest
  • BPpM: Premontane Rainforest
  • BPT: pluvial rainfores
3. Planting trees on agricultural land (silvopastoral and agroforestry)
  • AM: Amazonia
  • AN: Andes
  • CA: Caribbean
  • OR: Orinoquia

Additionally, other aspects are considered, such as:

  • Location in areas of strategic interest.

  • Social and environmental cost-benefits.

  • Developers with extensive experience, knowledge, technical and financial execution capacity.

  • Risk management associated with the implementation of the type of initiatives, technical, financial, and legal execution.

 

 

Implementation of Natural Climate Solutions projects to enable supply

Ecopetrol employs different actions to enable the supply of  NCS projects, which include: methodologies, protocols, baselines, early investment in Natural Climate Solutions projects.

The information described below corresponds to estimates based on secondary information. With the implementation of the projects, the data corresponding to direct data collection in the territory will be updated.

For more information see the section: Strategic Partners.

Progress in the implementation of Natural Climate Solutions NCS

 

REDD+ MAGDALENA VALLEY

  • Conservation and restoration of forests and wetlands in Santander and Antioquia 
  • 19.000 ton of CO2e anually

 

WILDLIFE PROJECT · PVS

  • Conservation and restoration of floodplains in Piedemonte Andino-Amazonico and Magdalena Medio basin
  • 32.000 ton of CO2e anually

 

ORINOCO CARBON

  • Prevention of the transformation of natural ecosystems, as a strategy to encourage the conservation of biodiversity in the highlands of the Colombian Orinoquia 
  • 570.000 ton of CO2e anually

 

TNC CARBON SURVEY PROTOCOL

  • Restoration projects in Meta and Caquetá with planting of trees and carbon monitoring
  • Planting 250.000 trees

 

CARBON AND WETLANDS

  • Restoration of ecosystems and carbon monitoring in Magdalena Medio wetland ecosystems
  • 558.000 ton of CO2e anually

 

BLUE AND GREEN CARBON BIOGEOGRAPHICAL CHOCÓ

  • Reduction of emissions or avoided GHG emissions in agriculture, forestry and other land uses 
  • Avoided deforestation of approximately 4.000 hectares and 1.6 million tons of CO2e avoided/reduced

 

SOUTH POLE

  • Performs strategic review of the NCS portfolio
  • Executes project due diligence processes
  • Supports the maturation of new opportunities
  • Supports NCS carbon credit portfolio management process

 

INSTITUTO COLOMBIANO DEL PETRÓLEO · ICP

  • Generate scientific knowledge for the management of barriers that originate sources of uncertainty in the estimation of carbon stocks and fluxes in ecosystems and sustainable production systems

 

Benefits of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) projects

Natural Climate Solutions projects generate social and environmental benefits for territories towards a just energy transition, some of them are:

 

Contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation.

 

Empower and strengthen communities, generate income and local and regional sustainable development alternatives.

 

Promote the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

 

Promote the diversification of local economies.

 

Improve the water and food security of the communities involved.

 

Enable the implementation of community monitoring and provide valuable information on biodiversity.

 

 

 

 

 

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