Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)

 Ecopetrol maintains alignment with the Colombian government's objectives, which define goals, processes, and establish actions for the conservation of biodiversity in the country and to address climate change. First, through the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022, which sets forth four objectives and 23 targets. For more information,  click here.

National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBSAP) 

 Then, with the National Biodiversity Plan NBSAPs to 2030 (by its acronym in English) released at COP16, held in Cali - Colombia, which proposes the thematic alignment of the 23 Goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework, with 4 strategic bets that correspond to the national interpretation of these goals based on the approaches of the National Policy on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and the understanding of the causes and implications of the biodiversity crisis in Colombia. It can be found at the following link: NBSAPs-2030

Biodiversity and Business Roadmap

 In line with the commitments of the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Biodiversity and Business Roadmap is a strategic guide designed by and for the Colombian business sector. Led by ANDI through the National Center for Water and Biodiversity, this roadmap offers practical guidelines and tools for companies of all sizes to integrate biodiversity into their business models, advance toward meeting Target 15 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and contribute to the transition toward a nature-positive economy. Ecopetrol actively participated in its construction, contributing its experience, vision, and commitment to sustainability. This roadmap strengthens business decision-making based on maturity assessments, management plans, dual materiality analyses, and transformative actions, enabling progress toward a future in which biodiversity is recognized as a strategic pillar of business development. 

General Objective : 

• Integrating biodiversity into the business model of Colombian companies. 

• Align business sector actions with the GBF. 

Key strategies 

• Business maturity level diagnosis in Biodiversity 

• Steps for integrating biodiversity into business 

• Facilitating environment 

• Capacity building 

• Business collaboration 

GBF goals most relevant to companies 

• Goal 5: Sustainable trade in wildlife. 

• Goal 6: 50% reduction in the introduction of invasive species. 

• Goal 8: Minimizing the impact of climate change on biodiversity. 

• Goal 15: Monitoring and evaluation of impacts on biodiversity. 

• Goal 16: Promoting sustainable consumption options. 

• Target 18: Phasing out harmful incentives for biodiversity. 

• Goal 21: Ensure access to information for strategic decisions. 

For more information:  HdR ANDI-2030 

The strategic pillar of biodiversity and ecosystem services

Ecopetrol recognizes the need to identify and manage dependencies and potential impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as the importance of generating actions for their conservation, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 1, 6, 8, 12, 13, 15 and 17.

This strategic pillar has four axes:

• i) Mitigation Hierarchy
• ii) Nature Based Solutions (NbS)
• iii) knowledge Generation
• iv) Biodiversity culture.

Context about biodiversity and ecosistemic services

What is biodiversity?

In the 21st century, one of the terms that has become more relevant in the scientific world is biodiversity. According to the IPBES - Intergovernmental Science -Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services-, biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms at the genetic, ecosystem and even planetary level. From microorganisms and fungi to plants and animals, they are all relevant to the stability of ecosystems and the prosperity of all the communities surrounding each of them.

What are Ecosystem Services?

Biodiversity represents Earth’s vital support by enabling a large number of services for the human species, known as Ecosystem Services, which are relevant in the context of food security, the use of natural resources, the extraction of drinking water and many more. According to the guidelines of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, an international effort of the United Nations to identify the impact of human actions on nature, they are classified into four categories: provisioning services, such as water and natural gas; regulating services, such as pollination and carbon storage; cultural services and support services. The continuity and stability of these services is relevant for Ecopetrol within the framework of our Biodiversity strategy.

Colombian biodiversity in a global context

“Colombia is a privileged country for its natural richness, for its variety, geographical beauty and for the diversity of its ecosystems.” Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia, 2016.

At a global level, as ratified by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), our country has a privileged position in terms of biodiversity as it is one of the few titled as megadiverse.

With more than 79,000 species registered in the Colombian Biodiversity Information System (SIB) and more than 49 million hectares protected according to the National Registry of Protected Areas (RUNAP), equivalent to 42% of the national territory, Colombia ranks first in the world in bird, orchid, and butterfly diversity, and second in amphibian, freshwater fish, palm, and bat diversity. 

Most biodiverse countries in the world. Adapted from: https://cifras.biodiversidad.co/

Below, we present some of the most important figures regarding Colombian biodiversity, which were consolidated based on taxonomic reclassifications and reports from the Instituto Alexander Von Humboldt, a leading Colombian research facility.

Relevant figures in the context of biodiversity at the international level. Adapted from: https://cifras.biodiversidad.co/

Species of vertebrate animals registered through SIB Colombia. Reference source: https://cifras.biodiversidad.co/

Species of invertebrate animals registered through SIB Colombia. Reference source: https://cifras.biodiversidad.co/

Species of flora animals registered through SIB Colombia. Reference source: https://cifras.biodiversidad.co/

Roadmap to 2030

Ecopetrol's Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Roadmap, approved in April 2025, outlines an ambitious long-term vision that seeks to generate a positive and measurable environmental impact. By 2030, the company aims to manage its new projects with the goal of achieving a Net Positive Impact on biodiversity, prioritizing the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of ecosystems. By 2040, this ambition will deepen with a commitment to generating measurable and verifiable positive contributions to nature, reflecting a comprehensive strategy aligned with 14 material elements that strengthen the sustainability of its operations.

In 2025, Ecopetrol updated its Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Roadmap, reaffirming its commitment to nature conservation and environmental sustainability. This update aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and responds to the dual materiality analysis conducted in 2023, which identified biodiversity as a strategic pillar for the company. The renewed roadmap incorporates ambitious goals, such as achieving the designation of 30 Ecoreserves by 2030, 12 million trees planted, supported, and/or managed, 400,000 hectares in conservation/restoration, and 3 million tons of CO2e/year, while continuing the conservation of 15 wild species. The roadmap aims to advance toward zero net deforestation in direct operations and the supply chain, and promote nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change. In addition, emphasis is placed on the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy, the generation of knowledge, and the promotion of a culture of biodiversity, thus consolidating comprehensive and adaptive ecosystem management in the territories where Ecopetrol operates. 

Our commitment implies:

• Not to operate in protected areas according to categories I to IV of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

• Not to carry out activities in World Heritage areas declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

• Systematically implement the mitigation hierarchy to manage risks in direct operation of the company.

• Prevent the transformation of natural ecosystems in new projects and operations, to the extent technically and economically feasible. 

• Advance towards Zero Net Deforestation in direct operations and supply chain.

• Make positive biodiversity contributions through voluntary conservation or ecosystem restoration actions.

Our goals and achievements 2023

Currently, and thanks to the management efforts carried out in in 2023, Ecopetrol is at 270% and 177% compliance with its goals board in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by 2023 and 2030, respectively.

Additionally, in 2023 we achieved:

• In 2021, the Ecopetrol Group joined the United Nations' 1t.org initiative on Ecosystem Restoration. In 2024, the third report was generated as part of the 2030 goals, related to the protection of 400,000 hectares of strategic ecosystems, the planting of 12 million trees, and progress in carbon capture through Natural Climate Solutions.   More information can be found here.

• In 2021 we joined as a member of the Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) Group to contribute to the development of a framework for reporting risks and opportunities associated with natural capital. We led the Energy Sector 6 group to support the construction of the Energy sector guide, the definition of metrics and indicators, among others.

• In 2023, we conducted two pilots of the LEAP (Locate, Assess, Analyze, Prepare) methodology. The first pilot focused on the Yariguí Cantagallo field, while the second pilot was associated with the geographic core of the Middle Magdalena Valley with the socio-ecological resilience tool. 

• Ecopetrol demonstrates its commitment to transparency and sustainable environmental management by joining the group of Early Adopters of this framework worldwide. Thus, the company will generate its first TNFD report with results for the year 2024. Learn more about the "Early Adopters" here: TNFD Early Adopters · TNFD.

• Publication in the Colombian Biodiversity Information System (SIB): Ecopetrol ranks second in the list of records and among the four companies with the highest number of citations, with a total of 763,107 biological records, 370 citations, and 145 datasets (information reviewed through March 2025).  For more information, see here.

• We participated in the recent COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, with an active presence in the Green and Blue Zones, totaling 33 spaces as organizers and panelists, 25 in the Green Zone, one field visit, and seven in the Blue Zone. The topics addressed in these participations allowed us to share Ecopetrol's progress in biodiversity conservation, which is the result of its Natural Climate Solutions portfolio, with presentations on: CO2 Wetlands, the Platform for Nature-Based Solutions, the Essential Fibers and Territory, the Wildlife Project (PVS), and compliance with environmental offset obligations, among others.  

   

 Awards and Recognitions

 Among these meetings, the "BOSCAR" recognition, awarded by the NGO Reforestamos México to the Vida Silvestre Project in partnership with WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) and Fondo Acción, stands out, as well as the launch of the second edition of the "PVS Logbook," in its Spanish and English versions.  

For more information:  click here 

 
In 2023, in conjunction with the Vice Presidency of Supply and Services, the Annex of Environmental Sustainability Guidelines for the Supply process associated with the themes of Decarbonization, Materials and Waste, Water Neutrality and Natural Capital (Biodiversity - DNC: Zero Net Deforestation) was designed and published.

138 species recorded in the “Global Big Day” world bird count.

 Recognition from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Ecopetrol as the first "Green Anchor" company in the country's supply chain, for its key role in the green economy.

Energy Communities Formed and Registered with the RUCE

Natural Climate Solutions: Six projects have been implemented with strategic allies such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Fondo Acción, ISA - Jaguar Connection, Fundación Natura, and Fundación Catarubén in different key ecosystems in the country, with a potential to capture more than 1MtC02/year. The accumulated potential of these projects, taking into account their useful life, is more than 15 million tCO2. For more information see Strategic Partners section.