Mitigation hierarchy

Colombia is a country recognized as a megadiverse territory where complexity, fragility and biological diversity are interwoven with a dynamic and complex social, economic and political history and present, which influence ecosystems to face at least 5 major drivers of biodiversity loss, which are described below  (Sustainable Development Goals Center for Latin America, 2019):

• Land-use change: This involves the transformation of natural ecosystems due to agriculture, deforestation, and urbanization. Forty percent of the country's land area has undergone severe transformation.

• Direct overexploitation of species: This is the depletion of wild fauna and flora that is used as a natural resource, in fisheries, forestry, or the collection of wildlife products.

• Biological invasions: These are caused by the introduction of wild or domesticated species into areas outside their original range. They produce devastating effects on islands and fragile ecosystems and threaten to homogenize the world's flora and fauna.

• Water and soil pollution: This occurs through the dumping of polluting substances or substances that alter the natural conditions of ecosystems. These substances can have local and regional impacts on biodiversity, and if not addressed, would contribute to the global collapse of populations and species.

• Climate change: Climate stresses on ecological systems are already being observed, with changes in the distribution or integrity of fauna and flora populations. If climate change continues, it could become the primary driver of biodiversity loss, as it affects other direct drivers.

To avoid, minimize, recover, restore, and offset these impacts, the company implements biodiversity and ecosystem services management processes aimed at generating the lowest amount and magnitude of residual impacts, based on the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy. To this end, the Mitigation Hierarchy is incorporated into project and operations planning.

Following the mitigation hierarchy, the Company harmonizes its activities around land use planning and environmental determinants by implementing environmental zoning as a measure to prevent negative impacts on biodiversity, complemented by mitigation, correction, and compensation measures. Residual impacts are offset by biodiversity preservation, restoration, and sustainable use actions implemented through conservation agreements with local communities, the purchase of land for conservation and restoration, and other measures. This is aligned with the company's principles of prevention and no net loss of biodiversity. 

The mitigation hierarchy also prevents large-scale impacts and potential human rights impacts. In cases where direct impacts are identified, the Company activates the corporate prior consultation protocol, as established by the National Prior Consultation Authority of the Ministry of the Interior. 

The Company manages these impacts and dependencies through four (4) axes:  

• Mitigation hierarchy and conceptualization of the conservation hierarchy. 

• Nature-based solutions, including Natural Climate Solutions strategies. 

• Knowledge generation through research and education on biodiversity. 

• Biodiversity Culture.

This hierarchy refers to the sequence of measures designed to manage the negative impacts of a project, work, or activity, in pursuit of no net loss of biodiversity, and should be applied to decision-making in the planning and design of this project.

In a complementary manner, progress is being made in the conceptualization of the Conservation Hierarchy, which goes beyond the mitigation of direct negative impacts to encompass any activity that affects nature. Conservation actions to address the loss of historical biodiversity from a voluntary perspective imply the same four-step framework for conservation actions: avoid/minimize/remediate/compensate in relation to the four R's: Restrain/Reduce/Restore/Renew: 

Adapted from: One Earth 

Four Steps for the Earth: mainstreaming the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. 

Significant impacts on biodiversity

Hydrocarbon activity in Colombia is held under an environmental zoning process that applies the mitigation hierarchy, avoiding, minimizing, and correcting impacts on biodiversity, and compensating only for residual impacts.

The main activities carried out in Ecopetrol's operations that may generate impacts on biodiversity are:

• The construction of platforms, operation fields and transportation infrastructure
• Use of substances that do not occur naturally
• Planned forest harvesting as part of maintenance, adaptation or construction of facilities

The main impacts that the Company's operations may have on biodiversity are:

• Land use change
• Habitat transformation
• Contamination

Area of influence

According to the Sole Regulatory Decree of the Environment and Sustainable Development Sector (Decree 1076 of 2015): The area of influence is that in which the significant environmental impacts caused by the implementation of a project, work or activity, on the biotic, biotic and socioeconomic environments, in each of the components of these environments, are manifested in an objective and as far as possible quantifiable manner. Its identification and delimitation is closely linked to the environmental characterization. It should be noted that this area is larger than the areas of possible intervention of the projects, works or activities, given that its delimitation depends on the expansion of the impact and not on the operational area.

For more information on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), please refer to: Compliance and engagement section. 

All impacts on biodiversity are reversible and the company has as a guideline to intervene in transformed areas. In 2024, a total of 2.9 ha were intervened and 3.073 m³ of  wood were harvested.

The residual impacts of the interventions carried out by Ecopetrol are subject to environmental compensation through the implementation of conservation or restoration projects through the actions, modes, mechanisms, amounts and forms enabled in each environmental management instrument.

There were no impacts related to the introduction of invasive species, pests and pathogens, species reduction, habitat transformation, or changes in ecological processes outside the natural range of variation (such as salinity or changes in the water table).

Progress status recovery plan - Lisama 158

With regards to the 2018 event known as Lisama 158, the environmental recovery plan presents an implementation rate of 99%.

Fauna

• 2.400 reincorporated fauna individuals
• 135 habists and 34 micro-habitats were built

Flora

• 131.48 ha In the process of rehabilitation
• 11,551 Seedlings established (131.48 ha)
• 8,533 Seedlings planted in Zone One
• 0.12 ha Revegetated with grasses Ground Zero
• Compensation for 30 trees on the Santo Tomás II property 

Water

• Cleaning of 27,226 meters above the La Muerte canal and La Lisama stream 

Soil

• 18 defense works dismantled and refurbished
• Reconformed outcrop zone

Social

• 11 voluntary investment projects prioritized through tripartite dialogue spaces
• 8 projects prioritized between CDPMM, Institutions, Community and Ecopetrol. 
• 1 diploma in ecological rehabilitation, more than 50 environmental training courses, 19 training programs with SENA. 
• 32 engagement spaces with local authorities, institutions, and territorial entities, 10 community tree-planting sessions, 1 meeting on opportunities for the sustainability of the fishing sector, support for 11 campaigns on the ban on striped catfish (Pseudoplatystoma magdaleniatum), and the development of 5 home and school garden programs in educational institutions and communities of influence.
• Progress in the implementation of the Communications Strategy with the development of 1,763 gatherings, 128 sketches, 124 public address days, 17 water teacher schools, 5 La Voz de Lizama magazines, and a water teacher Facebook page (2,110 followers). 

Monitoring

• 8 wildlife monitoring campaigns. 
• Development of 16 water monitoring campaigns, 7 of nutrients in water and sediments and 9 campaigns to verify fine cleaning.  
• 1 diploma in ecological rehabilitation, more than 50 environmental training courses, 19 training programs with SENA.
• 5,745 Samples analyzed (water, soil, air, sediments, hydrobiological). 
• 6 Flora-plot campaigns.
• 9 Flora Campaigns - Fustales. 
• 4 Monitoring of water and sediment nutrients and their impact on hydrobiological communities
• 3 vegetation cover monitoring campaigns.
• 7 Follow-up programs.
• 4 Biodiversity and ecosystem services monitoring campaigns.

Biodiversity

• 1 Evaluation of the current ecological condition of the system

The species affected in 2024 are reported below according to the IUCN:

Operations in areas of high biodiversity value (Exposure and Assessment)

Ecopetrol S.A. currently operates in 101 sites with a total licensed area of 697,415 ha. Of these, 210,810 ha correspond to the company's direct production fields. In all of these areas, biodiversity impact assessments have been conducted in accordance with the parameters established by the competent environmental authority.

Total area of ​​Ecopetrol's assets

Map of licensed areas with operational fields.

Source: Ecopetrol S.A., Environmental Management Department

 

Ecopetrol SA declares that it does not have, nor does it plan to engage in, exploration, production, or refining activities in areas of high biodiversity value classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as categories I to IV.

Likewise, Ecopetrol has no projects or operations in areas declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, nor does it plan to intervene in these areas.

IUCN protected areas and Ecopetrol licensed areas

.Map of licensed areas with operational fields and IUCN category I to IV protection areas.

Source: Ecopetrol SA, Environmental Management Department 

 

Ecopetrol operates four assets located near two Protected Areas, known as Integrated Management Regional Districts (IMRDs)—equivalent to IUCN Category VI—named La Ciénaga San Silvestre and La Serranía de los Yariguíes, in the department of Santander. The IMRDs contemplate the sustainable use of natural resources. Ecopetrol legally operates these four production assets, which were declared by regional authorities 50 years after the company began operations in the area.

Areas of Ecopetrol's assets in DRMI in the Central Region

Source: Ecopetrol S.A. Environmental Management Department

 

Regional Integrated Management Districts (DRMI)

Operations center	Description	Type	Geographic location	Position with respect to the protected area	Subsurface and underground lands	Type of operation	Size in km2	Attributes of the protected area or zone of great value	Appears on lists of protected character
1	APE NUEVO MUNDO	Direct operation	San Vicente de Chucurí	Field within the protected area	Yes	PRODUCTION	4,3	Yariguíes Mountains Regional Integrated Management District	Yes, IUCN Category VI
2	AREA DE DESARROLLO PAUTO	Direct operation	Yopal	Protected area within the field	Yes	PRODUCTION	0,18	La Primavera Civil Society Nature Reserve	Yes, IUCN Category VI
3	CAMPO CASABE PEÑAS BLANCAS	Direct operation	Yondó	Protected area within the field	Yes	PRODUCTION	0,07	La Esperanza Civil Society Nature Reserve	Yes, IUCN Category VI
4	CAMPO QUEBRADA ROJA	Direct operation	Barrancabermeja	Field within the protected area	Yes	PRODUCTION	1,89	San Silvestre Wetland Integrated Management Regional District	Yes, IUCN Category VI
5	CAMPO TIBÚ	Direct operation	Yopal	Protected area within the field	Yes	PRODUCTION	0,11	Gualanday Civil Society Nature Reserve	Yes, IUCN Category VI
6	LCI	Direct operation	Barrancabermeja	Field intersects with the boundaries of the protected area	Yes	PRODUCTION	8,58	San Silvestre Wetland Integrated Management Regional District	Yes, IUCN Category VI
7	CENTRO	Direct operation	Barrancabermeja	Field intersects with the boundaries of the protected area	Yes	PRODUCTION	1,18	San Silvestre Wetland Integrated Management Regional District	Yes, IUCN Category VI
8	LISAMA	Direct operation	San Vicente de Chucurí	Field within the protected area	Yes	PRODUCTION	59,01	San Silvestre Wetland Integrated Management Regional District and Serranía de los Yariguíes Integrated Management Regional District	Yes, IUCN Category VI
9	LLANITO	Direct operation	Barrancabermeja	Field intersects 70% of the protected area	Yes	PRODUCTION	3,46	San Silvestre Wetland Integrated Management Regional District	Yes, IUCN Category VI
10	MARTEJA	Direct operation	Barrancabermeja	Field intersects 70% of the protected area	Yes	EXPLORATION	2,83	Regional Districts for Integrated Management of the San Silvestre Wetland	Yes, IUCN Category VI
11	NUEVO MUNDO	Direct operation	San Vicente de Chucurí	Field within the protected area	Yes	EXPLORATION	0,01	Yariguíes Mountains Regional Integrated Management District	Yes, IUCN Category VI

 

Main impacts by Ecopetrol region

Below are the main impacts caused by Ecopetrol in each of the regional areas in which it operates

Regional Area of ​​Operation	Orinoquía	Andina Oriente	Refinación y Caribe	Exploration	Drilling and Completion Piedemonte	Central
	DAO - VRO*	DAA - VAO	DRI	DEX - VEX	DPI - VPI	DAC - VRC
Impacts on areas
Habitat transformation. Number of cases that involve no intervention in areas/change of land use	3	9	11	12	70	15
Changes in ecological processes	NO
Construction or use of transportation facilities and infrastructure				Construction of locations
Extension of impacted areas (ha)				4,36
Impacts on species
Introduction of invasive species, pests and pathogens	No	No	No	No	No	No
Species reduction	Ecopetrol does not generate species reduction in its areas of influence since its operating activities affect only individuals and do not have a population reach
Number of species affected by forest exploitation	130
Volume of harvested wood m3	48,913	91,115	42,555	4,32	20,269	238,818
Number of Species affected by collision			4
	Si
*DAO : Orinoquia Regional Environmental Department, DAA: Andean - Eastern Regional Environmental Department, DRI: Refining and Caribbean Regional Environmental Department, DEX: Exploration Environmental Department, DPI: Piedmont Regional Drilling and Completion Department, DAC: Central Regional Environmental Department

 

Strategy for environmental compensation and 1% investment

In compliance with the obligations of environmental compensation and investment of not less than 1% for the use of water from natural sources, Ecopetrol S.A seeks the conservation of biodiversity, its ecosystem services and natural capital in prioritized areas by the company through different actions that involve i) the signing of voluntary conservation agreements with local communities, ii) purchase of land in strategic conservation areas, iii) ecological restoration, among other actions.

Currently, the conservation agreements are the most widely implemented in the company and seeks, in addition to conserving, promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity and other natural resources through incentives such as agroforestry systems, silvopastorals, ecological gardens, eco-efficient stoves and wood energy orchards and more. These actions promote the reduction of tensioners in each of the properties where they are implemented.

Actions implemented under voluntary conservation agreements.

1. The conservation areas in Casanare, Fundación Natura . 2. The rehabilitation actions in strategic areas in the Middle Magdalena. 3. Model of eco-efficient stove in Putumayo. 4. Planting of trees for silvopastoral systems in the Middle Magdalena.

 

Actions implemented in voluntary conservation agreements 

A.  Conservation area and silvopastoral system of the Acacías municipality. Source: BQS SAS B.  Agroforestry system of the Aguazul municipality. Source: Piedemonte Environmental Coordination. C.  Agroforestry system of the Puerto Caicedo municipality. Source: Andean Environmental Coordination.  

In turn, the conservation agreements seek to accompany the participant in the planning of their property through a participatory and concerted design, where an area is established for conservation.

Example of land design conservation agreement

Source: Ecopetrol S.A. Environmental Management Department

This strategy seeks to generate positive impacts on biodiversity at the landscape scale through the implementation of Voluntary Conservation Agreements and other actions and to enhance the conservation of natural capital in the territories.

Properties with Central Regional Conservation Agreements 

Source: Ecopetrol S.A. Environmental Management Department

 

Management of impacts from environmental compliance

With regard to management in the prevention, mitigation and correction of potential impacts that could affect biodiversity, the following actions are highlighted: 

• 297 feasibility diagnoses in project and operations planning 
• 85 environmental studies in exploratory and production projects, with biotic characterization. 
• 450 biotic environment impact management sheets for monitoring and control instruments
• 106 fauna samples 
• 18 flora samplings 
• 528 hydrobiological sampling points 

For more information, please consult the section: Legal Compliance and Relationships .

Among the most important results in biodiversity conservation with mandatory investments by 2024 are the following:

To discover how we comply with the mandatory investments, see the Compliance to biodiversity offsets and 1% investment* requirements section.

 

Opportunities and risks associated with Natural Capital

Water is a vital resource for Ecopetrol, as well as for the environment in which it operates. That is why, in 2021, the Roadmap for Integral Water Management was established, seeking that the company is water neutral or even water positive by 2045. For more information, see the Climate action section and  Towards water neutrality.

Ecopetrol advances in actions of conservation of natural capital and biodiversity, through voluntary efforts and the fulfillment of obligations of environmental compensation and investment of 1%, which contribute to the conservation and monitoring of water resources. For more information, see the Compliance to biodiversity offsets and 1% investment* requirements section.

The circular economy is an enabler of the goals in energy transition, net zero carbon emissions, reduction of the water footprint, closure of material and waste cycles, management of natural capital. Ecopetrol boosts the latter as it contributes with opportunities for growth, innovation, employment generation and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. For more information, see the Circular economy section.

 

Net Zero Deforestation - DN0

This approach is part of its sustainability and energy transition strategy, called SosTECnibilidad. For Ecopetrol, its commitment to Zero Net Deforestation means that its operations and those of its supply chain do not generate a net loss of forest cover. This means that any deforestation that cannot be mitigated must be offset through actions such as reforestation, ecological restoration, or conservation of existing forests. 

Key concepts:  

Forest: According to the Colombian Forest and Carbon Monitoring System, forest is defined as: Land occupied mainly by trees containing shrubs, palms, guaduas, grasses, and lianas, where tree cover predominates with a minimum canopy density of 30%, a minimum canopy height (in situ) of 5 meters at the time of identification, and a minimum area of ​​1.0 ha that is located in a territory. Tree cover from commercial forest plantations, palm crops, and trees planted for agricultural production are excluded (IDEAM et al. 2012).  

 

Adapted IDEAM. IDEAM Forest and Carbon Monitoring System. 

 

Isolated trees outside the natural forest cover: Individual trees resulting from natural regeneration, planted or established trees that are not part of a natural forest cover or forest cultivation for commercial purposes (Decree 1532 of 2019). 

Zero net deforestation: Balance between the loss of forests due to deforestation and the gain from reforestation/restoration processes or others, conceiving that the actions of forest cover gain must correspond to the criteria determined in the definition of natural forest adopted by Colombia (MADS, IDEAM, 2019). 

 

Lyons-White et al, 2020. 

Natural forests are generally included in the exclusion areas* for ECP operations. Some linear projects are exempt from their exclusion. 

*Areas that cannot be affected by project activities. Criterion related to the fragility, sensitivity, and socio-environmental functionality of the area; the self-healing capacity of the affected areas; and the status of the areas with a special status (ANLA, 2014). 

We work in coordination with the Vice Presidency of Administration and Services in various training and awareness-raising activities aimed at the supply chain, with the goal of promoting practices aligned with the Zero Net Deforestation (ZND) commitment. These actions seek to raise awareness and strengthen capacity in our priority categories, encouraging their voluntary participation in the Intersectoral Pact for Legal Timber, as a concrete manifestation of their commitment to sustainability, traceability of forest products, and ecosystem conservation. 

 

 

 

 

 

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