The COP 16: Nature and Business pre-meeting commended our contributions to knowledge about Colombia’s biodiversity. The National Water and Biodiversity Center of the National Business Association (ANDI) and the Colombia Biodiversity Information System (SiB Colombia) organized the meeting, which was held on June 27 at the EAN University in Bogota.
We received two accolades for our commitment to preserving biodiversity. The first recognizes us as the hydrocarbons company with the greatest impact on the use of biodiversity data. To date, 87 articles and technical publications have used data we have published on the public consultation platforms of SiB Colombia and the Global Biodiversity Information System (GBIF). The data comes from periodic monitoring of flora and fauna carried out in our areas of operation and from Environmental Impact Studies we have carried out.
Our second distinction was for our contribution to strengthening biodiversity knowledge management capacities through the successful implementation of the “Corporate Management for Nature” program, which we developed in partnership with SiB Colombia. This initiative raises awareness among companies from all economic sectors about the importance of biodiversity, and provides guidelines on reporting and publishing data through SiB Colombia and GBIF.
We are the company in Colombia that has published the eighth-most biodiversity data through SiB Colombia, with 69,845 records from biotic studies and monitoring in 16 of our operating projects. Most data was collected in the Orinoco and Amazon basins, which are widely acknowledged for their high levels of biodiversity.
“GeoPark is an example of how the private sector can contribute to the knowledge of biodiversity and lead collective initiatives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,” said the Director of the National Center for Water and Biodiversity, Dora Maria Moncada.
For us, biodiversity and water are fundamental to all ecological processes and the survival of all forms of life. “It is an honor to receive these recognitions that reflect our firm commitment to the comprehensive and responsible management of biodiversity,” our Environmental Manager Fabiola Pena said. “Promoting knowledge and publishing data through SiB Colombia is crucial to make informed decisions in the conservation of nature and its ecosystem services,” she continued.
We will continue to support biodiversity knowledge, generating information and promoting the conservation of Colombia’s flora and fauna. We firmly believe that this data will continue to be essential for strategic decision-making for environmental restoration and preservation.
