GeoPark and SiB Colombia launch a training route in data management on biodiversity for companies

GeoPark in partnership with the Colombian Biodiversity Information System (SiB Colombia), the National Water and Biodiversity Center of ANDI (CNAB), and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), launches a training program in biodiversity called “Corporate Management for Nature: training route towards the mobilization of biodiversity data.”.

With this program, the entities seek to raise awareness among companies from all economic sectors about the importance of biodiversity and provide guidelines on reporting and publishing data through SiB Colombia and GBIF.

The training path consists of five courses organized into thematic modules that will be taught virtually. Users who complete the entire program will have the opportunity to obtain certification and will be able to access lectures with researchers and experts in data management on biodiversity who are part of the coordinating team of SiB Colombia.

As a result, it is expected that the business sector will continue to increase the number of published biological records that help fill information gaps and understand the vast number of species of fauna and flora in Colombia, which will serve as input for decision-making and the formulation of strategies for their restoration and preservation. To date, SiB Colombia has more than three million freely accessible biological records, which have been voluntarily shared by at least 38 companies in the country, most of which belong to the mining-energy sector.

The launch of this project took place at the ANDI facilities in Bogotá and included the participation of the director of the National Water Center, Dora Moncada, the coordinator of SiB Colombia, Dairo Escobar, the Environmental Manager of GeoPark, Fabiola Peña, as well as representatives from academia. During this event, the renowned researcher from the Universidad de los Andes and PhD in Biological Sciences, Juan Armando Sánchez, shared a reflection on the importance of having open biodiversity data to address the climate crisis.

Interested individuals in participating in the training cycle can register at the link aprende.biodiversidad.co before January 31, 2023.

For GeoPark, a Latin American oil and gas exploration and production company, promoting knowledge of Colombia's biodiversity is a demonstration of its commitment to environmental preservation and the care of the environmental services of the areas where it operates. This company, which has been active in Colombia since 2012, is part of the Biodiversity and Development initiative led by the National Association of Entrepreneurs of Colombia (ANDI), through which public and private actors have joined efforts in recent years to promote environmental protection.