Abstract
Occidental de Colombia, LLC has been developing and operating the Caño Limon field, located at the Arauca department in Colombia, throughout the last three decades, drilling more than 600 wells. Taking into account that the oil industry is seen as an invasive activity, and, based on the biodiversity conditions and conservation of this area where the field is located, environmental good practices were incorporated in a positive way. Results of these practices are seen on an increase in the ecosystem structure, revegetalization areas and restoration within production facilities, with a 54.7% increase between 1993 and 2012 for the Tropical Rainforest (ShT, as per Spanish acronym). Available habitats have been generated while a very important decrease in cropping areas has been noticed (98.02%) because of the conservation systems that have been implemented in the field.
Meanwhile, an important reduction of floodplain ecosystem because of the increase in rainforest areas, and the successive processes of regeneration of these ones for the last 19 years, allows that the Caño Limon area acted as a refuge for the third part of the regional fauna. These conditions aimed at environmental sustainability, and ensuring that the ecosystem services of the area are maintained.
These activities have only been achieved with a clear policy and actions that have been directed by the company in favor of a synergy between industry and environment. As a consequence of these strategies, the field of operations is another element within the environmental components that integrate the landscape.
