Given that environmental planning is an instrument by which the Regional Autonomous Corporations and other institutions can strengthen decentralization processes, participation, articulate and align regional environmental management processes; Corpoguajira issued the Agreement 009 of 2011, through which environmental determinants were established for the review and adjustment of the basic plans and land use management scheme, in the municipalities of the department.

According to Colombian law, This work is a process of technical and legal in order to update, modify or adjust those contents of Territorial Plans -POT-, that hamper effective construction model formulated in the same municipality.

"The incorporation of the environmental dimension in land use planning, It aims to ensure the functionality of the natural base and allow for sustained economic development, socially engaged and ecologically sustainable ", Express Arcesio Romero Perez, General Manager Corpoguajira, who also added that it considers relevant municipalities with accompanying Corporation, comply with the powers conferred by the Constitution on the regulation of soil, the control, Preservation, restoration and protection of the ecological heritage, and develop regional planning processes with a regional focus, within the strategic framework established by the environmental authority for integrated watershed management and regional urban system.

According to the administrative act, Corpoguajira established several aspects to consider in POT, among them are: determinants for the management of rural land, permitted and prohibited uses in Protected Areas System Departmental, sort of rural population centers, areas of industrial activity in non-suburban rural land, for planning permission, areas for utilization and conservation of water resources, areas exposed to threats and natural hazards, Urban sprawl, agricultural production areas, forestal, livestock and mining.

In addition, zoning of areas of environmental management was established, taking into account criteria offer, goods and services as, water availability, biodiversity, fragility and vulnerability of ecosystems, cultural diversity, landscape potential, quality of seawater, identifying ecological corridors and special management areas, differentiating the following areas: Serrania de la Macuira, arid and semiarid areas of the department of La Guajira, maritime coastal area of ​​the peninsula, transition zone – living area subtropical dry forest, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, alluvial valley of the rivers and Cesar Rancheria, Perijá, catchment area of ​​the northeastern slope of the Sierra Nevada and Wildlife Sanctuary of the Pink Flamingos.

POTs should consider environmental issues holistically and meet environmental determinants of land use stipulated by Corpoguajira. Thus not, the Corporation may not approve (with regard to environmental issues), and must raise the modifications thereof.