Key Impact Points:
- Over 100% of water used by Coca-Cola since 2015 returned to communities and nature.
- Initiative aims to restore one billion trees in the Eastern Himalayas by 2030.
- California reforestation project saves 1.2 billion liters of net runoff annually.
Restoring Hope in the Eastern Himalayas
High in West Bengal’s mountains, farmer Prabhat Rai faced devastating erosion due to deforestation and climate change.
“Rainfall would strip away the soil, making it harder to farm and build a future for our children,” Prabhat said. “Before, we had no idea how to protect our land from erosion.”
Thanks to a 2024 initiative by Conservation International, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF), Inditex, and others, Prabhat now employs sustainable farming methods, such as terrace farming and solar-powered irrigation.
This ambitious project across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan targets the planting of one billion trees and restoration of one million hectares by 2030.
“I no longer feel helpless when it rains,” Prabhat added. “We are restoring what we lost…and safeguarding our homeland for generations to come.”
Replanting California’s Forests Post-Fire
The western U.S. has experienced an eightfold increase in severe wildfires since 1985. To combat this, TCCF partnered with American Forests to restore 1,700 acres of California’s Eldorado National Forest affected by the 2021 Caldor Fire.
The initiative includes collecting cones to grow resilient forests, preventing soil erosion into watersheds relied on by over 175,000 people.
“All of our reforestation efforts…support improving water quality and quantity for local agricultural activities and residents,” said Brian Kittler, Chief Program Officer, Resilient Forests.
Between March and April 2024, 332,000 trees were planted, and about 1,500 bushels of cones were harvested, funded directly by TCCF, aiming to conserve approximately 1.2 billion liters of runoff yearly.
“There’s hope in these cones for future forests,” said Leana Weissberg, California Director, American Forests.
Change the World - Subscribe Now
Reviving Europe’s Danube River Basin
The Coca-Cola Foundation’s decade-long support for The Living Danube Partnership with WWF-CEE and ICPDR has improved water management and biodiversity across Europe’s second-largest river basin.
Initial restoration efforts restored over 5,000 hectares of wetlands, rivers, and floodplains, replenishing approximately 13.45 million cubic meters of water annually.
The next phase of the project, spanning six countries, aims to further alleviate water stress and enhance biodiversity.
Restoring Southern Africa’s Great Limpopo Basin
Climate change and water over-extraction severely impacted the Great Limpopo River Basin, affecting millions in Southern Africa.
With support from The Coca-Cola Foundation and Global Affairs Canada, Conservation International leads restoration and climate resilience projects, including agroforestry and sustainable livestock management.
“This investment is more than restoration—it is a legacy of sustainability, where nature and communities grow stronger together,” said Tonderai Makoni, Executive Director of the Vembe Biosphere Reserve. “The future [being] shaped is one where harmony between water, land and people defines our shared success.”
Related Article: Chocolate Scorecard is Bittersweet
