The commitment entails a five-year corporate/NGO/governmental partnership to plant 30 million trees in deforested lands throughout Mexico, to mitigate climate change effects by reducing greenhouse gases and potentially removing more than an estimated 350,000 tons of CO2 in 25 years. Outcomes of reforestation will include habitat restoration and biodiversity enrichment, aquifer and watershed rehabilitation, soil and land fertility improvement, and economic and community growth through tree planting operations and expansion of reforestation services and jobs.
In February, President Felipe Calderon launched Pro Árbol (Pro Tree), which is intended to preserve, restore, and reforest land throughout Mexico, while also reducing poverty levels near forestlands. Under Pro Árbol, Mexico will plant 250 million trees, one quarter of the global goal established in the UN Environment Program's 'Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign.'
The partnership between Coca-Cola de México, Pronatura and Conafor will account for 10 percent of the federal government's current reforestation goal. Coca-Cola's commitment will fund soil management and restoration, along with reforestation and water harvesting activities at locations throughout Mexico. The project will have supervision by a third party, Conafor, to assure minimal survival of 40 percent of trees/plants, to achieve objectives established.