The Coca-Cola Foundation on March 23 announced its support of $150.000 for the WWF Vietnam to enhance the natural ability of ecosystems to control water flows and absorption capacity of Tram Chim National Park and surrounding floodplains.

The Coca-Cola Foundation is supporting WWF Vietnam to help improve the capacity of wetlands. Photo: Nguyen Van Hung

Tran Thi Hai, WWF Vietnam’s Footprint Conservation director, said that WWF Vietnam has a long-term vision and strategies for Tram Chim National Park and Dong Thap province.

“Our vision is that the floodplain in the Plain of Reeds is restored and integrated as a part of the economy and social development. These strategies for floodplain restoration will be applied across the Upper Delta and in communities where people are seeking approaches to mitigate flooding. We appreciate the support of The Coca-Cola Foundation in helping us achieve these objectives,” said Hai.

Saadia Madsbjerg, president of The Coca-Cola Foundation shared, “We’ve been proud to see the impact from our support to WWF Vietnam over the years in restoring the local wetland biodiversity and ecosystem in Tram Chim National Park and helping people around the area improve their livelihoods. We’re excited about the next chapter of the programme.”

Located in the upper part of the Mekong Delta, Tram Chim National Park represents the last remaining one per cent of the wetland. Photo: Dao Quoc Binh, WWF Vietnam

Over the last decade, the partnership has worked on the advancement of conservation of the wetland through various activities including restoring the soil health, removing invasive species, and reestablishing the hydrologic connection.

This has allowed the wetland to continue to support 130 fish species and 256 bird species, including the park’s endangered Sarus Crane. In addition, it also supports the community of 50,000 people who live in and around the park through ecotourism.

The approach of using the natural ecosystem services of the wetland to manage flooding and drought not only lowers maintenance costs but also brings many benefits such as water access, flood protection, biodiversity, recreation, and the provision of food and raw materials.

Through the support, WWF Vietnam and Tram Chim National Park will engage 1,000 people from four communes, improving their awareness and supporting actions in water conservation and environmental protection, including river and canal waterway clean-ups and adopting agricultural methods that are using less water and chemicals.

Further research and stakeholder engagement in the first year will lay out the business cases for the public-partnership model for nature base solutions, restoring and building up multi-functional wetlands as well as showcasing more nature-based solutions as proof of concept.

The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Established in 1984, the foundation has invested more than $1.2 billion around the world to protect the environment, empower women, and enhance the overall well-being of people and communities.

The Coca-Cola Foundation has pledged to give back 1 per cent of the prior year’s operating income annually as an initiative to support local communities across the world and create a better future.

Coca-Cola is one of the best-known international brands in Vietnam. Coca-Cola Vietnam’s manufacturing facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and Hanoi employ around 2,000 people while creating anadditional 6-8 timesof that in indirect jobs throughout the company’s value chain.

As a beverage company, Coca-Cola is continuously investing in product innovation, packaging options, and a wide portfolio of quality beverages which include less-sugar and zero-sugar variants.

The company is also fully committed to creating shared values in the communities it serves by ensuring that sustainability is at the core of its business operations.

Coca-Cola continues building sustainable communities in locations where the company operates. Since 2010, Coca-Cola has invested millions of dollars in community projects in Vietnam.