Marked by the sweeping visuals of shorebirds and the scurried nature of crabs on the sandy horizon, coastlines are among the most dynamic environments on earth – continually shaped and reshaped by waves, winds, tides and storms. These natural ecosystems thrive amidst the constant change, and have even developed the capacity to shape that change. Caterpillar is recognizing the brilliance and simplicity of Earth’s “natural infrastructure” in a new investment with The Nature Conservancy.
Caterpillar Inc. announced today a $250,000 investment in The Nature Conservancy’s Coastal Resilience program, with specific efforts targeted to Ormond Beach in Ventura County, California. The program will demonstrate how using traditional build infrastructure along with the Earth’s natural infrastructure – beach dunes, floodplains, estuaries, marshes, wetlands and reefs – can productively sequester carbon and effectively reduce the environmental and socioeconomic risks of sea level rise.
The investment will assess the vulnerabilities of human and natural resources related to rising sea levels and promote the use of natural infrastructure as part of an effective defense for protecting people and property from storms and floods.
“We know that when the environment is supported and strong, so too are the economies which it encompasses. This exciting Coastal Resilience program will provide the science and tools to help communities become more resilient as they face changes in their coastal conditions and to mitigate associated hazards,” said Pablo Koziner, vice president with responsibility for Solar Turbines, a Caterpillar company based in San Diego, California. “Caterpillar is proud of this investment with our long-time partner, The Nature Conservancy, as it addresses the point where ecological concerns meet economic realities.”
“The Nature Conservancy has been successful by focusing on pragmatic, market-based solutions for conservation challenges, recognizing that the private sector is a vital partner in advancing our mission. Caterpillar Inc. and the Caterpillar Foundation have continued to be dedicated partners with The Nature Conservancy, and their support has had a ripple effect, improving and elevating the Conservancy’s work around the world,” said Diane Rudin, director of strategic partnerships for The Nature Conservancy.
Caterpillar Inc. and the Caterpillar Foundation have a long history with The Nature Conservancy, working together since 1979. Most recently, the Great Rivers Partnership between the Caterpillar Foundation and The Nature Conservancy furthered the preservation of river systems and the promotion of sustainable river usage practices on the Mississippi River in the United States, Brazil’s Paraguay-Parana river system and the Yangtze River in China.