Reviving Rivers for Thriving Communities

January 16, 2025

 

Rivers are vital lifelines that uphold both human civilization and the natural world. Water from rivers nourishes our crops, quench our thirst, and sustain diverse ecosystems. The Caterpillar Foundation understands the essential role rivers play and the growing urgency to protect them.

In the U.S., the Caterpillar Foundation supports the Arizona Land and Water Trust in replenishing at-risk aquifers and mitigating flood risks in communities where there is severe drought and where economic opportunities are limited. By employing traditional water management techniques – such as trincheras and zuni bowls, methods rooted in indigenous knowledge – this project reduces soil erosion, helps to protect against flash floods, and enhances local food security.

The Riggs family, one example of the initiative’s impact, have been ranchers for over six generations and are committed to preserving their land for the future. By partnering with the Arizona Land and Water Trust, they’re in the process of securing conservation easements to protect their land, while aiding the local community’s water conservation efforts. These changes have improved livestock management and infrastructure, showcasing how land conservation sustains livelihoods and the environment.

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The Riggs family at their farm in Arizona.

In the Midwest, the Caterpillar Foundation’s efforts are centered around improving water quality and managing flood risks. The Nature Conservancy is restoring floodplains and riverbanks in the Wabash River Watershed, for example, through programs that enable the conversion of agricultural land to vegetation, which absorbs excess water and pollutants.

In regions where urban water stress and flood risks threaten communities, the Foundation collaborates on projects that integrate nature into its solutions for climate resilience. In Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, the Foundation supports World Resources Institute to restore the Dechatu River Catchment. This project addresses flood risk and water scarcity for approximately 177,000 people living in vulnerable areas.

Caterpillar Foundation recognizes that healthy rivers are the backbone for thriving communities. In 2023, the Foundation supported 20 organizations in 21 countries in building basic infrastructure services, like water and energy, and restoring natural ecosystems to withstand natural disasters and environmental challenges. This support helps collaborators ensure that rivers continue to nourish ecosystems and sustain communities around the world for generations to come.