Sustainable resource management as a pillar of change

Planet Earth, our only home, faces a series of situations that violate its capacity to sustain life as we experience it today; global biodiversity is in decline, the climate is changing more and more, ecosystems increasingly occupy a smaller surface area and the connectivity between them seems to be running on a thread. This and more, has demonstrated that we must rethink the way in which we relate to our environment, to nature, to the economy, to each other, to the environment, and to the present in order to build a better shared future. From the above, sustainability emerges as a concept that allows us to encompass and move towards that ideal, where both the environment and biodiversity, societies, and the economy coexist in a respectful and resilient way.

Under these three spheres mentioned above, it is important to state their meeting point: the economy needs both an environment and healthy societies to exist; societies need natural resources, ecosystem services of all kinds and to achieve the transition to a regenerative economy to continue inhabiting this planet; and finally, nature needs our conscience, responsibility and economic investment for proper management, so that we can meet the needs of our present, without compromising those of our future. How can the proper management of natural resources lead us to that change that we want to experience?

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To answer the above, we must recognize that we depend entirely on the goods and services that nature provides us, so if the basis of the crisis we are experiencing lies in a rupture with nature, we must find a way to work hand in hand with it to recover that relationship. At Toroto, we believe that nature-based solutions are the comprehensive alternative we need to move towards sustainability, let's see why.

Let's start by defining what nature-based solutions are: they are comprehensive measures and approaches that seek to resolve both environmental and social situations by promoting the benefits that nature gives us; that is, taking advantage of the natural world's capacity to balance and regenerate, and then, carry out actions aimed at guiding and potentiating that characteristic. However, nature-based solutions can take a myriad of forms, as well as solving a myriad of problems as well, including the correct management of resources and their sustainability.

Let's use an example to understand the scope of this tool, because beyond offering us a single solution, it allows us to sustainably manage natural resources in entire locations. Let's talk about the project that we are developing together with the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry, because, with the objective of promoting the water infiltration of three aquifers in different states of Mexico, regenerating water has enormous benefits both for the environment, for communities and the economy. What actions will we take to achieve this commitment to water and people? We will promote the sustainable use of water resources by applying nature-based solutions that help us improve the region's ecosystem resilience - such as ecological restoration actions, soil conservation works, reforestation with native species, and others - which will allow us to regenerate and protect key natural actors that are involved in the replenishment of aquifer water. Although it may sound unobvious, every living organism plays an essential role in balancing natural resources, including water; therefore, protecting the ecosystem and the dynamics that sustain it, is also protecting water and the people who depend on it.

How do surrounding communities benefit from sustainable resource management, which in this case is water? The nature-based solutions that we are going to implement with the Coca-Cola Mexican Industry seek to improve water quality by filtering it and reducing soil erosion, this implies safe access to water resources for communities; they also increase the amount of water available by improving the infiltration and recharge of aquifers, this impacts the availability of water to which communities have access, and therefore, to an improvement in the quality of life and the economy; finally, they improve resilience to change climate, because a healthy ecosystem is capable of counteracting the negative impacts of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, therefore, the implementation of nature-based solutions will positively impact the communities of these localities, as they are the first to suffer the consequences of climate change.

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Now that we have mentioned and evidenced the enormous benefit we obtain from working hand in hand with nature, we can return to the question we asked ourselves at the beginning - how can the proper management of natural resources lead us to that change that we want to experience? - and to answer with greater certainty that the answer lies in walking in line with natural resources, and one of the enormous tools that allows us to do this is the sustainable management of resources, a great solution based on nature. With regard to the above, we want to invite our readers to join our Next webinar, where we will address learning, challenges and opportunities on the path of corporate sustainability: in an enriching conversation with César Adrián Espinosa, Senior Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola Mexico and Soqui Calderón, Regional Director of Sustainability at Grupo Modelo - AB InBev, we will delve into the nature-based solutions they are implementing to guide their complex supply chains towards sustainability.

We are proud to share this path of change with the Mexican Coca-Cola Industry, because we know for sure the environmental and social benefits they will bring to the places where we will work, always taking care of our relationship with nature and people.