Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition Expands Global Restoration Efforts with New Sites and Projects

Together with partners Conservation International and the World Resources Institute, Mastercard is expanding the Priceless Planet Coalition’s global portfolio of restoration sites. The Coalition, comprised of over 150 corporate and financial institution partners, is introducing three new restoration sites and expanding six existing projects, increasing investment in areas that have significant potential for positive global impact. This development brings the total number of Priceless Planet Coalition’s restoration projects to 22, further solidifying its dedication to restoring vital ecosystems worldwide.
This expansion is a crucial step towards the coalition’s goal of funding the restoration of 100 million trees. The addition of these new sites and the enhancement of current projects underscore the coalition’s continuous efforts to maximize benefits on climate, communities, and biodiversity.
The project portfolio of the Priceless Planet Coalition includes diverse geographical representation in the following locations: Asia Pacific (Australia, Cambodia, China, the Philippines, India, and now Thailand as well); Latin America (Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, and now including High Andes restoration sites in Ecuador and Peru); Europe (France, Portugal, Spain, Scotland); Middle East & Africa (Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, United Arab Emirates); and North America (Mexico, United States, Canada).
The coalition is expanding investment in six of its 19 existing sites across Madagascar, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Malawi. This strategic expansion will build on the coalition’s existing partnership, knowledge and learnings, increasing the scope of impact, providing additional funding to maximize climate, biodiversity, and community benefits in these regions. In Colombia, for example, the Musesi restoration project in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in partnership with the Colombia Ministry of the Environment is supporting the Indigenous Arhuaco people to restore their sacred lands, ensuring that the project aligns with their cultural and environmental values. According to Conservation International, over 429 Arhuaco families from 14 communities have participated in growing and planting more than 700,000 trees, restoring almost 2,500 acres of land across three watersheds. The community-based approach has fostered technical skills and increased capacity for future restoration efforts. This initiative not only contributes to national and global climate objectives but also strengthens the governance of the Arhuaco community, helping them reclaim their ancestral territory.
Building on this success, further investment from the Priceless Planet Coalition will allow the Musesi project to restore an additional 2.5 million trees, covering an additional 4,500 acres and ultimately aiming to capture an estimated 64,140 tonnes of CO2, according to Conservation International.