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The Yangtze River – the longest river in Asia and the lifeblood of millions of Chinese – was once said to be so clear you could see the bottom. Today, as China’s massive economic growth takes its toll on the environment, it is at the top of the list of the 10 most-threatened rivers in the world, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). To help reverse the tide, the WWF has joined forces with Coca-Cola, which operates 39 bottling plants in China, to improve the water quality of the upper reaches of the Yangtze.

Conservation issues include rapid population growth and clearing for timber and agriculture have shrunk the natural forest cover of the river basin. The lack of forest cover has aggravated flooding resulting in erosion. Habitat loss due to development and land reclamation has harmed the populations of several species. Natural fisheries production has declined. Pollutants from China’s rapidly expanding industrial sector have contaminated much of the river.

The partnership will engage in watershed management in two upper Yangtze tributaries, develop best management practices for water use and water stewardship and promote best practices among industries and other water users throughout the basin.