We’re granting €2.2 million to Arco Verde in Madrid – an initiative to bring nature closer to citizens through a new walking and cycling route that will also contribute to the conservation, biodiversity, and rewilding of the region. The funding comes from our Right Now Climate Fund, where €20 million is committed to support nature-based projects in communities where we operate across Europe.
Arco Verde is an initiative created by Madrid’s Regional Government, with the aim of reducing pollution and improving access to nature among the community through the creation of a large ‘green ring’ connecting three regional parks: Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, the middle course of the Guadarrama, and Southeast. When completed, the Arco Verde will span approximately 200 kilometres in total, surrounding the metropolitan area of Madrid, and is expected to connect 3.7 million people with nature in communities across 25 municipalities.
Our funds will be used for the restoration of natural habitats across 14 kilometres of the ring, starting from San Fernando de Henares to Rivas-Vaciamadrid. Through the investment, 16.7 hectares will be reforested with more than 16,000 trees and bushes, and pedestrian paths and bike lanes will be introduced. As well as improving biodiversity through planting trees and shrubs, the installation of infrastructure - such as nesting boxes - seeks to encourage the presence of native species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and pollinators. Our contribution will also fund the installation of signposts to help visitors navigate their journeys, as well as the weeding, cleaning, and maintenance works in the area for three years.
“Rewilding and improving habitats for wildlife are all vital steps towards fighting climate change, while new bicycle lanes and walkways will be a wonderful way for people to discover and enjoy greater biodiversity in the region,” said Mariangela Marseglia, VP and General Manager of Amazon in Spain, Italy, and Portugal. “Amazon’s contribution to Arco Verde will help to positively impact the lives of millions of people living and working in Madrid; including our employees, who will all be able to enjoy easier access to nature.”
The Arco Verde ring will be easily accessible by foot, bicycle or public transport, and the government of Madrid expects the project to reduce vehicle traffic and improve air quality. Arco Verde’s plan began four years ago, and it is expected to conclude before the end of 2024. The Amazon-funded section was started in January 2024.
“Arco Verde is one of the most ambitious projects in Europe, a true commitment to our natural heritage that is contributing to improving native species of flora and fauna. It’s a very stimulating, attractive and inspiring project. We are thankful to Amazon for the trust it has always placed in Madrid, with the creation of so many jobs that boost our economy,” said Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid. "In the Community of Madrid, we work to have a landscape that takes care of our city, creates jobs and encourages our citizens to learn more about achieving energy savings and intelligent consumption. In other words, research and development at the service of nature. That is the joint work between administrations and companies in which we believe at the Community of Madrid.”
Arco Verde is the second Right Now Climate Fund investment from Amazon in Spain. In April 2023, we supported the Green Helmets programme in partnership with CIFAL Málaga-UNITAR, the Regional Government of Andalusia. Through this initiative, 4,000 students across 60 schools in Andalusia were educated on how to develop and implement sustainability projects that contribute to the recovery and protection of nature, while mitigating the effects of climate change. As part of the project, we also funded the reforestation of a 500-hectare area in Sierra Bermeja, planting 20,000 trees and distributing more than 26,000 seeds following the Japanese method “Nendo Dango”. This method consists of spreading seeds rolled within a ball of clay to assist germination, and is described as one of the most effective techniques to restore nature in fire-devastated areas. Additionally, more than 400,000 seeds were distributed with drones in difficult-to-access areas.
As part of the Right Now Climate Fund’s commitment to funding nature-based projects in European communities, we have also invested in a nature and wildlife restoration fund in France, a reforestation programme in Italy, an urban greening programme in Germany, a rewilding and tree planting project in the UK, the world’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm located off the coast of the Netherlands, and a blanket bog restoration project in Ireland. We have also funded forest conservation and restoration in the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, and the Agroforestry and Restoration Accelerator programme in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest.
We are a key member of the LEAF Coalition, a new global public-private initiative to mobilise at least $1 billion to protect the world's tropical rainforests. We have also allocated $15 million for nature-based projects in the Asia-Pacific region, with $3 million dedicated to India-based projects, including planting 300,000 trees in the Western Ghats.
Amazon is the co-founder and the first signatory of The Climate Pledge, a commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040. More than 450 signatories in 59 sectors and 42 countries – 25 of which are in Spain – are working together on initiatives to preserve nature and invest in decarbonisation technologies. As part of our commitment, we’re on a path to reaching 100% renewable energy across our operations by 2025. We also continue innovating to transform our transportation network, by adding alternative modes of transportation such as electric vans, cargo bikes and scooters, and we keep investing in technologies, processes, and materials to reduce packaging waste. Since 2015, we have helped reduce the weight of packaging per shipment by 41% and avoided more than 2 million tons of packaging material.
Learn more about how we support nature-based solutions here.
