"Restore our Bays": Coastal restoration in the U.S.A.

The collaboration between Audi of America and the two organizations was developed in close coordination with the Audi Environmental Foundation. Save The Bay and The Chesapeake Bay Foundation were chosen because their work is of great importance in strengthening climate resilience along the coasts. Both organizations are dedicated to water protection and the protection of the ecosystem and make a valuable contribution to the restoration of biodiversity.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, established more than 50 years ago, focuses on restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay in the eastern United States. It carries out practical measures for coastal rehabilitation and offers environmental education programs. In addition, the organization is involved in political lobbying to promote the protection of the bay. "To achieve our goal of saving the Chesapeake Bay, a job made more difficult as a result of climate change, we will need innovative new partnerships. We are excited to partner with the Audi Environmental Foundation and Audi of America to expand our work to build resilient shorelines and add billions of new oysters to our waterways," said Katharene Poston Snavely, Chief Development Officer at Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "Working together with all of our partners we will achieve cleaner water and a thriving Chesapeake Bay for the benefit of everyone living in the watershed."

Save The Bay has been committed to protecting and restoring San Francisco Bay in the western United States for over 60 years. The organization works with political advocacy, wetland restoration, and environmental education to preserve the bay's ecosystem for the benefit of humans and animals. "We are grateful to receive funding from the Audi Environmental Foundation to protect and restore vital wetland habitat around San Francisco Bay," said Jessie Olson, Habitat Restoration Director at Save The Bay. "Climate change presents an urgent threat, and this support will help us continue to build innovative restoration solutions toward a more resilient future for people and wildlife."

The first volunteer campaigns with Audi of America employees took place in the spring. First, a group planted seedlings with Save the Bay in the Bay Area near San Francisco to restore vital wetlands. A few weeks later, one team supported the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as part of the oyster farming program, another team of volunteers helped with the strawberry harvest on a farm and learned more about the importance of regenerative agriculture for the Chesapeake Bay.

The protection of coasts and waters is crucial, as they are home to a rich variety of habitats and species. The collaboration between the Audi Environmental Foundation and the two U.S. organizations will help protect and restore these important ecosystems to create long-term benefits for the environment and the communities that depend on them.