DiCaprio, Bezos unite to save the Amazon rainforest

• DiCaprio and Bezos launch $200 million Amazon conservation fund
• The initiative supports Brazil's goal of zero illegal deforestation
• Funding also targets protecting 100 endangered species from extinction

In a significant collaborative effort launched in 2023, actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio and businessman Jeff Bezos united their nonprofit

organizations to address the urgent need for Amazon rainforest conservation. The partnership, which also involved Vice President Lauren Sánchez, established a $200 million commitment through the Protecting Our Planet (POP) Challenge, aimed at bolstering environmental sustainability in Brazil. The initiative was designed to align with Brazil’s national environmental objectives, specifically targeting the goal of achieving zero illegal deforestation. By providing substantial financial backing, the program sought to strengthen the infrastructure required for the physical monitoring and ecological management of national parks and protected territories. A core focus of the funding was the preservation of Indigenous lands, which are considered essential to the long-term health of the rainforest ecosystem.

Supporting Biodiversity and Long-Term Conservation

Reflecting on the partnership at the time of the announcement, Leonardo DiCaprio expressed his support for Brazil’s conservation targets, describing the Amazon as a vital region for global wildlife. He noted that the collaboration was motivated by a desire to assist in the realization of these ambitious environmental goals. Cristián Samper, a representative for the Bezos nonprofit, emphasized that the funding was intended to support both the management of protected areas and the development of sustainable economic models that prioritize forest conservation.


Beyond the primary Amazon initiative, the partnership expanded its scope through the launch of the Phoenix Species Project. This branch of the program shifted focus toward the prevention of extinction for 100 of the world’s most critically endangered species. Rather than relying on short-term interventions, the project was structured to provide sustained, multi-year support for habitat protection, species breeding, and restoration efforts. Among the species identified for priority protection were the Malayan pangolin, the golden-crowned sifaka lemur, and the pink land iguana of the Galápagos, marking a commitment to long-term ecological stability.