Leonardo DiCaprio and Bezos Earth Fund launch $200M plan to save 100 species

Leonardo DiCaprio and the Bezos Earth Fund have launched the Phoenix Species Project, a $200 million initiative to save 100 of the world’s most endangered species.

The project, announced this week by DiCaprio’s group Re:wild, will provide 5 years of sustained funding for species across 30 countries. The money is split evenly — $100M from the Bezos Earth Fund and $100M from Re:wild.

The effort targets mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, plants, and invertebrates on the verge of extinction. Examples include the golden-crowned sifaka lemur, bowmouth guitarfish, night parrot, and Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander.

“When we protect species, we also protect the forests, wetlands, grasslands, and oceans they depend on,” DiCaprio said.

The project builds on the 2021 Protecting Our Planet Challenge and focuses on full recovery, not just preventing decline. Re:wild says with the right resources, even species with tiny populations can bounce back.