Leonardo DiCaprio Launches $5 Million Emergency Fund To Help Combat Amazon Rainforest Fires

By Mandy Froelich / Truth Theory

For weeks, the Amazon rainforest has been on fire. Though wildfires in South America are not uncommon, there has been an increase of 32,000 blazes recorded in Brazil this year compared to the same time in 2018. Last week alone, there were 9,000 fires recorded throughout the region.

To help put an end to the misery being inflicted upon native species and indigenous populations, actor and esteemed environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio contributed $5 million to the  Amazon Forest Fund. As GoodNewsNetwork reports, the emergency response fund was created by Earth Alliance mid-August.

The independent nonprofit was created by Dicaprio and philanthropists Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth. So far, Earth Alliance has recruited teams of scientists and conservationists to protect vulnerable ecosystems, secure the rights of indigenous people worldwide, and promote the growth of renewable energy resources.

“Earth Alliance has formed an emergency Amazon Forest Fund with an initial commitment of $5 million to focus critical resources on the key protections needed to maintain the ‘lungs of the planet,’” explains the organization’s website. “These funds will be distributed directly to local partners and the indigenous communities protecting the Amazon, the incredible diversity of wildlife that lives there, and the health of the planet overall.”

Over 5000 people have downloaded our free ebook “Growth Hacking Tips And Rituals For Optimal Living” CLICK HERE to get your free copy now

The funds will also go toward financing conservational groups including the Instituto Associacao Floresta Protegida, Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), Instituto Kabu, Instituto Raoni, and Instituto Socioambiental.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ltuBjlNuY/?utm_source=ig_embed

DiCaprio and colleagues are not alone in their efforts. Following news of the burning rainforest, the tree-planting search engine Ecosia recorded a 1,150% increase in downloads. Once word about the wildfires spread like, well, wildfire, the app was downloaded over 250,000 times in one day. Since its launch, the nonprofit tech group says it has helped to plant over 650 million trees around the world. 

What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!

IMAGE CREDIT: US. Department Of State