The environmental actor, with other environmental protection groups, aims to rebuild the entire archipelago and other islands in the Pacific
Leonardo Di Caprio announces a $ 43 million donation to a bold initiative: rebuilding the Galapagos Islands by trying to restore their habitats. But not only. The American actor aims to achieve a feat never before attempted: to restore all the Pacific archipelagos of Latin America, from Mexico to Chile.
Leading the work will be Re: wild, the new global environmental organization launched yesterday and founded by DiCaprio. The organization aims to help build a world in balance with wild nature, starting with the first major commitment: working with the Galápagos National Park Management and local communities.
The massive figure will fund a number of projects including efforts to restore Floreana Island, which is home to 54 threatened species, and reintroduce 13 locally extinct species, including the mocking thrush Floreana, the first mocking thrush described by Charles Darwin.
“When I went to the Galápagos Islands, I met Paula Castaño and other environmental heroes in Ecuador who worked day after day to save one of the most irreplaceable places on the planet. I am thrilled to share her team's work and to support the longstanding effort to protect and restore these iconic islands, alongside the Re: wild team, ”said Leonardo DiCaprio. “All over the world, wilderness is in decline. We have degraded three quarters of the wilderness and brought more than a million species to the brink of extinction. More than half of the Earth's remaining wildernesses could disappear in the coming decades if we don't act decisively. Fortunately, conservation leaders like Paula are showing us that it is not too late to reverse this alarming trend. Re: wild offers a bold vision to amplify and scale local solutions led by indigenous peoples and local communities, non-governmental organizations, businesses and government agencies, to help increase their impact around the world. The environmental heroes the planet needs are already here. Now we must all take up the challenge and join them ”.
Re:wild begins with a $43m commitment to rewild the Galapagos, to bring the Pink Iguana, the Floreana Giant Tortoise and the Floreana Mockingbird back from the brink of extinction, and to ensure the people of the Galápagos thrive with the wild.
— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) May 17, 2021
Leonardo DiCaprio refers to Paula A. Castaño, a wildlife veterinarian and wildlife recovery specialist. Castaño is leading efforts to reintroduce various endangered species.
“Time is running out for so many species, especially on islands where their small populations are vulnerable and threatened. Pink Galapagos Iguanas, Floreana Thrushes, and other wildlife may soon be lost forever if we don't take action. We know how to prevent these extinctions and restore the functioning of thriving ecosystems - we did - but we need to replicate these successes, innovate and scale, "Castaño said." We need investments like the one announced today to replicate our successes in the Galápagos and elsewhere ”.
In fact, DiCaprio has managed to pool public-private support, involving governments, foundations, individuals, businesses and organizations, to address the scale of the threats to the Galápagos.
What the 43 million will be for
They will finance a number of activities and in particular:
- efforts to restore Floreana Island, which is home to 54 threatened species, and to reintroduce 13 locally extinct species;
- implement a captive breeding program and other activities to prevent the extinction of the pink iguana, which lives on an active volcano on Isabela Island;
- strengthen the measures to protect the marine resources of the Galápagos to improve the natural capital of ecotourism, a fundamental component of the economy of the islands and Ecuador.
Across the region, there are also long-term goals to be achieved within the next 10 years:
- restore 25 islands and protect at least 30% of each country's waters;
- halt and reverse the decline of over 250 globally threatened species;
- double the protected areas;
- contribute to the development of resilient and sustainable economies for the local population.
Re: wild is DiCaprio's latest organization, which has long been engaged on various fronts, from fighting climate change to wildlife conservation, from accessing clean water to protecting biodiversity to supporting indigenous communities. To date, through its philanthropic efforts, DiCaprio has made more than $ 100 million in grants available to programs and projects.
Sources of reference: ReWild, Twitter / Leonardo Di Caprio
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