The Phoenix Species Project—backed by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Re:wild and the Bezos Earth Fund—will invest $200 million to help recover 100 critically endangered species worldwide. Launched from discussions that began in 2021, the initiative aims to scale proven local efforts by providing long-term funding, technical support and global attention. Organizers emphasize partnerships with Indigenous and local communities and focus on habitat restoration and ecosystem resilience.
DiCaprio and Bezos Pledge $200M to Rescue 100 Critically Endangered Species
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Actor and environmental advocate Leonardo DiCaprio and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos are backing a new conservation initiative that will invest $200 million to help recover 100 of the world’s most threatened species.
What Is the Phoenix Species Project?
Called the Phoenix Species Project, the effort is led by DiCaprio’s conservation group Re:wild in partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund. Organizers describe it as the largest single fund in history dedicated exclusively to recovering critically endangered species, according to The Associated Press.
How the Project Began
The initiative grew from a 2021 meeting that included Jeff Bezos, Leonardo DiCaprio, Re:wild co-founder and CEO Wes Sechrest, and Lauren Sanchez Bezos, vice chair of the Bezos Earth Fund. The idea evolved through consultations with Indigenous peoples, local governments and environmental groups to shape locally led, practical recovery plans.
What the Funding Will Do
Rather than creating entirely new programs, the Phoenix Species Project aims to scale up smaller, promising conservation efforts that often struggle for reliable long-term funding. By combining sustained capital, technical expertise and global attention, the initiative seeks to improve the odds that recovery plans will succeed over time.
- Examples of species to be supported: Galápagos pink land iguana, Malayan pangolin, Tanzania’s pancake tortoise, among others.
- Types of support: Long-term financing, technical assistance, capacity building, habitat restoration and strengthened partnerships with Indigenous communities and local organizations.
Organizers say protecting keystone and other at-risk species helps preserve ecosystem functions—clean water, healthy soils, pollination and climate resilience—that people and communities depend on.
When species disappear, the consequences can ripple outward: weakened forests, wetlands and coastlines, reduced protection from flooding and erosion, and damage to tourism and local livelihoods tied to nature. Sustained, patient investment allows local groups to carry out slower, less visible work—such as restoring habitat and monitoring populations—that is often essential to full recovery.
Why This Matters
By focusing on proven efforts and partnering with communities closest to the landscapes, the Phoenix Species Project aims to convert short-term gains into lasting recoveries. If successful, it could serve as a model for how concentrated funding and collaboration accelerate species revival globally.
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