Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental fund commits USD 5 million to Amazon

The alarming wildfires in Amazon have also sparked widespread outrage online, prompting a number of celebrities to use their social media platforms to raise awareness.

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental initiative called Earth Alliance has pledged USD 5 million towards the preservation of the Amazon rain forest following the wildfires. The new organisation's emergency Amazon Forest Fund is working to support local partners and indigenous communities in their efforts to protect the sensitive habitats within the Amazon, reports variety.com. The funds will be donated to five local organizations.

According to the fund's website, more than 72,000 fires have been reported by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) - a sharp growth from 2018's 40,000 fires, which can largely be attributed to an unprecedented surge in deforestation by cattle operations and feed crops.

The alarming wildfires have also sparked widespread outrage online, prompting a number of celebrities to use their social media platforms to raise awareness. "The largest rainforest in the world is a critical piece of the global climate solution. Without the Amazon, we cannot keep the Earth's warming in check," DiCaprio had written on Instagram.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

#Regram #RG @earthalliance #EarthAlliance, launched in July by @LeonardoDiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Brian Sheth, has formed an emergency Amazon Forest Fund with a commitment of $5 million dollars to focus critical resources for indigenous communities and other local partners working to protect the life-sustaining biodiversity of the Amazon against the surge of fires currently burning across the region. Join Us. 100 percent of your donation will go to partners who are working on the ground to protect the Amazon. Earth Alliance is committed to helping protect the natural world. We are deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in the Amazon, which highlights the delicate balance of climate, biodiversity, and the wellbeing of indigenous peoples. To learn more or to donate, please visit ealliance.org/amazonfund (see link in bio) Photos: @chamiltonjames, @danielbeltraphoto 2017

A post shared by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) onAug 25, 2019 at 6:51am PDT

Founded in July by DiCaprio, Laurene Powell Jobs and Brian Sheth, Earth Alliance is a climate change organisation led by an independent management team of scientists and conservationists, working to protect ecosystems and wildlife, ensure climate justice, support renewable energy and secure indigenous rights.

Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!