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.