Leonardo DiCaprio and Jeff Bezos donate $200M to protect Amazon rainforest
and are now part of the effort to protect the vital areas of the Amazon rainforest through the Protect Our Planet Challenge. Between 's Re:Wild conservation and Bezos's Nature Solutions, the two non-profits are putting $200 million into the POP Challenge that will 'support the expansion and management of Brazil's protected areas and Indigenous territories,' according to . The hefty donation will be used over the next four years to help Brazil achieve zero deforestation in the Amazon and accelerate the South American country's transition to a sustainable and green economy. The organization is also working with Brazil's Minister of the Environment, Minister of Indigenous Peoples and nine Amazon states. 'We are inspired by Brazil's ambitious goals for protecting the Amazon, one of the most important places for wildlife on the planet, and are thrilled to be able to support these efforts through the Protecting Our Planet Challenge,' DiCaprio, 48, said in a statement Friday. The main goal is prevent further destruction of the Amazon rainforest by pledging zero deforestation of 145 million acres of undesignated public lands. To help make this happen there will be a commitment to improve the management of existing protected areas, and upholding the rights of Indigenous communities. Cristian Samper, managing director and leader of Nature Solutions of the Bezos Earth Fund, highlighted the vital importance the Amazon plays in the ecosystem. 'The Amazon is critical for the future of global biodiversity and climate, and we welcome the commitment from President Lula and the Government of Brazil to protect it.' Samper went on share some of the plan that will oversee the effort over these next four years. 'We are pleased to support the designation and management of protected areas and Indigenous territories as a key part of the strategy to reduce deforestation, along with new economic models of development based on the conservation and sustainable use of the forest', he explained. On a grand scale, the Protecting Our Planet Challenge is 'helping to ensure that the world protects at least 30 percent of nature - both land and sea - by 2030,' according to the POP . 'This is not just a goal about numbers - but a goal to ensure out planet forever remains a sustainable home for both people and wildlife,' Samper explains. Studies show that protected areas are one of the most cost-effective ways to safeguard nature, vulnerable human populations, and climate, as ong as they're well-managed and respect the rights and needs of Indigenous peoples and local communities. The Protecting Our Planet Challenge is the largest-ever private funding commitment to biodiversity conservation. POP prioritizes work with Indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as local and federal governments. The organization works together to support projects by building collective efforts behind a more equitable, carbon neutral and nature-positive future. Meeting this goal will require greater ambition, innovation and collaboration among governments, companies and civil society to secure the mosaic of areas necessary for success. Yet this will only be possible if we also uphold the power and advance the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities as guardians of the irreplaceable places upon which we all depend. The POP Challenge launched in 2021 when nine philanthropic organizations collectively pledged $5 billion over 10 years in support of the creation, expansion, management, and monitoring of protected and conserved areas of land, inland water, and sea, according to Those initial donations came from Bezos Earth Fund ($1 billion), Wyss Foundation ($500 million), Rainforst Trust ($500 million), Arcadia, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Nia Tero, Re-Wild, Rob and Melani Walton Foundation. The Protecting Our Planet Challenge is calling for additional private and governmental financial commitments to support the 30x30 goal as the climate crisis threatens communities and wildlife across the globe.