Earth Alliance, a non-governmental organization co-founded by Leonardo DiCaprio, has pledged $5 million to help to combat the fires destroying the Amazon rainforest.
These funds will be donated directly to local partners and indigenous communities that are working towards protecting the Amazon rainforest, the wildlife, and the health of the planet.
A statement on the Earth Alliance website says: “The destruction of the Amazon rainforest is rapidly releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, destroying an ecosystem that absorbs millions of tonnes of carbon emissions every year and is one of the planet’s best defences against the climate crisis.”
Instituto Associacao Floresta Protegida (Kayapo), Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), Instituto Kabu (Kayapo), Instituto Raoni (Kayapo) and Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) are the beneficiaries of this donation.
The number of forest fires in the Amazon in Brazil, till date this year is more than a massive 72,000. This is a considerable increase from the 40,000 forest fires that Amazon forest in Brazil experienced by this time last year.
The actor announced this donation over his Instagram account.
What is Earth Alliance?
Earth Alliance is an organization that helps “address the urgent threats to our planet’s life support systems.” It was founded by Academy Award winner Leonardo DiCaprio along with philanthropists and businesswoman Laurene Powell Jobs and philanthropist and investor Brian Sheth.
It was launched in July 2019.
If you’d like to contribute towards the noble cause, you can do so by clicking here.
