Phoenix Species Project will direct $200 million toward recovering 100 of the world’s most threatened species across 30 countries. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Re and the Bezos Earth Fund are leading the initiative, Baltimore Chronicle notes.
The initiative was announced on August 4, 2026, by Re and the Bezos Earth Fund. The story was also reported by The Washington Post.
DiCaprio and Bezos commit $100 million each
The project begins with $100 million from Re and another $100 million from the Bezos Earth Fund. Additional support comes from DiCaprio, Age of Union and the Todd Graves Family Foundation.
Organizers describe Phoenix as the largest single philanthropic initiative focused exclusively on recovering critically endangered species. Funding will extend across several years instead of relying on short grant cycles.
The central idea is recovery rather than simply slowing population decline.
Which endangered species will receive support
The 100 selected species include mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, invertebrates and plants. They occur across habitats ranging from tropical forests to volcanic landscapes.
Among the best-known animals highlighted by the project are:
- golden-crowned sifaka from Madagascar;
- Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander from North Carolina;
- Visayan warty pig from the Philippines;
- Cozumel harvest mouse from Mexico;
- pink land iguana from the Galápagos;
- Malayan, or Sunda, pangolin;
- pancake tortoise from Tanzania;
- starry night harlequin toad from Colombia;
- Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna from New Guinea.
Many have extremely restricted habitats. That makes habitat loss, invasive species, disease and human pressure especially dangerous.
How the $200 million conservation project will work
More than 100 local and international partners will participate. Indigenous communities, governments, scientists and conservation organizations are expected to lead projects on the ground.
The planned conservation measures vary by species:
| Area | Possible action |
|---|---|
| Populations | Conservation breeding |
| Habitats | Ecosystem restoration |
| Threats | Invasive species control |
| Health | Disease management |
| Recovery | Translocation programs |
The IUCN Species Survival Commission will serve as a global knowledge partner. Population recovery and reductions in major threats will also be tracked over time.
For DiCaprio, the project follows years of conservation work through Re. The initiative itself grew from discussions that began after a 2021 meeting involving DiCaprio, Re co-founder Wes Sechrest, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos.
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