A new initiative worth $200 million from the Bezos Earth Fund and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Re:wild aims to aid in the recovery of 100 endangered species, such as pink iguanas, lemurs, wild pigs, and pangolins. The Phoenix Species Project intends to offer continuous financial support for breeding programs, habitat restoration, and conservation efforts led by local communities. However, it sparks a broader query: Can philanthropy supported by billionaires contribute positively to the environment and enhance donors’ green image, despite concerns about the environmental practices of the companies that brought them wealth?
As governments scale back their commitments to climate and biodiversity, private funders are increasingly stepping in to fill the void. The Bezos Earth Fund has pledged $100 million for the project, with Re:wild and other collaborators contributing the remainder. Despite criticisms directed at Amazon for issues like plastic pollution, deforestation, and excessive water usage at its data centers, the fund, established by Jeff Bezos, aims to make a positive impact through this initiative.
According to Wren Montgomery, a researcher at the Greenwash Action Lab and a sustainability professor at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business, greenwashing entails portraying an overly positive image of an entity’s environmental practices. Montgomery expressed concerns after examining the project’s website, pointing out selective disclosure that emphasizes positive actions while diverting attention from detrimental activities elsewhere. She emphasized the importance of considering the overall impact of such initiatives, even if they carry out positive work while concealing negative aspects.
The Bezos Earth Fund’s managing director, Cristián Samper, highlighted that the selected species were based on the readiness of local partners to execute conservation efforts. The initiative aligns with the fund’s $10 billion commitment to addressing climate and biodiversity challenges, with plans to document progress, setbacks, and insights through an online dashboard.
Dax Dasilva, a Montreal entrepreneur and environmentalist, who co-founded the non-profit organization Age of Union in 2021 with a $40 million investment, partners with Re:wild to safeguard ecosystems and species. Dasilva emphasized the tangible impact of the project, stating that it will be transformative and essential in the current scenario. He underscored the need for continued conservation efforts, highlighting the project’s focus on habitat restoration, disease control, conservation breeding, and invasive species management.
Chris Johnson, a professor at the University of Northern British Columbia specializing in the conservation and ecology of large terrestrial mammals, although not directly involved in the project, hopes it will draw attention to the global biodiversity crisis. While acknowledging that the project’s scope covers only a fraction of the endangered species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Johnson appreciates any genuine commitment to biodiversity conservation.
Private funding, while agile and supportive of local initiatives, cannot substitute environmental regulations, habitat protections, public funding, or corporate responsibility, as per critics. Montgomery raised concerns that such initiatives might serve to divert attention from the environmental impact of data centers. The success of the project will be gauged by the recovery of species, improvement of habitats, and sustained assistance to local groups, making the outcomes more measurable than the donors’ intentions.