Full Breakdown
Phoenix Species Project: $200 Million Drive to Rescue 100 Critically Endangered Species
8/6/2026, 9:42:18 PM
Launch of the Phoenix Species Project
The Bezos Earth Fund and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Re:wild announced a $200 million initiative to pull 100 species from the brink of extinction. Operating in 30 countries, the project will target mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates and plants, with more than 100 local and international partners designing recovery plans.
Background & Context
The effort builds on a 2021 meeting between DiCaprio, Re:wild co-founder Dr. Wes Sechrest, Jeff Bezos and vice-chair Lauren Sánchez Bezos to explore long-term conservation financing. It aligns with Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls on nations to halt extinctions. The IUCN Species Survival Commission serves as the scientific partner, and the Reverse the Red Action Partnership will help governments prioritize species and activate recovery actions.
Data & Statistics
- Total commitment: $200 million (half from the Bezos Earth Fund, half from Re:wild).
- Additional funders: Age of Union and the Todd Graves Family Foundation.
- Scope: 100 critically endangered species across 30 countries.
- Partner network: >100 organizations.
- Conservation context: of the ~176,000 species assessed on the IUCN Red List, more than 31,000 are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered or Extinct in the Wild.
Official Statements & Responses
Lauren Sánchez Bezos framed the effort as a response to children’s love of animals, noting that the initiative offers “a real answer” to the loss of iconic species such as the night parrot and the golden-crowned sifaka.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We've protected the golden-crowned sifaka for years on a budget that would never match what this species deserves, but letting it go extinct was never an option,” — Tiana Andriamanana, executive director
- “For decades, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and conservation leaders have been on the front lines of protecting nature, and what has been made clear through research, is that species on the brink of extinction are often the ones that anchor some of the world’s most important ecosystems,” — Leonardo DiCaprio
- “It’s been very exciting and energizing to work with local partners who are championing these species with their hopeful visions and strategies to quickly turn the tide,” — Yula Kepetanakos, Re:wild senior manager
Why It Matters
The selected species include the golden-crowned sifaka of Madagascar, the ancient bowmouth guitarfish of Indo-Pacific waters, the “fuzzy belly button” succulent of South Africa, the Hickory Nut Gorge green salamander of North Carolina, Mexico’s Charco Azul pupfish and Australia’s night parrot. Long-term, species-specific funding will support captive-breeding, habitat restoration, disease management, translocations and invasive-species control. Recoveries are expected to reinforce ecosystems, delivering clean water, ecotourism opportunities and climate-resilience benefits.
The project also aims to attract additional philanthropic contributions, encouraging a coordinated response to the accelerating biodiversity crisis.
