This summer, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation awarded $15 million in donations toward global conservation efforts. The money, which furthers the Foundation’s mission to take on some of today’s most pressing environmental issues, will go toward funding early-phase solutions for the protection of endangered and key species as well as marine wildlife and terrestrial ecosystems; funding concrete projects; empowering indigenous communities to ensure the long-term growth and stability of their natural resources; and more.

In a press release on the Foundation’s website, DiCaprio added, “The destruction of our planet continues at a pace we can no longer afford to ignore. I am proud to support these organizations who are working to solve humankind’s greatest challenge,” adding, “We have a responsibility to innovate a future where the habitability of our planet does not come at the expense of those who inhabit it.”

Since 2010, the Foundation has funded over 70 high-impact projects in more than 40 countries across the globe. A full listing of the 27 projects the Foundation has donated to this time around can be found on their website. Emmanuel de Merode, Director of Virunga National Park and one of the recipients of the donations, detailed how the park and its at-risk wildlife will benefit from the money as well as the Foundation’s continued help. “The endangered gorillas of Virunga National Park remain at threat of extinction in the coming years and The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is focusing its efforts on helping us to restore a critically important population in a way that will also enhance local development and stability amongst the communities living around the park. We are delighted to be working together on this important and exciting project.”

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