A new international initiative aimed at restoring endangered species has launched in Yerevan, with public backing from world-famous actor, environmentalist and Re:wild founder Leonardo DiCaprio. Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan announced this.
According to the minister, ahead of COP17, the Coalition for Actions to Restore Endangered Species (CARES) was officially launched jointly with Colombia, joined by 16 countries as founding participants. DiCaprio praised these countries' commitment to delivering measurable results in restoring species at risk of extinction.
The involvement of the Bezos Earth Fund in international species conservation efforts is also important. Under the Phoenix Species Project initiative implemented jointly with Re:wild, the fund supports the restoration of 100 species that are critically endangered or already extinct in the wild across 30 countries, with an initial commitment of $500 million.
All of this shows that the international cooperation taking shape in Yerevan unites states, the scientific community, environmental organizations and philanthropic foundations. Armenia is becoming not only a platform for global discussions on biodiversity conservation but also a center for shaping new international initiatives and practical cooperation," he said.
The figures are impressive, but it is worth paying attention to whose pocket they come from. The $500 million is not the CARES coalition's budget; that money is directed by the Bezos Earth Fund under a separate program implemented jointly with Re:wild. The difference is not small when it comes to who is actually paying for restoration work and who is merely signing a commitment.
In this story, Yerevan is so far a platform, not a player. The joining of 16 countries is a good start, but the history of coalitions teaches that the road from announcements to measurable results is long. In the coming months, it is worth watching which specific species are the first to appear in restoration programs and who will monitor their progress.
In the meantime, DiCaprio's support certainly brings attention to the issue. But attention does not restore nature; money and years of work do.
