On August 4, 2026, Re:wild, a group co-founded by Leonardo DiCaprio, and the Bezos Earth Fund, chaired by Jeff Bezos, announced the Phoenix Species Project. It began with a $200 million pledge to help save 100 of the world’s most threatened species, according to a Re:wild press release . We all have probably scrolled past a sad animal story and wondered: what can one person do? This time, two big names were involved. Pangolins, salamanders and rare pigs make the list.
Some answers come from a 2024 study in Science , ‘The positive impact of conservation action. The authors examined 186 studies, which included 665 trials. For now, a pangolin in Southeast Asia, a salamander in a North Carolina canyon, and a pig in the Philippines are on a list with $200 million behind it.
The authors found that in two-thirds of cases, conservation “either improved the state of biodiversity or at least slowed declines” compared with no action. But the authors said conservation is going to have to ramp up a lot to meet global targets. Is this spending really helping? They weighed the results of conservation against the results of doing nothing. The study also found evidence supporting measures like invasive species control, protected areas, and habitat restoration. That fits with the long-term, steady funding Re:wild mentioned. For young readers who are concerned about the planet but feel stuck, this story can feel like a ray of hope. Most of these animals live far away from most of us. However, the local partners lead the work.
