DiCaprio Donates $2 Million Towards Ocean Conservation

Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently donated a total of two million dollars to the ocean conservation group known as Oceans 5. But this is no isolated donation, the renowned celebrity is also a well-respected environmental advocate, and has made numerous donations and earned significant accolades over the years.

This latest donation will reportedly help establish new protected aquatic parks along the Pacific Islands and in the Arctic, where a great many species remain threatened by climate change, invasive species, and illegal fishing. The money will also be used to improve the enforcement of existing protected fisheries around Europe, the Unites States, and Central America. They money will lastly be used towards the creation of a large marine monument in remote Pacific waters of the United States.

"Oceans 5 is an exciting new platform for marine conservation. Working together with other philanthropists, we are making smarter, more impactful investments for the future of our planet," DiCaprio said in a recent statement. "The sad truth is that less than two percent of our oceans are fully protected. We need to change that now. My Foundation supports Oceans 5 projects that are directly improving ocean health by stopping overfishing and creating marine reserves."

The donation was made through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which has been working to support solutions to environmental issues since 1998. For this work and others, DiCaprio was even recently appointed as a "Messenger of Peace" by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

As this unique type of UN representative, the Hollywood star has become a voice for environmental efforts across the globe, namely those that have to do with encroaching climate change problems.

"The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation is a valued partner of Oceans 5," Kristian Parker, Chairman of the Geneva-based Oak Foundation, added in a recent release. "Leo's personal commitment is phenomenal. He brings enormous energy and enthusiasm to our work for the oceans."

Oceans 5 is a foundation that works with a collaboration of grants from numerous private foundations like DiCaprio's. Together, these grants are committed towards large and impactful conservation projects that normally could not be supported by one organization alone.