The incredible £35m project to transform wild islands backed by Hollywood star

The are witnessing a groundbreaking effort to restore the pristine ecosystems that made them world-renowned.

A new coalition of conservation organisations, supported by a significant financial commitment from star and environmental advocate , is set to embark on a monumental rewilding project aimed at returning these islands to their natural glory, all while boosting ecotourism and local economies.

Backed by a $43million (£35million) pledge from Mr DiCaprio, the initiative focuses on Floreana Island, one of the archipelago’s most ecologically significant regions.

Home to 54 threatened species, Floreana will be a central hub for rewilding efforts, with plans to reintroduce 13 species that have been lost to extinction on the island, including the Floreana mockingbird, a species famously described by Charles Darwin during his visit to the islands in the 1830s.

The project is a collaboration between Re:wild, the Galápagos National Park Directorate, Island Conservation, and local communities, all working together to restore .

“The ecosystems that sustain us have evolved over billions of years, and to tackle the climate crisis, we need to restore them to their most wild and natural state,” said Wes Sechrest, Chief Scientist and CEO of . This message resonates with a growing movement to conserve and rewild Earth’s most precious natural areas.

The rewilding project goes beyond just returning . A key part of the initiative is the establishment of a captive breeding program for the endangered pink iguana, a species found only in the Galápagos. This program will help prevent the extinction of this iconic creature while contributing to broader conservation efforts across the islands.

At the same time, the initiative will focus on bolstering the protection of marine resources in the surrounding waters, which are crucial to both the islands’ ecosystems and the Ecuadorian economy. Ecotourism, which attracts thousands of visitors to the Galápagos each year, will play an integral role in sustaining these efforts, providing financial resources for further conservation work.

Marcelo Mata Guerrero, Ecuador’s Minister of Environment and Water, emphasized the importance of such partnerships for global conservation. “By leveraging social, financial, and technical innovations, we can begin to restore our planet’s ecosystems,” he said.

The road to restoring these islands is not without its challenges, however. Invasive species such as rodents and feral cats have wreaked havoc on the delicate ecosystems of the Galápagos, preying on native wildlife and outcompeting local species. The rewilding team say they will need to address these threats before they can reintroduce native species like the Floreana giant tortoise, Galápagos penguins, and endemic snails.

To do this, the team is drawing on results from ecological restoration schemes around the world. “We’ve already proven that we can prevent extinctions and restore ecosystems,” said Paula Castaño, wildlife veterinarian with . “Now, we’re aiming to scale up these efforts, innovate, and implement them across the region.”

The vision extends well beyond Floreana Island. Over the next decade, the project plans to launch an ambitious rewilding campaign across Latin America’s Pacific archipelagos, from Mexico to Chile. The goal is to double the number of protected areas, safeguard 30% of each country’s marine waters, and reverse the decline of more than 250 globally threatened species.

The involvement of celebrities like Mr DiCaprio helps to spread awareness to a wider audience base than previously possible. Alongside his financial support, the actor has visited the Galápagos to meet with conservation leaders and help raise awareness for the rewilding efforts. His social media presence has played a crucial role in generating public interest, with a video of wildlife veterinarian Paula Castaño discussing the project garnering over 770,000 views within months of being posted.

“The environmental heroes that the planet needs are already here,” Mr DiCaprio previously stated, urging people worldwide to join the cause. “Now, it’s up to all of us to rise to the challenge and support them.”

The Galápagos Islands, once a living laboratory for , continue to be a major focal point for cutting-edge conservation efforts. With the fresh rewilding initiative, the islands will, it is hoped, become the standard for species recovery and ecosystem restoration, providing valuable lessons for conservationists around the world.