The actor turned environmental activist took to social media to call on his followers to support the anti Ebo Forest logging campaign
Leonardo DiCaprio is being honored by having a recently-discovered tree species being named after him.
This week, scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, London named a tree species discovered in Africa’s Cameroon forest the official name of “Uvariopsis dicaprio.”
The plant species found in Ebo Forest is a small tropical evergreen tree with glossy yellow flowers. It is a member of the ylang ylang family and has been categorized as critically endangered.
Dr. Martin Cheek of Kew told the BBC that his team decided to name it after DiCaprio because of his efforts to stop logging in the woodland.
“We think he was crucial in helping to stop the logging of the Ebo Forest,” Dr Cheek said.
In 2020, The academy award-winning actor and an outspoken environmentalist campaigned to protect the forest, which is one of the largest rainforests in central Africa. It is also home to the Banen people and a diverse population of plants and animals.
He appealed for support on social media after international experts wrote a letter to the government documenting that several animal and plant species were at risk of extinction.
Consequently, the government revoked the logging plans, but is yet to name it a national park.
Climate change impact
The Leo tree is the first plant new to science to be officially named by Kew scientists in 2022. Last year, more than 200 plants and fungi from across the word were officially named by Kew scientists and their collaborators, however, several of those new species are already extinct or threatened because of climate change.
“There are still thousands of plant species and maybe millions of fungal species out there that we don’t know about,” Dr Cheek told the BBC, warning that with the looming climate crisis, this could well be our last chance to find unknown species, name them and protect them before they become extinct.
“This natural habitat that they’re growing in – especially forests, but other habitats too, is increasingly and more rapidly being destroyed by us humans without knowing what’s there.”
Don’t look up
The official naming of DiCaprio’s tree couldn’t come at a more opportune time. The actor is currently making waves with the release of his Netflix’s hit comedy “Don’t Look Up” – a satire about the climate crisis.
Post the film’s release, the 47-year-old said that he in his career often looked for a film that had an “environmental undertone to it”, but it wasn’t until he came across Adam McKay’s ‘Don’t Look Up’ script that the actor found the perfect opportunity.
Taking to Twitter, DiCaprio posted: “Years ago, scientists predicted the damaging effects of climate change that we’re now experiencing. We must listen to scientists and take the necessary steps to mitigate the crisis. #DontLookUp (sic)”
In a separate tweet, he continued: “The negative consequences of climate inaction are evident and will only get worse. Indifference is not an option if we are to save our planet. Get involved (sic)”
Share this story: Scientists name new tree after Leonardo DiCaprio to honour environmental work
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God