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being falsely accused of setting fire to Amazon An Oscar-winning actor’s money eventually turned out to be a boon for Caetano Scanavino, founder of a non-profit organization in the middle of the rainforest.
former president of brazil jair bolsonaro In November 2019 Falsely claimed that actor Leonardo DiCaprio had funded non-profit groups which he alleged were partially responsible for setting the fire. The allegation, although false, posed a risk to Scanvino and his work promoting sustainable development and citizens’ rights in the area along the Tapajós River, popular among tourists for its mix of rainforest and beaches.
Four of Scanavino’s friends, who had volunteered as forest firefighters, were jailed for two days and then put on trial as the alleged perpetrators of fires in the area, only to be later acquitted. Police Scanvino’s Saude e Alegria nonprofit spent weeks combing through documents. Scanvino received anonymous threats and his car was set on fire.
Dicaprio takes notice
But Bolsonaro’s comments helped DiCaprio take notice of Scanvino’s work and decide to sponsor his work through Re:Wild, a nonprofit conservation group the actor helped found. The Brazilian worker said that their partnership has already lasted five years.
“When the allegations came out, DiCaprio said he wasn’t giving us money, but he said we were entitled to his support after he saw our work,” Scanavino told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “I’ve never lived with him or talked to him. But he supports us, uses his social media to show what this partnership does.”
Scanvino, 59, founded Saud e Alegria, or Health and Happiness, 1987, to promote integrated and sustainable community development in the state of Pará, whose capital Belém will host the United Nations Conference of the Parties, or COP30, next week. Scanvino arrived in Belém on Tuesday from the city of Santarém, where the initiative is based, after a two-day boat ride that featured broadcasts with journalists, activists and climate experts.
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The project began as a health care initiative, but has since grown to work with rural communities to improve their quality of life and practice of citizenship.
A project sponsored by DiCaprio’s institute is the Forest Economy Ecocentre in Santarém, which serves as a center for the processing, storage and commercialization of products made by local people. Organizers said the facility increases the economic feasibility of sustainable practices in the region.
The hub opened a year ago, and is also supported by the governments of Brazil, Germany and Norway, which are all contributors to the Amazon Fund, a Brazilian initiative that pays for anti-deforestation and sustainable development efforts.
Scanvino said the initiative cost about 5 million Brazilian reais ($938,000), paid for mostly by Amazon funds.
Scanavino said, “The first few days after Bolsonaro’s accusation were terrible. People insulted us and our families in the streets, firefighters had to leave. But then an amazing thing happened.”
He said, “Normally people turn away from you if such a big target appears on your back. It was the opposite with us. Eventually the charges were dropped, the firefighters were released, and people were curious about us – including DiCaprio.”
‘Meet this moment’
In an Instagram post this week, DiCaprio said world leaders gathering in Brazil must ensure those protecting nature have the resources they need. He said Re:Wild is pledging more money to protect forests.
“I urge leaders to unite and rise to the occasion,” he said. “Our future depends on it.”
The AP emailed Re:wild seeking further comment on Scanvino and its work at COP30.
Scanvino, who left the Brazilian metropolis of Sao Paulo for the Amazon more than 37 years ago, said DiCaprio and other supporters of his nonprofit organization also came out in support because they chose to show Bolsonaro that he was working with the support of local police and armed forces rather than trying to score political points.
The former president was recently sentenced to 27 years in prison for an attempted coup in 2023 after losing his re-election bid.
“Our critics are experts in hate, and since that incident we chose to remain humble, provided evidence, we worked with all stakeholders, everyone who matters in the area. We refused to leave our local communities without proper health care support just because of an absurd allegation,” Scanvino said.
Following numerous awards and acknowledgments, Scanavino hopes to meet Re:Wild officials and perhaps DiCaprio himself at COP30.
Scanvino said he met DiCaprio while preparing for a photo exhibition in New York about 20 years ago. He said that the team preparing for the photo exhibition did not recognize the actor under the hat and complained that he was getting in the way, so he left.
“After a while our producer told me it was Leonardo DiCaprio,” Scanvino said. “I told him to run after her and bring her back. He caught her on his bike some distance away. He thanked her, but he had to go.
“I hope the next match will be very different, so we can thank them properly,” he said.
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