A tropical tree that is new to science has been named after Leonardo DiCaprio — in recognition of his campaigning to save the rainforest where it was found.
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens scientists expressed gratitude to Hollywood actor James Stewart for helping them protest logging in Cameroon.
The 13ft (4 metre) tree, called Uvariopsis dicaprio, is the first plant species to be officially named in 2022.
This tree is a member of the ylang ylang family and bears large, yellow-green flowers. It was found in Cameron’s Ebo Forest.
A tropical tree that is new to science has been named after Leonardo DiCaprio — in recognition of his campaigning to save the rainforest where it was found. Uvariopsis DiCaprio is shown
Kew Royal Botanic Gardens Scientists said they wanted the Hollywood actor to be honored for helping them in their petition against Cameroon logging.
This species was named for the Oscar-winning actor, environmental activist, and conservation group Re:wild. He tried to get a concession to loggers in Ebo Forest to be revoked in Feb 2020.
Dr Martin Cheek is a senior African researcher at RBG Kew. He said, “We greatly appreciated Leo’s support in campaigning for Ebo protection last year. It seemed appropriate to honour him this way, naming one species that only exists in this forest, after his memory.”
Although the 47-year old actor is passionate about climate change, he has been criticised for flying in carbon-polluting private planes around the world.
DiCaprio insists that he is not a carbon neutral citizen, despite the fact that thousands of trees were planted in his honor in Mexico by a company based in London to offset any carbon produced.
According to sources close to him, he started to fly more on commercial flights. These flights produce less carbon per passenger than private ones.
Ebo Forest, Cameroon’s largest remaining rainforest, is the ancestral home of the Banen people and one of few chimpanzees that can crack nuts as well as fish for termites.
This habitat is also home to 75 endangered species of plants and forest elephants.
A letter was written by experts across the globe to warn Cameroon about the endangered animal and plant species.
DiCaprio then took up the cause, thanks to his many followers on Twitter and Instagram. This added more momentum to this campaign.
He wrote in one: “Cameroon’s Ebo Forest and all the amazing animals that live there are in danger.”
“This applies to forest elephants as well as gorillas and chimpanzees.
“Let’s #SaveEboForest.
In August 2020, the Cameroon president cancelled the concession. This raised hope that wildlife from Cameroon can be saved.
Dr Cheek explained that the concession would have led to the loss of this species due to timber extraction, slash-and burn agriculture and other activities.
Uvariopsis dicipo was however already listed as critical endangered in the PeerJ study.
Because the forest it lives in isn’t protected, the danger of logging and mining continues, as well as the possibility of conversion to plantations.
Many of the new species that Kew identified in 2021 have already been extinct and are at risk from climate change, deforestation and changes in land use.
RBG Kew’s scientists, along with their international partners, study unnamed species. The data is used to support science and to name them.
Dr Cheek said many species — particularly in the tropics — remain without scientific names, making assessment of their extinction risk ‘near impossible’ and protection incredibly difficult.
The campaign gained momentum thanks to DiCaprio’s social media posts, which he shared with his many millions of followers
The list includes several species that are currently under threat due to increasing threats to natural habitats. Three of these species are believed to already be extinct.
He stated, “This is yet another reminder that we have one last chance to discover unknown species and name them, so hopefully, this will help protect them from becoming extinct globally.”
Scientists at Kew also selected their top 10 highlights from more than 200 plants and fungi officially named new to science in 2021 — from a killer tobacco plant to a ghost orchid that grows in complete darkness.
A new species of microscopic fungus found growing within the seed of a wild banana was also named in the top 10 highlights, along with a yellow-flowered periwinkle from the Andean valleys in Bolivia, which has egg-shaped kiwi-like fruits that are edible when roasted.