What you need to know
Prince William had A-list support in Brazil.
The 43-year-old Prince of Wales was joined by surprise guest Leonardo DiCaprio via video message at the United for Wildlife Summit on Tuesday, November 4th. The organization works to combat illegal trade in parts of wild animals and endangered species.
In his message, DiCaprio, 50, told conference leaders that now is the time to act. “Nature is our most powerful solution,” the Oscar winner said in the video, which was also published on his Instagram page. “I urge world leaders to come together with courage and ambition, because the world depends on it.”
William also spoke at the event, looking ahead to the Earthshot Prize, which he said “recognizes the most inspiring people and solutions to our planet’s biggest challenges.”
He added: “Our mission here today is clear: we must stop the criminal networks that cause environmental crime and destruction. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with those who stand up every day to protect nature. We must recognize and celebrate these guardians, not just in words but through actions. And we must act together.”
He continued: “Governments, businesses and civil society must now step up and play their roles in developing solutions, scaling up support and shifting resources where they are needed most.” “As we look ahead to COP30 in the Amazon, let us advance our resolve… united in purpose, bold in ambition, and unwavering in our commitment to a safer and healthier world.”
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Prince William also announced new plans to support those working to protect indigenous peoples who are losing their livelihoods to deforestation. He not only wants to protect those most at risk from the continued destruction of nature, but also those who are often in the best position to save them. “But today, these guardians are under attack,” William said.
In his speech, he announced a new partnership between the Royal Foundation, the Coordinating Agency for Indigenous Organizations in the Brazilian Amazon, and Fundación Podari, the first indigenous-led fund for the Brazilian Amazon. It will support legal aid, provide support funds for people in immediate danger, and raise awareness of the rights of indigenous peoples.
The summit was attended by government representatives, members of Interpol, and local indigenous leaders.
“Environmental crime is now one of the most profitable and damaging forms of transnational crime,” William said. “Last year alone, more than 1.7 million hectares of the Amazon were logged across the region…much of it caused by illegal activities.”
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It added that crime “fuels violence and corruption, distorts legitimate economies, and negatively impacts the lives of millions of people.”
“For indigenous communities, these losses are not just environmental, but existential. When forests are destroyed, ancestral lands, sacred sites and even lives are destroyed,” William continued.
“Indigenous peoples and local communities are partners and leaders with their own solutions. They are not just residents of the forest, they are its protectors. Their management has kept deforestation rates on indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon up to 83% lower than in unprotected areas around the world.”
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But just like wildlife rangers who work to save rhinos and elephants from poachers, it’s a very dangerous job. “Those who stand in the way of illegal activities will face deadly consequences. In Latin America, 120 environmental activists were recorded killed or disappeared in 2024, accounting for more than 80% of such incidents worldwide,” William said.
“These are not just statistics. These are lives. They take tremendous risks to protect the land and the future on which we all depend. We cannot manage our forests while their guardians live in fear.”
After the event, William delighted locals at Rio’s iconic Ipanema Beach with a stunning surprise – a spectacular drone show on the eve of the Earthshot Awards ceremony. The night sky lit up with the Earthshot logo and symbols for each of the five award categories, ending with the words “Premio Earthshot” and a QR code that onlookers could scan for more information.
Early Tuesday, he spent the afternoon touring how indigenous peoples are working to restore critical mangrove forests that connect land and marine forests.
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This follows on from last year’s efforts to protect rangers, the guardians of wildlife. Mr. William then announced that his organization had developed a plan to support rangers and their families with insurance that would protect them and remove much of the anxiety in their dangerous profession.
On Tuesday, he spoke about the progress he’s made so far. “We made a commitment to ensure that 10,000 rangers are insured within five years…and today I’m pleased to announce that we’re making significant progress, with more than 6,000 rangers covered in the first year alone,” he said at the summit.
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“That’s why we’re working to go further and replicate this model around the world, so more conservationists can properly support their important work.”
