Being falsely accused of starting fires in the Amazon with funding from an Oscar-winning actor ended up being a blessing in disguise for Caetano Scanavino, coordinator of a non-profit organization in the heart of the rainforest.
In November 2019, then-President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, He falsely claimed that actor Leonardo DiCaprio funded non-profit organizations Who accused him of partial responsibility for the fires. Although the accusation is false, it puts Scanavino and his work to promote sustainable development and citizens’ rights in an area on the banks of the Tapajós River, popular with tourists for its mix of rainforest and beaches, at risk.
Four of Scanavino’s friends, who volunteered as forest firefighters, were jailed for two days and later tried as the alleged perpetrators of the fires in the area, although they were later acquitted.
For weeks, police reviewed documents from the non-profit organization Saúde e Alegria, which Scanavino founded.
Scanavino received anonymous threats and his car was set on fire.
But Bolsonaro’s comments made DiCaprio take notice of Scanavino’s work and decide to sponsor it through Re:wild, a conservation nonprofit the actor helped found. Their cooperation has already lasted for five years, according to the Brazilian activist.
When the accusations came to light, DiCaprio came out to deny that he did not fund us, “But he added that we deserved his support after seeing our work,” Scanavino said in a phone interview. “I was never with him or talked to him.” But he supports us and uses social media to show the results of this cooperation.”
Scanavino, 59 years old, He became the coordinator of Saudi e-Allegria (Health and Happiness) in 1988 to promote comprehensive and sustainable community development in the state of Pará, whose capital, Belém, will host the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP30) this week.
Scanavino arrived in Belem on Tuesday from the city of Santarem, where the initiative is based, after a two-day boat trip that included a live broadcast with journalists, activists and climate experts.
The project began as a healthcare initiative, But since then the company has evolved to work with rural communities to improve their quality of life and practice citizenship.
One of the projects sponsored by the DiCaprio Institute is the Ecological Center for the Forest Economy in Santarém, which serves as a processing, storage and marketing center for products made by local residents. The organizers stated that the installation MImproving the economic viability of sustainable practices in the region.
The center opened a year ago and also has the support of the governments of Brazil, Germany and Norway, all of whom are contributors to the Amazon Fund, a Brazilian initiative that funds efforts to combat deforestation and in favor of sustainable development.
Scanavino said the initiative cost about five million Brazilian reals ($938,000). Most of it is paid for by the Amazon Fund.
“The first days after Bolsonaro’s indictment were terrible. People insulted us and our families in the streets, and the firefighters had to leave. But then something surprising happened,” Scanavino said.
“Normally, people walk away when you become an easy target. For us, it was the opposite. In the end, the accusations disappearedHe added: “The firefighters were released and people became curious about us, including DiCaprio.”
In an Instagram post this week, DiCaprio said world leaders meeting in Brazil must ensure those defending nature have the necessary resources. He added that Re:wild is committed to allocating more funds to protect forests.
“I urge leaders to unite and rise to the occasion.” He said. “Our future depends on it.”
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