Bezos Earth Fund allocates $25 million to expand Pacific marine protection

The Bezos Earth Fund disclosed a new $25 million grant initiative aimed at protecting more than 625,000 square miles of Pacific ocean, an area larger than Alaska. Managed by Lauren Sánchez Bezos, the funding will help establish the first large offshore marine protected area in Papua New Guinea, expand protections in Tonga, and support the Cook Islands’ Marae Moana ocean park, among other projects in Kiribati and Vanuatu.

This is the second disbursement of a $100 million pledge announced in 2023, raising total Pacific awards to $63.3 million. The grants advance the “Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock” pledge to sustainably manage the region’s waters and reach a 30% protection target by 2030. Scientists warn that the South-West Pacific is becoming hotter and more acidic, threatening fisheries and local economies. The Bezos Earth Fund, which has spent about $2.4 billion of its $10 billion commitment, aims to allocate the remaining $7 billion by 2030.