A Newly-Identified Tree Has Been Named After Leonardo DiCaprio

Treeonardo DiCaprio, or Leonardo TreeCaprio. It is up to you how to call a newly-discovered tree species. But it has been given an official name. Yes, famed actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who is one of the leading environmentalists among Hollywood celebrities, is having a productive month due to “Don’t Look Up” on Netflix, an American satirical science fiction black comedy film where he stars, and the recently-identified tree.

A new tree with its name Uvariopsis dicaprio

Scientists at London-based Royal Botanic Gardens of Kews discovered that Leo tree and named it Uvariopsis dicaprio, honoring the 47-year-old actor. The only address for the habitat of the tree is the Cameroon forests, according to BBC. That means the new species is critically endangered, according to the scientific journal, PeerJ.

The forests in question stand out for their extraordinary biodiversity. “We think he was crucial in helping to stop the logging of the Ebo Forest,” said Dr. Martin Cheek of Kew pointing out the importance of giving the name of DiCaprio — a nature lover–  to the tree.

“There are still thousands of plant species and maybe millions of fungal species out there that we don’t know about,” Dr. Cheek told BBC. “This natural habitat that they’re growing in – especially forests, but other habitats too, is increasingly and more rapidly being destroyed by us humans without knowing what’s there.”

Lorna MacKinnon

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most outspoken figures when it comes to nature

DiCaprio has previously defended the Ebo Forest against deforestation. If you glance at DiCaprio’s Instagram account, for instance, you will see several messages on protecting the environment and guarding trees. Climate change and global warming are the two real phenomena, and the actor called for necessary steps to protect our habitable planet.

Also, Cameroon hosts the Banen people, most of which live in remote areas in the country. The population is disconnected from those living in the central area because of the high volume of rivers and rainforests. Threatened animals such as gorillas, chimps, and elephants are parts of the untouched forests.

To see how climate change is ravaging Earth, you can look at heartbreaking photos here.