Apple News: CEO Tim Cook Will Donate To Help Preserve The Amazon After Massive Wildfires

As more than 77,000 wildfires rage in South America, Apple’s Tim Cook has pledged that his company will donate to help preserve the Amazon Rainforest. Brazil's rainforest, which is burning at the highest rate since 2013, has received international attention this week, as President Jair Bolsonaro has rejected the $20 million pledged from the G7.

Cook made the announcement Monday in a Twitter posting.

“It’s devastating to see the fires and destruction ravaging the Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s most important ecosystems,” Cook tweeted. “Apple will be donating to help preserve its biodiversity and restore the Amazon’s indispensable forest across Latin America.”

The exact amount that Apple will donate is not known at this time.

Over 10,000 new fires have been reported in the rainforest and the number has already eclipsed the 40,000 fires reported in 2018. Many have pointed the blame at farmers setting fires to clear land, a practice now allowed after Bolsonaro cut back environmental regulations.

Apple is not alone in pledging big to help protect that vital ecosystem, often referred to as the “lungs” of the Earth. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s Earth Alliance organization has also pledged an initial donation of $5 million to the cause.

Elsewhere, Cook has also donated close to $5 million in Apple stock to an undisclosed charity, per a Securities and Exchange Commission filing from Monday. The exact donation consisted of 23,700 shares at a closing price of $206.49 per share, around $4.89 million, according to reports. Cook has previously pledged to donate his entire to fortune to charity.