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EARTH
TALK0
Questions & Answers About Our Environment
From the Editors of E/The Environmental
Magazine
Dear EarthTalk:What are so-called debt-for-nature swaps and how do they work?
— Howard W., via e-mail
A debt-for-nature swap is an agreement by which a wealthier, developed nation like the United States forgives debt owed to it by a developing country in exchange for a promise to use some or all of the money instead to preserve critical environmental areas. Topically; such deals are brokered by international non-profit organizations like The Nature Conservancy or Conservation International, which sometimes contribute additional funds to provide grants to local community organizations participating in the projects.
One of the laigest debt-fornature swaps to date occurred just recently, in October 2006, when the U.S. agreed to forgive $24.4 million in debt from Guatemala to free up the money for use in forest conservation efforts there. The Nature Conservancy and Conservation International were. instrumental in putting that deal together, and each committed $1 million toward Guatemalan conserva
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