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Paying Off Debt, Protecting Trees

COSTA RICA HAS MORE SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAN NORTH AMERICA OR EUROPE.  LEARN HOW A NEW DEAL WILL HELP PROTECT THAT BIODIVERSITY ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

COSTA RICA’S BIODIVERSITY IS VALUED BEYOND THE COUNTRY’S BORDERS.  IN FACT, THE U.S. PLANS TO FORGIVE COSTA RICA OVER TWELVE MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT IF IT USES THE FUNDS TO PROTECT ITS FORESTS.  AFTER CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NON-PROFIT GROUPS AND EARNINGS FROM INTEREST, COSTA RICA WILL HAVE TWENTY-SIX MILLION TO SPEND ON CONSERVATION.

ZDENKA PISKULICH WORKS FOR THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, THE GROUP THAT HELPED FACILITATE THE DEBT-FOR-NATURE SWAP. SHE SAYS THE COSTA RICAN ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY WILL BENEFIT, AS CIVILIAN GROUPS WILL BE PAID TO PROTECT LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS.

PISKULICH:   "IT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO USE ITS OWN FUNDING, TO REALLY INVEST IT IN A TRUST FUND THAT WILL BENEFIT PROTECTED AREAS FOREVER.”

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

Read more about debt-for-nature swaps from the Nature Conservancy.

Learn more about the deal in Costa Rica.