African countries eye world’s first joint ‘debt-for-nature’ swap 

At least five African countries are working on a groundbreaking joint “debt-for-nature” swap to raise $2 billion to protect a coral-rich area in the Indian Ocean. This innovative approach allows poorer nations to pay for conservation by exchanging debt for environmental protection. While Ecuador, Barbados, Belize, Gabon, and Seychelles have already made similar deals, this African initiative would be the first to involve multiple countries sharing a unique ecosystem. This development is significant for the region and highlights the growing trend of using financial mechanisms to support environmental conservation efforts.