Ecuador Secures Record Debt Relief Deal to Fund Galápagos Conservation

Ecuador announced a debt-for-nature swap that will reduce its debt burden by over $1 billion.
The deal converts $1.6 billion in bonds into a $656 million Galápagos Marine Bond to fund conservation in the region.
The deal commits Ecuador to spending $323 million on conservation over 18 years and establishing an endowment for future funding.
The deal is the largest debt-for-nature swap on record and helps Ecuador avoid bigger losses while benefiting the environment.
The new conservation fund will be monitored, with Hawaii's marine park as a potential model, and follows years of work and political changes.