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'debt-for-nature'
swap
When they first emerged
as an idea, so-called 'debt-for-nature' swaps were perceived as having
advantages for all sides. As time has gone on it is clear that they can
address no more than a fraction of either problem - debt or environment.
It is now seriously questioned whether they offer any serious benefits
to the host country.
For basic information
on debt for nature' swaps and an interesting comparison you might consult
Elliott's An Introduction to Sustainable Development, pp.
54-56 and some counter arguments presented in Sachs' Global Ecology.
World
Wildlife Fund
- a quick overview of Debt for Nature.
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN - a more detailed look
at DfN.
Debt for Nature
- examples:
World
Wildlife Fund - Colombia.
The
Advocacy Project - Equador.
The Nature Conservancy
- US - Peru Debt-for-Nature Swap.
Biodiversity
Economics Library - Ghana.
DfN
in Jordan.
Use of DfN as
a tool of foreign policy:
The
Center for Contemporary Conflict - use of DfN in the Iraq conflict.
The
Arms Control Association - use of DfN: "Debt for Nonproliferation:
The Next Step in Threat Reduction".
Opinion on Debt-for-Nature:
Centre
for Science and Environment, India. This article opposes Debt for
nature due to its cynical use by the US.
Office of
Science and Technology at the Royal Thai Embassy, Washington DC. This
article expresses opposition to DfN in specific relation to bio-piracy.
Down to Earth, the International
Campaign for Ecological Justice in Indonesia. Skepticism about the
use of DfN in Indonesia.
Editors note:
In the interests of journalistic balance, it should be noted that we did
look for articles that expressed opinion on DfN from the "Western"
perspective. However, the only one we found with any in depth commentary
was not fit to include owing to its unhealthy fixation with global conspiracy
theories. "Go figure" as our american friends might say...
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