U.S. Senators John Curtis and Chris Coons introduced the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2026 on Mar. 9, a bipartisan bill aimed at renewing the debt-for-nature swap program that supports conservation efforts in developing countries. The legislation would allow eligible nations to have U.S. debt forgiven in exchange for commitments to protect tropical forests and coral reefs.
The proposed reauthorization is significant because it continues a program that has, since its start in 1998, helped safeguard more than 67 million acres of tropical forests. These efforts have preserved wildlife habitats, supported local communities, and contributed to environmental protection by sequestering over 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—comparable to removing more than 11 million cars from the road.
“Ecosystems like coral reefs and tropical forests are essential for the health of wildlife and the sustainability of our planet,” said Senator Curtis. “By partnering with developing nations on efforts to protect these habitats, our bipartisan legislation will help sustain biodiversity, uplift local economies, and strengthen global security against coercive economic influences.”
Senator Coons said, “From tropical rainforests to coral reefs, our global ecosystems sustain irreplaceable plants and wildlife while regulating our climate. The Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation program has succeeded in saving millions of acres of those precious natural spaces, giving local communities control of their own futures while keeping our air and water cleaner and our futures brighter. I look forward to working with my colleagues here in the Senate to deliver this bill to the president’s desk.”
The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Martin Heinrich and Thom Tillis. Kerry Cesareo from World Wildlife Fund called the legislation “an important step toward unlocking innovative financing for the world’s most vulnerable tropical forests and coral reef ecosystems.” Kelly Keenan Aylward from Wildlife Conservation Society praised it as an “innovative policy” that converts eligible debt into long-term conservation funding.
David Barron of ICCF Group highlighted that “debt-for-nature swaps are the best investment America could make in setting aside land for local people and their economies,” noting that such programs have conserved 126 million acres globally. Tom Cors from The Nature Conservancy added that the law has enabled new conservation funding models by leveraging public funds with private investment.
Supporters say reauthorizing this act will continue providing environmental benefits while supporting U.S. foreign policy interests abroad.
