Costa Rica gets forest fund boost (BBC) {US Tropical Forest Conservation Act}

[eppur_se_muova]

The US and conservation groups will cut $26m (£12.8m) from Costa Rican debt in return for the country spending the same sum on forest protection.

Costa Rica will spend the money over the next 16 years on large swathes of its tropical forest.

It hopes to help conserve such endangered species as the jaguar, squirrel monkey and scarlet macaw.

Areas targeted include the Talamanca Highlands that contain the country's largest untouched tract of rainforest.

Environment minister Roberto Dobles told the BBC that the money would help the government enlarge protected areas, support local communities in their conservation efforts, and encourage tourism.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7050664.stm

$26M -- that's enough to fund the Iraq War for about an eyeblink.