U.S. Senators John Curtis and Chris Coons introduced the Tropical Forest and Coral Reef Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2026 on Mar. 9, aiming to extend a program that allows developing countries to reduce debt owed to the United States in exchange for protecting tropical forests and coral reefs.
The legislation seeks to continue efforts that have preserved millions of acres of critical ecosystems while supporting biodiversity, local economies, and climate regulation. The debt-for-nature swap program, first established in 1998, has helped protect more than 67 million acres of tropical forests and sequestered 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 it “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 said it “converts eligible debt into long-term financing for on-the-ground conservation helping to protect intact forest and coral reefs while strengthening governance in the natural resource sector.” David Barron from 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.” Tom Cors from The Nature Conservancy added that “the law additionally paved the way for innovative conservation funding, leveraging public funding with private and philanthropic investment to help advance U.S. foreign policy interests globally.”
Supporters say reauthorizing this act will maintain momentum in international conservation efforts while fostering partnerships between nations.
