Press Release of Senator Lugar Tropical Forest Conservation Agreement Reached with Indonesia Friday, July 10, 2009 U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar announced that the United States and the Republic of Indonesia, Conservation International and Yayasan Keanekaragaman Hayati Indonesia (KEHATI) have signed a debt-for-nature swap under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA).   This swap agreement, reducing Indonesia’s debt payments of roughly $30 million over eight years, is the largest agreement since Lugar and then-Senator Biden secured the passage of TFCA in 1998. The Government of Indonesia has pledged to use the $30 million to protect and restore the country’s important tropical forests.   “Indonesia is a vital partner of the United States. As the Obama Administration has noted, Indonesia is one of the most biologically-diverse countries on earth. This debt-for-nature swap will help Indonesia implement environmental preservation programs that protect its biodiversity, freshwater and ability to sequester carbon. This agreement demonstrates how the United Sates and Indonesia can work together to achieve shared economic, environmental and social goals,” Lugar said.   With TFCA, the U.S. State Department has reached agreements that will generate more than $218 million in long-term commitments for tropical forest conservation. In addition, private donors, including the Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and Conservation International, have contributed more than $14 million to TFCA swaps, leveraging U.S. Government funds.   This agreement with Indonesia is the 15th concluded through TFCA. Other agreements have been reached with Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama (two agreements), Paraguay, Peru (two agreements) and the Philippines.   ###