The Analysis of Cherringtons Research

Research Title: The Belize Debt-for-Nature Swap: Foundation of a Framework for Program Evaluation Researcher: Emil Alexander Cherrington Publication: College of Forest Resources, University of Washington, 2004

INTRODUCTION Debt-for-Nature Swap (DNS) involves an agreement between actors in a lending and borrowing country to reduce some of the borrowing countrys debt in exchange for the support of a specific environmental project. The typical DNS can be found in two different forms/structures: bilateral/multilateral swaps or third-party/commercial swaps. Bilateral/multilateral swaps involve direct exchanges between the creditor country(ies) and a debtor county, while third-party swaps usually involve nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as CI or the WWF.

BACKGROUND In 2001, the Central American nation of Belize benefited from a debt-for-nature swap through the U.S. Tropical Forest Conservation Act, subsidized by The Nature Conservancy. This study applied program theory to interview data and archival analysis to explore how the program translates financial inputs into desired outcomes of forest and biodiversity conservation. One of the major findings is that the use of program inputs varies across the four beneficiary organizations. Contrary to assumptions by debt swap planners, environmental outcomes are not guaranteed.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. How do the four organizations allocate the DNS funding for conservation? 2. How significant are the improvements of forest and environment condition after the implementation of the DNS program?

DATA COLLECTION AND SAMPLING METHOD This study utilized multiple sources of evidence to establish its findings. The primary sources of data were interviews, archival data (including available program documentation and journal articles), and various databases. A variety of agencies helped orchestrate the ongoing Belize DNS, in addition to the organizations currently implementing the program. The scope of this study is to examine not the planning, but rather the operation of Belize DNS. The operation of the program concerns the four organizations which received funding through the program: 1. Belize Audubon Society (BAS) 2. Programme for Belize (PfB) 3. Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) Foundation 4. Toledo Institute for Development & Environment (TIDE)

Interview Guide Rather than utilizing simple yes/no questions, interviews featured open-ended questions to allow respondents to elaborate at length on the questions that struck resonance with them (Babbie, 2002). Interviews were written by the investigator by hand during the interviews. Interviews with the TIDE support staff and DNS ranger were conducted using a subset of questions, as some of the questions held no relevance to such personnel (e.g. asking staff that were not involved with the programs development to speak about aspects of the planning). The interview guide was administratively approved by the Human Subjects Division of the University of Washington.

FINDINGS 1. The DNS program is like money grows on trees for the organizations which received funding. The economy value that the organizations get until 2027 is almost US$ 9.3 million. However, the organizations only spend small amount of investment for environment. The organizations do not allocate the DNS funding effectively. Programs financial injection does not fund all forest conservation needs.

Direct Economic Contribution of GOB to Belize DNS

Per Acre Program Investment

2. The DNS program does not require environmental monitoring. There is limited monitoring occurs, though mainly at the baseline level. It makes the improvements cannot be discovered significantly.

The organizations carry out forest conservation activities on Belize DNS funding, but they target at only 5% of the protected area.

CONCLUSION The Belize DNS is a program by which converts financial inputs into land cover change, via the platform of specific, funded protected areas which represent the diversity of the national terrestrial landscape. Despite the relatively large amount of funding, some organizational priorities still go unmet. Although the end goal of the Belize DNS is to is a reduction of tropical deforestation through increased patrols and the creation of new parks, most environmental monitoring is currently within the phase of baseline data collection. As the environmental monitoring is not required, the DNS programs effects remain unknown.