{"id":32334,"date":"2026-10-04T11:42:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T11:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=32334"},"modified":"2026-10-04T11:42:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T11:42:42","slug":"leonardo-dicaprios-foundation-gave-1-million-to-a-seychelles-debt-swap-deal-by-2020-the-wider-project-had-helped-the-island-nation-protect-410000-sq-km-of-ocean-an-area-larger-than-germa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=32334","title":{"rendered":"Leonardo DiCaprio\u2019s foundation gave $1 million to a Seychelles debt-swap deal; by 2020, the wider project had helped the island nation protect 410,000 sq km of ocean, an area larger than Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134673818,imgsize-51782,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundation.jpg\" alt=\"Leonardo DiCaprio\u2019s foundation gave $1 million to a Seychelles debt-swap deal; by 2020, the wider project had helped the island nation protect 410,000 sq km of ocean, an area larger than Germany\" title=\"The debt conversion was supported by several private funders, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"The debt conversion was supported by several private funders, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation\">The debt conversion was supported by several private funders, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was among the private funders that backed a deal helping Seychelles use debt financing for ocean conservation. The deal helped the island nation increase the area of its ocean under protection from just 0.04% of its Exclusive Economic Zone to 30% by 2020.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>The arrangement worked by converting foreign debt into money for long-term conservation in Seychelles, according to The Nature Conservancy. As part of the deal, $21.6 million in foreign debt was paid in exchange for funding for conservation work inside the country. Seychelles also agreed to create a marine spatial plan to decide how its ocean would be protected and used.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>The result was a much larger protected area. By 2020, Seychelles had finalised Marine Protection Areas covering 410,000 square kilometres of ocean. <!-- -->The Nature Conservancy said this was an area larger than Germany.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"9\"\/>Seychelles depends heavily on marine resources, with fishing and tourism providing jobs for more than one-third of its workforce. So the country divided the protected waters into different zones, allowing some activities to continue while giving stronger protection to areas with high biodiversity.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"11\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Why Seychelles needed the plan<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/>Seychelles is an island nation about 1,600 kilometres off the coast of East Africa. Its economy and local livelihoods are closely linked to the sea.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/>That dependence also makes protecting marine resources important for the country\u2019s future. The Nature Conservancy said Seychelles and other ocean nations are among those most vulnerable to climate change.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>The country faces warming and rising waters, as well as ocean acidification. At the same time, it needs fishing and tourism to continue supporting people and businesses.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>The debt conversion offered a way to address both needs. Seychelles could use the financing for conservation while planning where marine resources could be protected and where sustainable activities could continue.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>The government and The Nature Conservancy co-designed the deal, which the conservancy described as the world\u2019s first ocean debt conversion. The arrangement also created a long-term funding system for conservation projects.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>What the protected areas allow<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/>The new Marine Protection Areas were divided into two zones. The first, called the High Biodiversity Protection Area or Zone 1, has strict limits on human activity.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/>Almost all activities are restricted in Zone 1, apart from non-extractive uses such as tourism. It includes 201,235 square kilometres of waters around the remote islands of the Aldabra Group.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"33\"\/>The Aldabra Group contains the world\u2019s second-largest raised coral atoll, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. <!-- -->The area is home to the dugong, described by The Nature Conservancy as the most endangered animal in the western Indian Ocean.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>It is also home to 100,000 rare giant tortoises. Protecting these areas was therefore a major part of the wider effort to conserve Seychelles\u2019 biodiversity.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"41\"\/>The second zone is the Medium Biodiversity Protection and Sustainable Use Area, or Zone 2. Unlike Zone 1, it allows some economic activities while still protecting natural ecosystems.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"44\"\/>Catch-and-release fishing, tourism charters and renewable energy are among the activities allowed there. Zone 2 covers 217,548 square kilometres around the Amirantes Group and Mah\u00e9 Plateau.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/>The area is important for seagrass beds and tuna and also supports the local economy. The idea is to protect marine species and habitats without removing activities that people depend on.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"48\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>How the debt deal funded conservation<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"50\"\/>The debt conversion was supported by several private funders, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. <!-- -->Other private funders listed by The Nature Conservancy included the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust, Lyda Hill Foundation, Oak Foundation, Oceans 5, Turnbull Bernstein Family Charitable Fund and Waitt Foundation.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"54\"\/>Governments and international organisations were also involved in the wider initiative. These included Belgium, France, Italy, South Africa and the United Kingdom, along with the United Nations Development Programme, Global Environment Facility and Global Island Partnership.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"57\"\/>The deal also led to the creation of the Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust, known as SeyCCAT. It was formed in 2016 as an independent private trust.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"59\"\/>SeyCCAT distributes blue grants funded through the debt conversion and other financing opportunities in Seychelles. The money supports ocean conservation and work linked to the marine spatial plan.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"61\"\/>One project supported through this system was run by the Green Islands Foundation. <!-- -->It worked with artisanal fishers to identify fish species that were declining and develop ways to manage those populations over the long term.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"65\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Planning how the ocean would be used<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"67\"\/>The marine spatial plan was another major part of the deal. The plan covers all 1.4 million square kilometres of Seychelles\u2019 territory. It is the second-largest area of ocean in the world to be covered by such a plan.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"70\"\/>The Seychelles government led the process, while The Nature Conservancy provided planning, science and facilitation support. <!-- -->The GOS-UNDP-GEF Programme Coordinating Unit also supported the work.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"74\"\/>The plan was developed through discussions with people and groups connected to Seychelles\u2019 marine resources. More than 200 stakeholders were consulted over six years.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"76\"\/>The process included at least 210 meetings, consultations and workshops. Fifty-two of these took place in 2019 alone.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"78\"\/>Their views helped shape decisions about which activities should be allowed and where. The plan was also meant to protect Seychelles\u2019 ecological assets while allowing its \u201cBlue Economy\u201d to continue.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/science\/nature\/leonardo-dicaprios-foundation-gave-1-million-to-a-seychelles-debt-swap-deal-by-2020-the-wider-project-had-helped-the-island-nation-protect-410000-sq-km-of-ocean-an-area-larger-than-germany\/articleshow\/134673582.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The debt conversion was supported by several private funders, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was among the private funders that backed a deal helping Seychelles use debt financing for ocean conservation. The deal helped the island nation increase the area of its ocean under protection from just 0.04% of its Exclusive Economic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32335,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat-150x150.avif","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat-300x169.avif","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"The debt conversion was supported by several private funders, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was among the private funders that backed a deal helping Seychelles use debt financing for ocean conservation. The deal helped the island nation increase the area of its ocean under protection from just 0.04% of its Exclusive Economic [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":5,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat.avif",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat-300x169.avif",300,169,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/the-debt-conversion-was-supported-by-several-private-funders-including-the-leonardo-dicaprio-foundat-150x150.avif",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32334"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32334\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}