Skip to content
LexBuild

22 USC § 2281 - “Debt-for-nature exchange” defined 

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t22/s2281"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "22 USC § 2281 - “Debt-for-nature exchange” defined"
title_number: 22
title_name: "FOREIGN RELATIONS AND INTERCOURSE"
section_number: "2281"
section_name: "“Debt-for-nature exchange” defined"
chapter_number: 32
chapter_name: "FOREIGN ASSISTANCE"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT"
part_number: "VII"
part_name: "Debt-for-Nature Exchanges"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-03-26"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 87–195, pt. I, § 461 [471], as added Pub. L. 101–240, title VII, § 711, Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2521.)"
---

# § 2281. “Debt-for-nature exchange” defined

For purpose of this part, the term “debt-for-nature exchange” means the cancellation or redemption of the foreign debt of the government of a country in exchange for—

**(1)** that government’s making available local currencies (including through the issuance of bonds) which are used only for eligible projects involving the conservation or protection of the environment in that country (as described in section 2283 of this title); or

**(2)** that government’s financial resource or policy commitment to take certain specified actions to ensure the restoration, protection, or sustainable use of natural resources within that country; or

**(3)** a combination of assets and actions under both paragraphs (1) and (2).

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 87–195, pt. I, § 461 [471], as added Pub. L. 101–240, title VII, § 711, Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2521.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

, referred to in par. (1), was in the original “section 463”, meaning , which has been translated as meaning  relating to eligible projects rather than , relating to the peace process in Central America, which is classified to .

### Codification

Another  is classified to .

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2281, , pt. I, § 471, as added , pt. I, § 110, , , related to agreements with less developed countries for establishment of Joint Commissions on Rural Development, prior to repeal by , , , effective .