Day Seven: Costa Rica's debt-for-nature swap

Having just had the most amazing family holiday in the beautiful and peaceful country of Costa Rica, I was delighted to see this story. Apparently, the US has relieved Costa Rica of about $26m of its debt - good news in itself as I understand there is plenty more where that came from (debt, I mean) - which the Costa Rican government has agreed to invest in protecting the country's national parks and the stunning wildlife within them. Such efforts take on even more poignance following this year's IUCN Red Book, which stated that 16,306 species across the world are now threatened with extinction... Costa Rica sets an example other countries would do well to follow.