Finance Minister Christian Yoko said Wednesday that the Republic of Congo is in talks to turn part of its national debt into resources for protecting its rainforests, Reuters reported.

The initiative is being discussed with European partners capable of providing credit enhancements, though the final scale of the deal has not been determined. Officials view the swap as a tool to balance fiscal pressures with environmental priorities.

The proposal is closely linked to the Congo Basin, which spans six countries and holds the world’s second-largest tropical rainforest. Yoko described the plan as a chance to align debt relief with conservation goals, creating a model that could appeal to international investors and environmental partners.

Speaking from the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, Yoko said the initiative forms part of a broader strategy to make Congo’s debt more sustainable while protecting critical ecosystems.