Antigua and Barbuda has thrown its full support behind a groundbreaking regional proposal to establish a ‘Nature Bank,’ a financial mechanism aimed at monetizing the Caribbean’s forest and ocean assets. Prime Minister Gaston Browne, speaking on the Browne and Browne show, emphasized the initiative’s potential to leverage biodiversity credits, carbon markets, and cutting-edge financial technologies to fund conservation and climate resilience efforts. The concept, originally introduced by former Caribbean Development Bank president Gene Leon, is gaining momentum as Caribbean governments seek sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. Browne highlighted Antigua and Barbuda’s active role in advancing the proposal, including discussions held during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The Nature Bank would aggregate natural assets like forests and marine ecosystems from participating nations, enabling the region to produce carbon credits and other conservation-linked financial products on a scale capable of attracting substantial investment. This innovative structure would allow countries to simultaneously protect their environments and generate revenue. Browne also pointed to modern financial tools, such as blockchain-based systems, which could facilitate the creation of stablecoin-style tokens backed by these natural assets. This approach would establish a transparent ecosystem for trading conservation value while drawing new investors to the region’s blue and green economies. The Prime Minister framed the Nature Bank as part of a broader transition toward conservation models that create economic value rather than incur costs. Antigua and Barbuda is committed to developing the proposal, viewing it as a potential cornerstone of regional climate financing. ‘We are looking at a more comprehensive situation of preservation and conservation—while at the same time monetizing the assets, both blue and green,’ Browne explained, underscoring the initiative’s potential to bolster long-term resilience in vulnerable nations.
Antigua Fully Backs “Nature Bank” Proposal to Monetize Forest and Ocean Assets
