Jaguar range states came together to finalize new strategies and mechanisms for the conservation of the jaguar and its habitat. Strengthening collaboration across countries is critical for the long-term conservation of the jaguar, which has been lost from an estimated 50% of its historic range and at risk from multiple threats including fragmentation of remaining habitats, human-jaguar conflict, and illegal trade in jaguar parts. Range states adopted the first jaguar range-wide action plan, which puts in place a coordinated strategy across countries for long-term jaguar conservation. 

Jaguars are a flagship species for Latin America – the biggest of the big cats in the Americas. They are culturally significant to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, serve as an indicator of healthy forest ecosystems, and are recognized for their potential to deliver biodiversity and climate goals for the region (e.g., see the adopted Lima Declaration from the XXIV Meeting of Environment Ministers of the Latin American and the Caribbean region). 

The Global Wildlife Program (GWP), with the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program (ASL), supported the second meeting of jaguar range states in Mexico City, on 22-24 September, 2025. Over 80 participants attended the meeting including representatives from all 18 range States, biodiversity and wildlife conventions (CITES, CMS and CBD Secretariats), and development partners. The meeting was convened by the CITES and CMS Secretariats and co-chaired by Mexico and Brazil. 

A key outcome of the meeting was the adoption of the first jaguar range-wide action plan. The plan lists actions to conserve jaguar habitats, recover jaguar populations and prey, promote human-jaguar coexistence, stop illegal trade, and strengthen capacities and knowledge exchange. The plan aims to facilitate transboundary collaboration and align national efforts by providing a blueprint for the revision of national jaguar action plans.  

Financing the regional action plan and national efforts is a priority for range States. The World Bank delivered a session on sustainable and innovative finance, which presented an overview of financing options for conservation of jaguars and jaguar landscapes. Range States presented examples of outcome-based finance (IDB Jaguar Impact Initiative), grant finance (participation in GWP) and risk management tools (BIOFIN jaguar insurance). Technical partners presented proposals for practical next steps, including available technical support and resources that range States can access, the convening of a targeted session on GEF-9 opportunities, and a follow-up virtual session to explore the menu of financing options. Live polling indicated that range States were most interested in learning more about outcome-based finance and sustainable bonds.  

Exchange of successful approaches and lessons learned is also essential for effective range-wide conservation of the jaguar. The GWP and ASL delivered a poster session to showcase results and lessons from jaguar conservation. Posters from fifteen range States highlighted a range of successful interventions, from the launch of a national wildlife database in Belize, completion of camera trap studies for jaguars in Brazil and Honduras, the development of community protected areas and forest concessions to protect jaguar habitats in Ecuador and Guatemala, transboundary collaboration between Argentina and Bolivia to investigate illegal jaguar hunting, and a model to build coexistence between livestock farming and jaguars in Panama.  

Targeted national action to conserve jaguars and their landscapes is being delivered under multiple national projects of the GWP and ASL, while the two knowledge platforms facilitate exchange and learning across range States. 

Visit the GWP website for more information.