Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, November 19 - In an unprecedented global commitment to save the jaguar, the main international conservation organizations and 14 jaguar range states have joined forces to launch Roadmap 2030 for conservation of the Jaguar in the Americas, presented at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 14 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Published at a critical and uncertain time for the future of the largest wild cat in the Americas, the road map seeks to strengthen the Jaguar Corridor, which extends from Mexico to Argentina, by securing 30 priority conservation landscapes for jaguars by the year 2030. As a bold and regionally focused initiative, this will open a new path to strengthen international cooperation and awareness of jaguar protection initiatives, including those that mitigate the human-jaguar conflict and ensure the protection of the jaguars. Jaguar habitats, and stimulate opportunities for sustainable development- such as Ecotourism -that support the well-being of the communities and indigenous peoples that live with this species.

In the Convention, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) ), Panthera and government representatives announced the creation of the first International Jaguar Day. Held annually on November 29, this day will raise awareness about the threats facing the jaguar, the conservation efforts that guarantee its survival, and the role of the jaguar as a key species whose presence is indicative of a healthy ecosystem: the basis for a future sustainable for wildlife and people alike.  

"The 2030 Roadmap for the Conservation of the Jaguar in the Americas represents the kind of innovative partnership that is essential to achieving the SDGs," said Midori Paxton, Director of Biodiversity and Ecosystems at UNDP. "By bringing together the governments of the range countries, the private sector, civil society and international partners, the road map will help protect key jaguar corridors in ways that strengthen sustainable livelihoods for communities local businesses and open up new business opportunities for ecotourism and sustainable agriculture. "

Panthera Science Executive Director Dr. Howard Quigley said: "This day represents a true historical milestone for the future of the jaguar. The road map gives a new impetus to the world of jaguar conservation, providing a vision and real solutions for the world to protect this iconic and ecologically essential species, while creating enormous economic opportunities and a sustainable future for all. In particular, as new and widespread threats to the species emerge, this one-of-a-kind global commitment throws much-needed attention into the conversation that is often overlooked about jaguars. "

The conservation of the jaguar transcends the intention to safeguard a single species. The successful conservation of the jaguar maintains forests, carbon, biodiversity, watersheds as well as national and cultural heritage. Achieving the conservation of the continental jaguar requires visionary planning and management of the landscape in the development and economic sectors, such as agriculture, forestry and infrastructure, to maintain biodiversity, while achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi objectives. The crucial role of the jaguar in the conservation of biodiversity will be highlighted in the celebration of the International Jaguar Day.

The publication of the road map follows the United Nations High Level Forum held in March, which resulted in the launch of the New York Declaration of the 2030 Jaguar for 14 countries of the jaguar range and international partners of conservation. 

The jaguar is the largest carnivore in Latin America, encompassing 18 countries. However, 50% of the original range of the species has been lost and jaguar populations are declining as a result of illegal poaching, conflict between humans and jaguars and loss and fragmentation of the habitat. Given this decline, including the extinction of the jaguar in El Salvador and Uruguay, the governments of 14 of the 18 states of the jaguar range redoubled their efforts.

QUOTES

Edson Duarte, Minister of the Environment of Brazil: "We are totally committed to protecting the jaguar in our country. To increase public awareness and promote integrated actions, we established a National Jaguar Day. "

María José Villanueva, Conservation Director of WWF Mexico: "The jaguar is an icon for Latin America and a clear reminder of our indigenous heritage, we must strive to mobilize people to stand up and defend the home we share. We have to do more than "business as usual" and involve new partners, such as the private and financial sectors. We can not continue to develop at the expense of biodiversity, we need to find a balance where people and nature can thrive. "

Dr. John Polisar, Coordinator of the WCS Jaguar Conservation Program: "The future of humans and jaguars goes hand in hand with forest conservation and biodiversity. At a time when the world has lost much of its terrestrial desert, we are pleased to have joined our partners to save a symbol of wild forests in tropical America, the jaguar. The International Jaguar Day demonstrates our unprecedented collective commitment to maintain the ground for jaguars in the central areas and maintain connectivity among them so that jaguars can thrive in the Americas. It is the day to celebrate our efforts to ensure that jaguars and their spectacular habitats thrive forever.

Note to editors:  

About the roadmap

The road map describes four strategic ways of conserving the jaguar: 1) Coordination throughout the range to support protection, connectivity, expansion and improvement of ambition; 2) Development and application at the national level of the strategies of the countries of the distribution area and better contributions to the transboundary efforts; 3) Expansion of sustainable development models compatible with conservation in jaguar corridors; and 4) Improve the financial sustainability of systems and actions aimed at conserving jaguars and associated ecosystems.  

About CBD COP 14

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on June 5, 1992 and entered into force on December 29, 1993. The CBD has three main objectives: conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits derived from genetic resources. Its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It is typically seen as the key document with respect to sustainable development. For additional information, please visit: https://www.cbd.int/

About Panthera

Panthera -founded in 2006- is dedicated exclusively to the conservation of wild cats and their fundamental role in the world's ecosystems. The Panthera team of leading biologists, law enforcement experts and wildcat advocates develops innovative strategies based on the best science available to protect cheetahs, jaguars, leopards, lions, pumas, snow leopards and tigers and its vast landscapes. In 36 countries around the world, Panthera works with a wide variety of stakeholders to reduce or eliminate the most pressing threats to feral cats: securing their future and ours. Visit panthera.org

About UNDP

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crises, and to drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves everyone's quality of life. On the ground in almost 170 countries and territories, we offer a global perspective and a local vision to help empower lives and build resilient nations.

About WCS

 The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places around the world through science, conservation action, education and inspiring people to value nature. WCS visualizes a world where wildlife thrives on healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth. To achieve its mission, WCS, based in the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in more than 60 nations and in all the world's oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its experience in the field, zoos and aquariums to achieve its conservation mission. Visit www.wcs.org and follow us at @WCSNewsroom.

About WWF  

World Wildlife Fund is one of the largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations in the world. WWF was born in 1961 and is known for its panda symbol. As of 2018, about 5 million people cooperate with WWF and have a global network that operates in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to stop the degradation of nature and to build a future in which humans can live in harmony with nature, conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring the sustainable use of their renewable natural resources and promoting a reduction in pollution and wasteful consumption. For more information, please visit: www.wwf.org.mx and www.panda.org

For more information:

Jatziri Pérez, WWF Mexico Communications, +52 (55) 52865631 Ext 223, +52 55 26 99 0591, jperez@wwfmex.org

Sangita Khadka, UNDP New York, sangita.khadka@undp.org

Stephen Sautner, Wildlife Conservation Society, 1-718-220-3682, SSautner@wcs.org
 
Susie Weller Sheppard, Panthera, 1-347-446-9904, sweller@panthera.org