JAGUARES DE LA SELVA MAYA PROGRAM
The Jaguars of the Selva Maya Program was launched in 2017 to secure the long-term viability of jaguar (Panthera onca) populations and their habitat in southeastern Mexico through collaborative work with local communities. This initiative initially emerged from the partnership between Bioconciencia A.C. and Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos A.C. and is built on integrating science, education, and local capacity-building to promote harmonious coexistence between people and jaguars.
The program’s approach is guided by an Action Plan through which diverse organizations collaborate to achieve shared objectives, applying a participatory and inclusive methodology. The program aims to generate knowledge about the biology and ecology of jaguars, protect their habitat, and foster sustainable livelihoods for communities living alongside the species. It promotes production practices compatible with conservation, positioning the jaguar as a driver of regional sustainable development.
The project is structured around multiple components that have led to the following key outcomes:
Research and monitoring: Collected essential information on jaguar distribution, prey abundance, and local community perceptions. Priority sites for conservation were identified, and cross-border collaboration was strengthened with key stakeholders in both Mexico and Guatemala.
Conflict mitigation: Implemented measures such as electric fencing and nighttime enclosures on 30 cattle ranches, reducing livestock predation by jaguars and fostering coexistence.
Local capacity building: Trained more than 40 community monitors across 10 communities and established three Field Schools to promote sustainable livestock practices. Twelve communities have signed a regional agreement with participating organizations to eliminate hunting of jaguars and their prey.
Education and awareness: Developed educational materials and established children’s groups to serve as conservation ambassadors. Informational signs were installed in partner communities displaying the message: “In this community, we work to conserve and coexist with the jaguar.”
Looking ahead, the program aims to consolidate strategic alliances to build a robust, coordinated regional strategy that will secure the future of the jaguar in one of Mesoamerica’s most important landscapes.
