Background

Between 1990-2015, Mexico ranked fifth globally for primary vegetation loss (6.38 million hectares converted and a corresponding 33% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 (18,797 GgCO2e). In the Marismas Nacionales-Manantlán corridor within the Central Pacific Jaguar Landscape jaguar populations and their habitats are threatened due to deforestation and agricultural and livestock ranching expansion, leading to habitat fragmentation, decreased prey availability and human-jaguar conflict, which can result in jaguar retaliatory killings. These territories are vital for the provision of ecosystem services to local communities, such as maintaining productive food supplies, including fisheries, livestock and agriculture products, and habitable weather conditions; therefore, conservation of jaguar habitat can contribute to ecosystem functions that support those activities.

The jaguar can serve as a flagship species demonstrating how wildlife conservation can be integrated with wildlife-friendly agricultural and livestock practices to support conservation and local economic activities.

Scope of Work

WWF is working with local partners to protect and restore key sites for jaguars between protected areas within the Central Pacific Jaguar Landscape, with the objective of strengthening forest connectivity and supporting ecosystem integrity.

The project is working on an area of at least 750 hectares of degraded land to implement reforestation or restoration. The expansion of restoration efforts at a national level will also be supported, through work with other non-governmental organisations to create enabling conditions for restoration throughout Mexico under the Alianza Mexicana por la Restauracion de Ecosistemas (AMERE). As well as restoration, 100,000 hectares of the landscape (including protected areas, areas voluntarily destined for conservation, wildlife management units and key areas for connectivity) are targeted to be managed under enhanced conservation and implement agricultural production approaches aligned with agreed environmental and conservation objectives. Local communities and landowners are actively contributing in these efforts, from planning to monitoring results of the activities. Through an inclusive conservation approach, local communities participate in governance processes related to conservation and land-use planning, and are being supported to act as 'jaguarundi', jaguar stewards through conservation and monitoring activities.