Jaguar 2030 New York Forum

On March 1, 2018, a Jaguar 2030 High-Level Forum was held at the UN Headquarters in New York with representatives from 14 jaguar range countries and over 50 experts from leading international conservation organizations. The Forum was co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Mexico and Colombia to the United Nations, and co-organized by Panthera, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), and UN Development Programme (UNDP). The objective of the Forum was to champion jaguar conservation and its role in promoting ecosystem resilience, local development, and climate mitigation, and advancing the 2030 Agenda.

Recent progress on jaguar conservation solutions has demonstrated that the loss of jaguars can be prevented and, in some cases, reversed as populations recover, with a set of proven conservation actions that protect this culturally and ecologically important species, while also addressing community and national development needs. Maintaining and accelerating this initial success will require a comprehensive regional approach by all partners

Jaguar 2030 New York Statement

Partnerships between range countries, with support from the global scientific and conservation community, are essential for a comprehensive approach to jaguar conservation. During the New York Forum, the Jaguar 2030 New York Statement was developed, and endorsed by all participants, that outlines key priorities for range countries to focus their conservation and sustainable development efforts and encourages regional collaboration.

The Jaguar 2030 New York Statement recognizes that investing in the conservation of jaguars and their habitats can improve broader efforts to manage natural resources, strengthen community livelihoods, and contribute to achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The Statement also highlights the need for range country governments and partners to explore options for a regional approach that promotes research, increases jaguar conservation awareness, and scales up successfully integrated conservation initiatives. It recognizes the need for greater investments in nature-based solutions for development challenges linked to jaguars. By using public resources to incentivize private financing, and by combining domestic and international resources, countries can achieve multiple social and economic benefits that are compatible with jaguar conservation.

In line with the Statement, all participants of the New York Forum agreed to explore the steps to create an International Jaguar Day to be observed annually with the goal of celebrating jaguars as an icon for sustainable development, raising awareness and public support for jaguar conservation, and consolidating conservation efforts by range countries and partners.

Jaguar 2030 Coordination Committee

Following the Jaguar 2030 Forum, a Jaguar Coordination Committee was established to oversee the development and implementation of the Jaguar 2030 New York Statement. The committee includes representatives from range countries as well as international conservation organizations Panthera, WCS, WWF, and UNDP.

© Christophe Courteau/WWF