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29 November 2024

Press Release

For immediate release

Office: 0131 659 9100

Out of hours: 0131 659 9100

Email: press@wwf.org.uk

Jaguar habitats provide an estimated value up to £4 trillion per year in ecosystem services, finds WWF report

  • On International Jaguar Day (29 November), a new report from WWF quantifies the importance of jaguar habitats in Latin America, highlighting their vital ecosystem services that far exceed the value of regional economic activities   

A new report from WWF has revealed that 15 key jaguar landscapes across Latin America provide ecosystem services, such as water and erosion regulation, climate control and food provision, with an estimated annual value of up to £1.5 to £4 trillion annually – more than six times the economic activity in the same areas.  

In comparison, industries such as trade, transportation, banking and education in these areas currently generate £563 billion annually, according to the report:  "Connecting the Spots: The Socioeconomic Impact of Jaguar Habitats in Latin America". 

Covering 244.3 million hectares across 14 countries, these landscapes are vital not only for the survival of jaguars but also for the 62 million people living in the local communities whose health and wellbeing depend on thriving ecosystems.  

The report, released to mark International Jaguar Day (29 November), draws on data from existing economic valuation studies brought together in the Ecosystem Service Valuation Database. It reveals that each hectare of jaguar habitat contributes between £11,900 and £17,500 annually. 

In some areas, such as the Southern Guianas, ecosystem services are worth more than 100 times the region’s total economic output.  

Despite this value, less than half of jaguar priority landscapes are protected, with countries like Argentina, Mexico, and Honduras protecting less than 13% of their jaguar habitats.  

Valeria Boron, Senior Programme Advisor for Latin America at WWF-UK, said: 

"This report highlights the immense economic value of jaguar habitats.  These habitats provide essential benefits for people and wildlife.  

“Protecting these key landscapes not only helps safeguard the jaguar but also ensures that millions of people across Latin America can continue to rely on the ecosystem services that support their livelihoods and sustainable development.  

“Here in the UK, we need to see the long-awaited due diligence regulations passed next year, to remove deforestation-linked products from our supermarket shelves and curb the destruction of vital ecosystems like those crucial to jaguar habitats.” 

The report draws on case studies from five Jaguar Priority Landscapes —Selva Maya (Mexico), Lower Pastaza Basin (Ecuador), Southwestern Amazon (Bolivia), Pantanal (Paraguay), and Misiones Upper Paraná (Argentina). These case studies provide insights into local perceptions on the value of jaguar habitats. While land use is often dominated by activities like livestock grazing, communities consistently value natural ecosystems such as forests for the direct benefits they provide. 

Roberto Troya, WWF's Regional Director of Latin America and the Caribbean, said:

"The jaguar is much more than a cultural symbol; it is a strategic asset for the environmental and economic stability of the region. Protecting its habitats means safeguarding natural wealth that underpins sustainable development in Latin America."  

María José Villanueva, Conservation Coordinator of Latin America and the Caribbean and Leader of WWF's Jaguar Initiative, said:  

"This report is a call to action for governments, financial institutions, companies and civil society. Investing in the conservation of jaguar habitats is not only an environmental responsibility, but also an economic strategy. Recognising and protecting these requires commitment from all sectors."    

Jaguar habitats – such as wet and dry forests, savannahs and shrublands – face significant threats from deforestation and fragmentation due to agricultural expansion.  

It is estimated that jaguars have lost approximately 50% of their historic range, with a 20% decline in a period of just 14 years, and have gone extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay. Currently, an estimated 173,000 jaguars remain in 18 Latin American countries, but populations are declining.  

WWF is also calling for urgent increased financial support for the conservation of jaguar habitats. All sectors must recognise the value of protecting jaguar landscapes and strengthen investment in conservation policies that ensure a sustainable future where biodiversity and natural resources continue to support life and the economy across Latin America.  

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

 * Please note that in the report, the value of habitats is described in 'international dollars' or the value of the dollar in 2020. In this press release we have converted the sum into 2024 pound values, which are similar due to the combined effect of inflation and the weakened dollar.

*The 15 Jaguar Priority Landscapes identified by WWF are strategic areas in Latin America selected for their importance for the conservation of this species and its environmental services. These landscapes cover a wide area in 14 countries in the region:   

  1. Selva Maya (Mexico, Belize, Guatemala)  
  2. Central Pacific (Mexico)  
  3. Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve (Guatemala)  
  4. Honduras Caribbean Biological Corridor (Honduras)  
  5. Southern Guianas (Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana)  
  6. Southwest Amazon (Bolivia, Brazil, Peru)  
  7. Eastern and Coastal Amazon (Brazil)  
  8. Southern Amazon Mosaic (Brazil)  
  9. Napo-Putumayo-Meta-Caquetá (Colombia, Ecuador)  
  10. Lower Pastaza Basin (Ecuador)  
  11. Gran Chaco (Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina)  
  12. El Impenetrable Corridor (Argentina)  
  13. Pantanal (Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia)  
  14. Misiones – Upper Paraná (Argentina)  
  15. Brazilian Coastal Atlantic Forest (Brazil)  

These landscapes were selected in collaboration with conservation experts and local organizations to ensure the ecological connectivity and sustainability of jaguar habitats throughout the region.  

  • Ecosystem services: Jaguar habitats provide vital ecosystem services for environmental health and sustainable development in the regions where the jaguar lives. 
  • Regulating services: Such as erosion prevention, climate regulation, flood control, and water purification, which help maintain environmental stability and natural cycles.   
  • Provisioning services: They provide direct resources such as water, food, raw materials, and genetic resources that are essential for biodiversity and human well-being.   
  • Cultural services: They offer non-material benefits such as opportunities for ecotourism, spiritual and cultural value.   
  • Supporting services: They facilitate essential processes such as soil formation and photosynthesis, which are critical to sustaining life and the health of ecosystems.