Project Summary

The University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB-ERI) is supporting the Forest Department and national partners in the collaborative development of Belize’s National Jaguar Policy and Strategy & Action Plan. This work is part of the broader project titled "Enhancing jaguar corridors and strongholds through improved management and threat reduction," funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This initiative reflects Belize’s continued leadership in jaguar conservation and recognizes the species' role as a keystone and umbrella species critical to the health of the country’s rich forest ecosystems. Belize is one of the few countries in the region to maintain three functional biodiversity corridors that support viable jaguar populations. However, increasing threats from land-use change, habitat fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict require a national, coordinated response.

The resulting National Jaguar Policy and Strategy & Action Plan will establish a coordinated framework for conservation action—defining clear roles and responsibilities, integrating monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and guiding efforts to maintain genetic connectivity and reduce threats across Belize’s wildlands, directly supporting the country’s national biodiversity targets.