Feasibility study of a jaguar conservation project on the Guiana Shield Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana

Context of the service

Led by Panthera in partnership with ACT and IEPÉ, the ‘Forests, Jaguars and Peoples of the Guiana Shield’ project aims to strengthen biodiversity conservation on the Guiana Shield by using the jaguar as a flagship species. As part of the 'Jaguar 2030' roadmap, the project will operate across the four countries of the Shield (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil), with an estimated budget of €6.5 million. €2 million has been requested from the FFEM.
Scheduled to run for four years from 2026, the project will address the growing pressures associated with infrastructure development, mining, logging and agricultural expansion, all of which are responsible for habitat fragmentation. The project aims to improve knowledge of the jaguar, build the capacity of local communities and indigenous peoples, develop alternative income-generating activities and strengthen regional cooperation.
The FFEM has assigned SalvaTerra to assist Panthera in finalising its funding application.

Services provided

The services provided are as follows:
(i) A preliminary strategic review of the project's scope (areas of intervention, conservation stakeholders involved and number of activities).
(ii) A literature review
(iii) A field mission to consult with partners, key stakeholders (NGOs, scientific institutions, etc.) and local communities in Surina
(iv) Drafting the Project Commitment Note (PCN), a document submitted to the FFEM Steering Committee for a decision on funding

Summary of the service

The objective of Panthera’s ‘Forests, Jaguars and Peoples of the Guiana Shield’ project is to enhance our understanding of jaguars, engage local communities in their conservation, collaborate with them to replace destructive agricultural practices with more sustainable ones, and foster greater cooperation between states on these issues and their funding. Having been approached for co-funding of €2 million, the FFEM commissioned SalvaTerra to carry out a feasibility study to align the project with its scope, timetable and budget.