In an effort to avoid the legal and economic problems associated with listing the jaguar as an endangered species, biologists, land managers, and ranchers in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico formed a partnership in 1997 to develop a conservation plan. The group hoped to demonstrate to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that conservation actions for the jaguar could occur at the state level and that federal listing would not be necessary. Although the jaguar was federally listed as endangered in 1997, the partnership accomplished many positive conservation actions and continues to function very much like an endangered species recovery team, proving conclusively that individuals with different agendas can work together successfully. The jaguar conservation partnership is composed of 16 federal, state, and county agencies, including the National Park Service. The Arizona and New Mexico Game and Fish Departments have been key members and initiators of the effort.
Any interested parties can participate.
Current members include nonprofit conservation organizations, livestock associations, and private citizens as well as interested federal, state, and county agencies. In 1997, the partnership drafted a conservation agreement and strategy for the management of the jaguar. The agreement identifies major objectives for the conservation of the species that meet science-based management and education goals. Next year the partners will focus on developing habitat criteria for the jaguar to assist land management agencies and for producing information about the jaguar for dissemination to the public. One of the biggest problems with managing for a species such as the jaguar is the lack of information specific to the animal in the United States.