World’s first jaguar-protection insurance launched in Argentina by Government of Misiones with UNDP support

Buenos Aires and Geneva, 22 May 2025 – In a global first, a new insurance product has been launched to protect one of Latin America’s most iconic and endangered species: the jaguar.

Developed through a partnership between the Government of the Province of Misiones, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), insurer Río Uruguay Seguros, and local conservation groups including Aves Argentinas, the initiative offers dual coverage, compensating local livestock owners for losses while safeguarding the critically endangered Yaguareté in Andresito, Argentina.

This innovative insurance solution has the potential to unlock a new frontier in biodiversity finance and preserve the ecosystem services jaguars help sustain across the region.

Habitat loss has forced jaguars into closer proximity to local communities, where livestock and pets become prey, intensifying retaliatory killing by livestock owners as a major driver of jaguar mortality. In Argentina, where the species is classified as critically endangered, the economic value of a single jaguar is approximately US$1.8 million.

An innovative financial solution to restore jaguar populations was the focus of a public-private effort led by UNDP in Argentina, funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. UNDP worked with the Misiones Government, Río Uruguay Seguros, and local conservation NGOs to design an insurance product capable of stemming retaliatory killings while also raising awareness about the species' extinction risk and the importance of its survival in the local ecosystem. 

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, commented: “Innovative financial mechanisms like insurance can become one of the most powerful tools we have to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change, and inequality. This world-first jaguar-protection insurance in Argentina was made possible through strong public-private cooperation and has the potential to safeguard up to US$4 trillion in ecosystem services provided by jaguar landscapes across Latin America.” 

An official pilot of the insurance product has been launched in the Municipality of Comandante Andresito, the region with the highest incidence of jaguar attacks across the Province of Misiones. The insurance policy, purchased from Río Uruguay Seguros by the provincial government, covers cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, and pets (dogs and cats). It is being offered free of charge to residents, without any deductibles. Claims will be verified by the NGO Aves Argentinas, and park rangers from the Ministry of Ecology will support the claims verification process.

Facundo López Sartori, Misiones Minister of Agriculture and Production, Argentina, commented: “Argentina’s jaguars are more than a powerful cultural symbol; they contribute to environmental and economic stability across the country. Through our joint efforts with UNDP and Rio Uruguay Seguros, we are proud to promote coexistence between one of the province’s key productive sectors and Latin America’s most iconic species: the jaguar.” 

Once an incident is confirmed, the affected livestock producer receives prompt financial compensation to a digital wallet or bank account, and a support plan is activated to help farmers improve livestock management and prevent future incidents. The initiative includes periodic visits to help producers strengthen security measures to mitigate the risk of jaguar incidents, and general promotion of these measures amongst livestock producers to encourage their widespread use. 

Juan Carlos Godoy, CEO of Río Uruguay Seguros, added: “Insurance should not only protect assets, but also serve as a tool to safeguard what makes our region unique and take a step further. This initiative allows us to support local livestock producers while actively financing biodiversity protection.” 

The jaguar-protection insurance pilot is being monitored and evaluated to assess the potential for expansion to other regions of Argentina and across Latin America and the Caribbean. If the pilot is successful, the Government of the Province of Misiones will increase coverage for the entire province. The insurance product is also open source, allowing other insurers to sell it in other provinces across Argentina. 

‘Human-Wildlife Conflict’ is a major global threat to conservation, and UNDP sees opportunities to replicate this pioneering public-private solution around the world. The initiative seeks to demonstrate that it is possible to align the goals of livestock production, wildlife conservation, and sustainable development through innovative insurance instruments. 

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