LocationsOne year after its implementation, the initiative offers valuable insights into how to strengthen coexistence between institutions, producers, and nature.
Jaguar Protection Insurance: lessons from a systemic and behavioral science perspective
June 2, 2026
UNDP Argentina participated in a field visit to Misiones Province to support the expansion of the Jaguar Protection Insurance coverage.
In the north of Misiones Province, where the Atlantic Forest stretches dense and humid, the jaguar (or Yaguarete as it is called in Argentina) moves almost unseen. This silent predator plays a critical role in maintaining the ecosystem’s balance, yet it is also a tangible presence in the daily lives of those who make a living from the land. Here, the boundary between forest and farmland is often blurred. Within this shared space emerges a deep systemic challenge, where the conservation of an endangered species—with fewer than one hundred individuals remaining in the province—intersects with the sustainability of rural production systems and the livelihoods of local families. This is not merely a matter of livestock predation. It reflects a broader tension between production models, economic transformations, and ecological dynamics that require new ways of thinking about coexistence.
The jaguar is the largest feline in the Americas and one of the most iconic symbols of the Misiones' rainforest. With its powerful build, golden-yellow coat marked by distinctive black rosettes, and an intense gaze, it moves through the forest with remarkable stealth and precision. A solitary and primarily nocturnal hunter, it roams vast territories in search of food and habitat. Its presence is so discreet that it is often recognized more by its tracks or evidence of prey than through direct sightings.
After one year, the Jaguar Protection Insurance expands its coverage to Puerto Iguazú, Puerto Esperanza, Puerto Libertad and Wanda.
Looking past its strength and mystique, the jaguar plays a vital ecological role. As a top predator, it regulates other species’ population and contributes to the overall health of the ecosystem. Its survival depends on large expanses of continuous forest and the availability of natural prey. Yet these same ecological needs can bring it closer to productive areas as landscapes change. In doing so, the jaguar becomes more than a symbol of biodiversity; it becomes an active participant in a shared system, generating both ecological value and practical challenges.
One year after the launch of the Jaguar Protection Insurance—an innovative mechanism designed to compensate losses and discourage retaliatory hunting—the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Argentina, together with the Government of Misiones, Río Uruguay Seguros, Aves Argentinas, and Proyecto Yaguareté, took another step towards deepening the understanding of this complex issue. As part of this effort, UNDP promoted a week of fieldwork in Comandante Andresito and four municipalities in the Iguazú Department.
The jaguar is the largest feline in América and one of the Misiones' jungle most powerful symbols.
The initiative combined a systems-thinking approach with behavioral science tools to better understand a challenge that is far from linear and involves multiple interconnected dimensions. Through systems mapping, analysis of producers' experiences, and the identification of key barriers, a clear pattern emerged: many of the tensions are not explained solely by predation events themselves, but by gaps between expectations and reality, limited access to timely information, economic constraints that hinder the adoption of preventive measures and perceptions of limited participation in decision-making processes. In this context, the insurance scheme is widely accepted as a useful tool, yet it is also shaped by expectations that go beyond its intended scope and challenges related to its understanding and use.
To explore these dynamics further, the team conducted in-depth interviews with different types of producers and facilitated a collaborative design workshop focused on perceptions, attitudes, and opportunities for improving the insurance mechanism. This process made it possible to gather experiences from the field and gain a deeper understanding of how decisions are made within local communities.
Incorporating a behavioral science perspective means recognizing that decisions are made within specific contexts and are influenced by local realities, perceptions, previous experiences, emotions, and social dynamics. Understanding how producers perceive risk, trust institutions, or assess the value of a loss can be just as important as the technical design of any policy instrument. It is precisely at this intersection that new opportunities emerge for interventions that are more context-sensitive, effective, and ultimately more sustainable over time.
The team conducted in-depth interviews and facilitated collaborative workshops to examine perceptions, attitudes, and opportunities to improve the insurance mechanism.
Just as every species plays a role within the rainforest, the system surrounding jaguar conservation also functions as a network of interdependencies. Producers manage their farms daily; government institutions establish regulations and coordinate responses; organizations such as Aves Argentinas and Proyecto Yaguareté contribute technical expertise and local presence; Río Uruguay Seguros provides essential support; schools help educate future generations; and community members shape the perceptions and practices that circulate throughout the territory. No single participant can maintain this balance alone. As in any ecosystem, what matters most is the relationship between its components.
As a result of this collaborative effort, the Government of Misiones decided to extend the insurance coverage to the municipalities of Puerto Iguazú, Puerto Esperanza, Puerto Libertad, and Wanda, expanding its reach to more than 100,000 people. Like any collective process, the initiative's greatest value lies in allowing a different way of thinking about coexistence—one in which production and conservation are not seen as opposing goals, but as objectives that can be built together.