A first-of-its-kind insurance product has been launched in Argentina to protect the critically endangered jaguar while supporting local livestock owners.
It was 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 new insurance solution provides dual coverage: it compensates livestock owners for animals lost to jaguar attacks while helping safeguard the species in Andresito, Argentina.
Habitat loss has brought jaguars into closer proximity to local communities, where livestock and pets become prey. In response, retaliatory killings by farmers have become a leading cause of jaguar mortality. In Argentina—where the species is classified as critically endangered—the estimated economic value of a single jaguar is approximately $1.8 million.
This insurance initiative was developed through a public-private effort led by UNDP in Argentina, funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. It aims to reduce retaliatory killings, raise awareness of jaguars’ risk of extinction, and highlight their importance to the local ecosystem.
A pilot of the product has been launched in Comandante Andresito, the municipality with the highest number of livestock losses due to jaguars in the Province of Misiones. The policy—purchased by the provincial government from Río Uruguay Seguros—covers cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, and pets (dogs and cats). It is provided free of charge to residents, with no deductibles. Claims are verified by Aves Argentinas, with support from Ministry of Ecology park rangers.
Once an incident is confirmed, affected farmers receive compensation via a digital wallet or bank account. A support plan is also activated to help improve livestock protection and prevent future incidents. The initiative includes regular visits to assist producers in strengthening security measures and promotes broader adoption of these practices across local communities.
The pilot is being monitored to assess the potential for expanding the insurance product to other regions in Argentina and across Latin America and the Caribbean. If successful, the Government of Misiones plans to extend coverage across the province.
Human-wildlife conflict is a growing global challenge, and UNDP sees this insurance solution as a model that could be replicated worldwide. The initiative seeks to demonstrate how the goals of livestock production, wildlife conservation, and sustainable development can be aligned through innovative insurance instruments.
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 worldfirst jaguar-protection insurance in Argentina was made possible through strong public-private cooperation and has the potential to safeguard up to $4 trillion in ecosystem services provided by jaguar landscapes across Latin America.”
Facundo López Sartori, Misiones Minister of Agriculture and Production, Argentina, said, “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.”
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 the protection of biodiversity.”
