The Jaguar Rivers Initiative is the first multi-country effort to create a massive wildlife corridor in the heart of South America. Uniting successful grassroots nonprofits in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay, the initiative will restore ecosystems, bring back key species, and develop nature-based economies in a new cross-border model that also addresses the mass extinction crisis and climate instability on a global scale. (Header photograph by Lucas Morgado)
Sept 25, 2025—New York City, NY In a groundbreaking announcement during Climate Week at The Explorers Club, an alliance of grassroots South American nonprofits has launched South America’s largest continental-scale rewilding endeavor. The Jaguar Rivers Initiative plans to reconnect fragmented ecosystems across the vast Paraná Basin using river corridors as the connective tissue. “We all know the urgency of the biodiversity and climate crises,” says Kristine Tompkins of Tompkins Conservation, “This bold initiative underlines the need for coordinated, large-scale action before it’s too late. I’d call it a lifeline to our planet.” (Watch the full recorded event here)
South America is in the midst of an unparalleled ecological crisis. Wildlife populations across the region have declined by 94% since 1970—the steepest drop in the world. The drivers of this collapse—deforestation, river degradation, fragmentation, fire, and overexploitation—are intensifying in the face of climate change.
The Jaguar Rivers Initiative will restore, protect, and connect ecosystems throughout the heart of South America covering nearly 1 million square miles, an area almost twice the size of Alaska. According to Deli Saavedra, the director of the initiative, “We’re undertaking a very strategic act to safeguard one of the largest river systems in the world. By restoring its ecological integrity, diverse species and communities currently under threat in four countries have the opportunity to thrive, using a model of nature restoration combined with regenerative economies that has been tested and proven successful in places like the Brazilian Pantanal and the Iberá Wetlands of Argentina.”
The initiative is led by nonprofits Rewilding Argentina, Nativa (Bolivia), Moisés Bertoni (Paraguay) and Onçafari (Brazil). A campaign for private funding will provide resources for the initiative, with early donor commitments at $26 million U.S. dollars, approximately one-third of the operating budget for the first three years, to be announced at the Global Citizen Festival. Donors include Tompkins Conservation, Kisco Conservation Foundation, Rainforest Trust, Wyss Foundation, Bobolink Foundation, the Postcode Lottery Group, DOB Ecology, Freyja Foundation, Greg and Mary Moga, Teresa and Candido Bracher, and Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative.
About the methodology
The Jaguar Rivers Initiative protects and restores the Paraná basin through four pillars: Arks, Buffer Areas, Stepping-stones, and Rivers/Floodplains.
- Arks: large intact ecosystems with keystone species, restored and rewilded to become sources of wildlife dispersal.
- Buffer Areas: surrounding zones where restorative economies promote coexistence and extend protection.
- Stepping-stones: smaller wildlife refuges along corridors, often private reserves, that enable safe dispersal and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
- Rivers and Floodplains: vital corridors for connectivity, requiring healthy ecological flows; safeguarded through citizen guardianship, monitoring, and strong policies.
The Partners
In Argentina, Fundación Rewilding Argentina has donated over 460,000 hectares (1.1M acres) of land since 2010 to create and expand 10 parks, protecting over 1.6 million hectares (3.9M acres). Twelve extirpated species, including the jaguar, giant river otter and the red-and-green macaw, have been reintroduced and new territorial conservation models have been developed, helping to create four nature-based tourism destinations.
In Bolivia, Nativa: Naturaleza, Tierra y Vida has played a key role in promoting the creation and management of 12 protected areas, supporting initiatives such as Ñembi Guasu, encompassing 1.2 million hectares (2.9M acres), a prominent example of indigenous conservation management.
In Brazil, Onçafari has increased wildlife-based ecotourism by pioneering the habituation of jaguars. It was the first organization in the world to successfully release captive jaguars back into the wild and has been responsible for creating and managing large wildlife corridors both in the Amazon and in the Pantanal.
In Paraguay, Fundación Moisés Bertoni manages Mbaracayú Forest Reserve, ensuring the perpetual protection of more than 64,000 hectares (150,000 acres) of endangered Atlantic Forest. The foundation has developed innovative solutions to socioeconomic and environmental challenges, thereby curbing water pollution for the direct benefit of over 40,000 people.
Jaguar Rivers Funding Announced at Global Citizens Festival
This past Saturday at the Global Citizen Festival, Kris announced $26M in funding from diverse partners for the Jaguar Rivers Initiative. It’s roughly a third of the three-year operating budget. TC is proud to be part of the incredible allies, organizations, and donors who made this huge milestone possible.
Kris also shared the stage with Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Melvin W. J. Bouva, who announced that Suriname has pledged to permanently protect 90% of its forests—far exceeding the global goal to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030. A huge congrats to Suriname and the coalition of supporters, including Re:wild, who committed an initial $20 million to work with in-country partners to establish and manage protected areas.