Jaguar Critical Habitat Designation Causes Concern for Southwestern Ranchers

Abstract

On the Ground
• The designation of jaguar critical habitat in April
2014 in southern Arizona and southwestern New
Mexico created concern for livestock ranchers in
the region.
• We interviewed ranchers to understand their concerns
with the jaguar critical habitat designation and
their attitudes toward jaguars, wildlife conservation,
and resource management in general.
• Ranchers we interviewed were concerned about
direct impacts of designated critical habitat on
ranching, as well as possible alternative agendas of
critical habitat advocates and issues specific to the
borderlands region.
• The ranchers were less concerned about the
presence of jaguars but were more concerned
about possible limiting effects of the Endangered
Species Act (ESA), distrust of government entities,
and litigious environmental groups.
• To maximize effectiveness, government agencies
shouldwork to foster trust in the ranching community,
be cognizant of sensitive issues specific to the region
that may challenge endangered species conservation
goals, recognize the opportunity to work with
ranchers for endangered species management, and
provide outreach about implications of the ESA.

Keywords: attitudes, concerns, Endangered Species
Act, endangered species management, human
dimensions, jaguar critical habitat, key informant
interview, southwest, wildlife conservation.