The Pró-Onça Institute is based in the Cerrado biome in Brazil, an area that is home to a significant population of jaguars and unique ecosystems.
This region faces threats of habitat loss due to deforestation, agricultural expansion, poaching and increasingly drier and hotter years due to climate change, threatening both wildlife and local communities that depend on natural resources. The Pró-Onça Institute addresses these challenges through a holistic approach that integrates ecological restoration with community engagement, emphasising jaguar conservation, habitat restoration, and the empowerment of women in conservation science.
Local women are trained as researchers and ecotourism guides, empowering them to conserve jaguars and biodiversity while creating sustainable income opportunities through responsible ecotourism. By developing workshops in conservation techniques, biodiversity monitoring in the field, and restoration activities, the Pró-Onça Institute is also ensuring that the voices of local women are central to decision-making processes.
The Pró-Onça Institute dreams of: