Protecting Wildlife and Conserving Critical Habitats Across Asia
Asia’s identity is shaped by its rich natural heritage, encompassing vast and varied landscapes as well as unique species they support. These ecosystems serve as critical natural infrastructure for local economies, providing resources such as food, water and climate regulation that sustain millions.
This natural heritage also attracts travellers seeking meaningful connections with the natural world. The growth of nature-positive tourism reflects a rising appreciation for these Asian landscapes and reinforces the need to protect them so future generations can experience them too.
However, escalating threats, such as habitat loss from land conversion and deforestation, along with the overexploitation of species and natural resources, continue to put Asia’s wildlife and ecosystems at risk. Recognizing the urgent need to protect these critical habitats, WWF and Agoda have entered the fifth year of partnership through the ongoing Eco Deals programme.
This milestone is strengthened by the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming both organisations’ shared commitment to wildlife conservation and habitat protection, while enabling strategic work to raise traveller awareness and drive industry engagement for more sustainable tourism throughout Asia. Building on the US$2.89 million raised to date, Agoda has pledged an additional US$1.5 million through the fifth edition of Eco Deals to support WWF’s conservation efforts across 10 countries in Asia. For every booking made at a participating Eco Deals property, Agoda donates US$1 directly to WWF’s efforts to protect wildlife and safeguard critical terrestrial and marine habitats.
“Eco Deals reflects five years of collaboration with WWF to support conservation efforts to protect Asia’s most remarkable destinations, alongside a growing network of accommodation partners,” said Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President, Supply, Agoda. “The signing of a new five-year MoU with WWF is a testament to our shared vision and action for long-term conservation and industry collaboration. In the past year alone, the program has seen participating properties grow by more than 45%, with strong momentum in markets like Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. But what’s most rewarding is seeing how Eco Deals has become a platform for hotels to differentiate themselves, connect with sustainability‑minded travelers and contribute to meaningful conservation work across Asia.”
Building on the foundation of last year, the partnership aims to continue strengthening responsible tourism initiatives. The Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund a collaboration with the UnTours Foundation, continues to offer accessible investment capital to Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the regions’ tourism sector, helping them adopt sustainable business practices that contribute to responsible, nature-positive travel. “Nature is a source of wonder and a vital lifeline for communities and wildlife,” said Hsieh Fu Hua, Chairman, WWF-Singapore. “Eco Deals shows how the tourism industry can actively contribute to nature-positive outcomes while creating value for travelers and destinations alike. By working across markets and a broad network of stakeholders, this partnership helps link local conservation priorities with regional coordination to protect nature today and for future generations.”
Malaysia | Strengthening Tiger Protection in Belum-Temengor
Spanning 350,000 hectares, the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex (BTFC) harbours exceptional biodiversity and remains one of the three last strongholds of Malaysia’s critically endangered Malayan tiger. The species continues to face serious threats from poaching, human-wildlife conflict, and declining prey availability. This project seeks to strengthen and expand anti-poaching patrols through the deployment of SMART technology and camera traps, alongside the training and close collaboration with Indigenous Orang Asli patrol teams. In parallel, it adopts a Conflict-to-Coexistence (C2C) approach to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and implements habitat enrichment initiatives to support prey recovery – both of which are essential to securing the long-term survival of the Malayan tiger in Belum-Temengor.
Indonesia | Protecting Javan Rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park
Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spans terrestrial, marine, and coastal ecosystems and is home to diverse wildlife species, including the last remaining population of the critically endangered Javan rhino. The project focuses on strengthening protection and monitoring systems, enhancing habitat management, and supporting inclusive conservation approaches. Through this, the project aims to reduce threats such as poaching and protect this key landscape to ensure the long-term recovery of the Javan rhino population.
Thailand | Elephant Conservation in Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex
Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (KKFC) is one of Thailand’s largest and most biodiverse forest landscapes and a critical stronghold within the 180,000-square-kilometre Dawna Tenasserim Landscape—one of Southeast Asia’s largest remaining tropical forest blocks. Home to rare and endangered species such as tigers, Asian elephants and Malayan tapirs, KKFC plays a vital role in protecting and reconnecting habitats for globally important wildlife populations. The project supports enhanced patrol efforts using SMART technology and camera traps to monitor wildlife populations as well as habitat improvement activities to ensure the availability of natural food sources. In addition, improved early-warning systems are being implemented to prevent human–wildlife conflict, while local guides receive training in responsible wildlife tourism. Together, these actions help ensure that both people and wildlife can continue to thrive within the landscape.
Viet Nam | Elephant Conservation in Da Nang City
The Central Annamite Landscape is a biodiversity hotspot and contains one of Southeast Asia’s largest remaining intact tropical forests. The landscape provides vital ecosystem services and is home to endangered species such as the Asian elephant. With fewer than 200 individuals estimated remaining in Viet Nam, Asian elephants face threats from deforestation, habitat fragmentation and poaching. In collaboration with the government under the National Elephant Conservation Action Plan, the project focuses on the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Da Nang which spans over 18,000 hectares. The project aims to strengthen elephant conservation by piloting interventions to mitigate human-elephant conflict and improve habitat management through targeted supplementation of food and water within key areas of the landscape.
Cambodia | Protecting the Eastern Plains Landscape
Spanning 600,000 hectares, the Eastern Plains Landscape (EPL) is among the world’s most biologically important regions. It is home to the world’s largest population of wild banteng, Indochina’s last remaining leopards, Siamese crocodiles, and Cambodia’s largest population of Asian elephants. However, with only 92 rangers patrolling this vast terrain, illegal poaching, logging, fishing, mining, and land encroachment continue to threaten wildlife populations. The project supports the training and deployment of additional rangers to strengthen patrolling and anti-poaching efforts, while also enhancing coordination with relevant government authorities to improve law enforcement and prosecution outcomes. With strengthened conservation enforcement, the project aims to safeguard the EPL’s remaining wildlife.
Laos | Supporting the Nong Kham Sen Wetlands
Nong Kham Sen (NKS) is an 86-hectare urban wetland that is regarded as one of the last remaining intact wetland landscapes near Vientiane. It is home to over 175 bird species, while the adjacent sacred forests hold deep cultural and spiritual significance as a naga site and religious destination. This ecologically and culturally important landscape supports freshwater ecosystems and sustains the livelihoods of residents in six surrounding villages. The project aims to raise awareness through educational programmes for the public, manage tourism impacts such as waste generation and build sustainable livelihoods for the local communities
Singapore | Community and Youth Engagement
A new initiative, set to launch in 2026, is being developed to inspire large-scale participation in climate and biodiversity conservation across Asia. Building on decades of science-based expertise, the effort aims to bridge the gap between research, education, and community action, turning awareness into measurable impact.
Japan | Protecting the Nansei Islands Ecoregion
The Nansei Islands are home to an array of rare and endemic species and include both UNESCO World Heritage sites and Ramsar-listed wetlands. However, habitat loss and infrastructure development continues to pose major threats to the region’s biodiversity. This project supports wetland restoration on Iriomote Island through the creation of organic rice fields, conservation of freshwater ecosystems and species through joint research, and community awareness on eco-tourism and illegal wildlife trade. It also fosters close collaboration with government and industry stakeholders to strengthen policy and regulation, helping ensure that key areas within this landscape remain protected.
South Korea | Safeguarding Spoonbills on the West Coast
The western coastline of the Korean Peninsula serves as a critical breeding site for the critically endangered, Black-faced Spoonbill, hosting over 90% of the global breeding population. These vast coastal wetlands are essential in maintaining ecological stability – they sustain diverse marine and bird species, act as natural buffers against coastal flooding, and store carbon to help mitigate climate change. This project focuses on enhancing spoonbill conservation efforts through nationwide population monitoring, clearing marine litter and debris from key habitats, and raising awareness by running ecological education programmes. By protecting these tidal flats, the project aims to strengthen South Korea’s coastal ecosystems and secure the future of the Black-faced Spoonbill.
Philippines | Protecting Whale Sharks in Donsol
Donsol, a coastal municipality in Sorsogon, is a marine biodiversity hotspot, with seagrass beds, coral reefs and diverse fish species that support local livelihoods. It is also home to one of the world’s largest whale sharks (locally known as “butanding”) aggregations. The project supports critical research through photo-identification activities and monitoring of marine and freshwater ecosystems, while also promoting sustainable ecotourism and public awareness. Together, these efforts aim to safeguard the ecosystem for both wildlife and the communities that depend on them
In 2022, WWF-Singapore partnered with global digital travel platform Agoda under their Eco Deals Programme, an initiative aimed at protecting wildlife and conserving critical habitats across Asia. Over the past three years, the partnership has grown and expanded to support conservation effots in more countries across the region. This report documents the progress and outcomes of WWF projects supported during this period.
If you’re interested in exploring a similar partnership with WWF, contact:
Mayj Tolentino
Director of Growth and Partnerships
E-mail: mtolentino@wwf.sg
