Protecting Wildlife and Conserving Critical Habitats Across Asia
Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems are the foundation of Asia’s natural heritage, acting as lifelines that sustain local communities by providing essential resources such as food, water, medicine and more. These landscapes also drive tourism, creating livelihoods and driving economic growth across the region. However, a myriad of challenges including habitat loss, poaching, and environmental degradation continue to threaten Asia’s wildlife and ecosystems.
WWF and Agoda have renewed their partnership for a fourth year through the Eco Deals Programme, working together to conserve wildlife and restore critical habitats. As part of this initiative, Agoda will donate US$1 for every booking at participating Eco Deals properties. Building on three years of impact, Agoda has expanded the scope of the initiative, pledging up to US$1.5 million to support WWF’s conservation efforts across 10 countries. This includes new projects in Korea and Japan, alongside ongoing conservation work in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, and Laos.
This year’s partnership also marks the launch of the Sustainable Tourism Impact Fund, a collaboration between Agoda, WWF-Singapore, and the UnTours Foundation. The fund provides accessible investment capital to Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in the tourism sector across Southeast Asia, helping them adopt sustainable business practices that shape the future of travel in a more sustainable way.
Singapore – Wildlife Connectivity Monitoring Across Fragmented Habitats
Singapore’s rapid urbanization has resulted in fragmented natural habitats, disrupting wildlife movement and increasing roadkill incidents. Many native species, including the critically endangered Sunda pangolin and the Straw-headed Bulbul, rely on ecological corridors to navigate between forest patches. WWF-Singapore’s Wildlife Connectivity Monitoring Programme conducts diurnal and nocturnal surveys along Rifle Range Road, a key link between Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Rifle Range Nature Park, and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. These are key habitats for endangered or near threatened species such as the Leopard Cat, Raffles’ Banded Langur, Sunda Slow Loris, and Malayan Colugo. Through regular monitoring, WWF-Singapore’s volunteer citizen scientists are able to identify wildlife crossing hotspots and roadkill risk areas. These findings are then shared with authorities to inform conservation strategies, including recommendations for rope bridges, underground passages, and other wildlife crossings to reconnect habitats and enhance ecological connectivity.
Malaysia – Strengthening Tiger Conservation in Belum-Temengor
Covering over 3,400km², the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex is one of the last strongholds for Malaysia’s critically endangered Malayan tiger population, with fewer than 150 individuals remaining. Poaching and habitat loss continue to threaten this iconic species, highlighting the need for urgent intervention. This initiative will enhance tiger protection by expanding patrol efforts, increasing the use of camera traps, and deepening collaboration with local authorities. Additionally, it will empower Indigenous Orang Asli patrol teams through training and sustainable livelihood support, ensuring their vital role in long-term conservation.
Indonesia – Ecosystem Restoration in Thirty Hills
One of the last intact lowland forests in Central Sumatra, Bukit Tigapuluh—known as Thirty Hills—shelters a unique array of endangered wildlife, including Sumatran tigers, elephants, and orangutans, while sustaining Indigenous communities deeply connected to the land.
However, disruption of wildlife habitats can impact biodiversity and the balance of the ecosystem. To address these challenges, Thirty Hills Forest Company (PT ABT) is spearheading a comprehensive restoration project focused on reforesting degraded areas through tree planting and agroforestry. This initiative will also include wildlife monitoring and fire prevention measures. In addition, the project will engage local farmers and women-led groups to foster sustainable livelihoods, ensuring long-term environmental and community resilience.
Thailand – Elephant Conservation in Kuiburi National Park
Kuiburi National Park is a vital refuge for Thailand’s wild elephants and other endangered species, playing a key role in the broader Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (KKFC). The project supports the conservation of these species by improving elephant habitats through grassland restoration, maintaining essential mineral licks and water sources, and deploying camera traps to monitor wildlife. Community outreach activities are central to the approach, with a focus on fostering human-elephant coexistence through early warning systems, stakeholder collaboration, and training local guides in responsible wildlife tourism.
Philippines – Protecting Whale Sharks in Donsol
Donsol is home to one of the world’s largest whale shark aggregations, where these gentle giants (locally known as “butanding) play a crucial role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance and supporting the local economy. Through its Eco Deals programme, Agoda supports the whale shark conservation project in Donsol which is one of the key initiatives under the Donsol Integrated Conservation Program (DICP), a long-standing WWF-Philippines effort that integrates science-based conservation, ecotourism, and environmental education to engage both local and international stakeholders. Key components of the project include annual whale shark monitoring via photo identification, developing a centralised, web-based whaleshark photo-ID repository, enhancing capacity building for Butanding Interaction Officers (BIOs) and boat operators, and raising awareness on marine conservation To holistically conserve whale sharks and their habitat, the project has also expanded to include plankton and water quality studies . Together, these efforts aim to protect whale sharks and the ecosystems they depend on.
Cambodia – Supporting Rangers in 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, including tigers, that are now deemed extinct in the EPL. This project supports the training and deployment of additional rangers to enhance patrolling efforts, implement anti-poaching strategies, and implement conservation enforcement across key protected areas, safeguarding the EPL’s remaining wildlife.
Viet Nam – Supporting Saola Conservation in the Central Annamites Landscape
Endemic to Viet Nam’s Central Annamites Landscape, the critically endangered saola—often called the “Asian Unicorn”—is one of the world’s rarest large mammals. Habitat loss and poaching have pushed the species to the brink of extinction, making targeted conservation efforts essential. This project focuses on expanding detection efforts in watersheds where saola may still persist, and contributing to establish a rewilding program including the development of a dedicated breeding conservation centre. Additionally, community outreach in neighbouring areas aims to engage local communities, raising awareness of the region’s biodiversity and fostering long-term support for saola conservation.
Laos – Supporting the Nong Kham Sen Wetland
Nong Kham Sen (NKS), an 86-hectare urban wetland in Vientiane Capital, is the last remaining urban wetland in the city. This ecologically and culturally significant landscape supports a rich freshwater ecosystem, playing a crucial role in local food security and agriculture for six surrounding villages. To raise awareness of NKS’s biodiversity, the project includes educational efforts such as installing informational signage and advisories, as well as building bird hides to encourage wildlife observation for both locals and visitors. Plans are also underway to establish an Environmental Education Learning Centre aimed at enhancing community engagement and fostering ownership of the NKS wetland landscape. This initiative will provide learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, both locals and visitors. It will serve as a model of successful collaborative management efforts, demonstrating how to protect this vital wetland for future generations, while offering a model for similar initiatives across the country.
South Korea – Protecting Spoonbill Breeding Grounds on the West Coast of the Korean Peninsula
The West Coast of the Korean Peninsula is a vital breeding ground for the critically endangered Black-faced Spoonbill, home to over 90% of the global breeding population. These expansive coastal wetlands play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance—they support a rich diversity of marine and bird species, help mitigate coastal flooding by acting as natural buffers, and store carbon, reducing the impacts of climate change. This project aims to enhance spoonbill conservation by conducting nationwide population monitoring, removing marine litter and debris from key habitats, and raising public awareness through ecological education programs. By safeguarding these tidal flats, the project aims to strengthen the resilience of South Korea’s coastal ecosystems while ensuring a future for the Black-faced Spoonbill.
Japan – Wildlife Protection in the Nansei Islands Ecoregion
Scattered across Japan’s subtropical waters, the Nansei Islands are home to a rich diversity of rare and endemic species, including the critically endangered Iriomote cat. However, habitat loss and infrastructure expansion threaten this fragile ecosystem. This project aims to restore wetlands in Iriomote National Park, creating freshwater habitats vital for aquatic life and endangered species to thrive. Conservation efforts will focus on mitigating development impacts, with plans to preserve key habitats for species such as the Crested Serpent Eagle and Miyako Grass Lizard. Additionally, advocacy initiatives will be developed to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade through community and private sector engagement as well as policy collaboration, laying the groundwork for long-term environmental protection and sustainable development.
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
+65 6730 8100
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