Asia is home to a rich diversity of people and nature. Wildlife and biodiversity play a crucial role in Southeast Asia, both in terms of ecological and economic significance. These regions are home to a diverse array of species, including many that cannot be found elsewhere. The preservation of this biodiversity is essential for maintaining the health and stability of the region’s ecosystems, which provide numerous benefits to local communities, including food, water, and medicine. At the same time, biodiversity and a healthy landscape is vital for tourism and forms the basis on which the industry is built upon.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has renewed its partnership with global digital travel platform, Agoda, for a third consecutive year, in line with Agoda’s Eco Deals Programme. The success of the past two years raised a total of USD$394,000 which provides a strong foundation for the renewed partnership’s continued focus on the protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitats.
As part of the Eco Deals Programme, Agoda will donate USD $1 for every booking at participating properties in popular tourist destinations. Funds raised will go towards supporting WWF’s conservation efforts in 8 countries with a minimum commitment of USD $500,000 and a donation target of USD $1,000,000.
The WWF projects supported this year include monitoring of marine life in Singapore, protection of tigers in Malaysia, ecosystem restoration in Indonesia, protection of whale sharks in Philippines, ranger support in Cambodia, protection of elephants in Thailand. New projects supported include Saola conservation in Viet Nam and the improvement of urban wetlands in Laos. The campaign will run from 3 March – 3 December 2024, offering customers discounted rates of up to 15% at participating properties during this period.
Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer, Agoda: “As a company that aims to make travel possible for more people, we recognize we have a responsibility to contribute to the preservation of destinations. Through our longstanding partnership with WWF under the Eco Deals Program and the collaborative support of our hotel partners, we aspire to proactively champion initiatives that contribute to the further preservation and protection of the world, ensuring that it remains an environment for future generations to explore and enjoy.”
Vivek Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, WWF-Singapore: “WWF’s latest Living Planet Report reveals a staggering 69% drop in wildlife populations on average in less than a lifetime. As an international hub, WWF-Singapore is well-positioned to continue driving positive change in Southeast Asia. The conservation impact we have achieved over the last two years showcases the tangible effect our collaboration has on the environment. As we embark on our third year of partnership with Agoda, we look forward to expanding projects for marine, forest, and wildlife conservation.”
Singapore – Strengthening Marine Conservation in the Southern Islands
Singapore’s Southern Islands are home to diverse coral reefs and a thriving marine life. In collaboration with National University of Singapore (NUS), this project supports the deployment of underwater video systems in 5 sites and analyses of underwater footage to plug important data gaps on populations of local marine creatures. Data collected will be published and help guide local conservation work to ensure these species are well protected.
Malaysia – Strengthening Tiger Conservation in Belum-Temengor
Spanning over 3,400km2, the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex is one of three priority sites for tigers in Malaysia under the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan. From an estimated 3,000 tigers in the 1950s, tiger populations have rapidly declined to less than 150 individuals primarily due to habitat loss and poaching. This project aims to maintain critical tiger habitats and linkages, tackling poaching activities in the hopes of increasing and protecting existing tiger populations
Philippines – Protecting Whale Sharks in Donsol
The municipality of Donsol hosts one of the largest whale shark aggregations worldwide. Locally known as “butanding”, whale sharks have a key role in the health and balance of our marine ecosystem. The project supports monitoring whale shark movement and migration patterns using their unique spot patterns. The capacities of Butanding Interaction Officers (BIOs) and boat operators will be strengthened to further enhance their operational capabilities. Data collected from the monitoring will help inform conservation strategies to protect this endangered species better.
Indonesia – Ecosystem Restoration in Thirty Hills
The Thirty Hills Landscape, or Bukit Tigapuluh, is home to more than 8,000 people and a critical habitat for endangered wildlife such as clouded leopards, orangutans and tapirs. It hosts 5% of the remaining population of critically endangered Sumatran tigers and 20% of the remaining population of critically endangered Sumatran elephants. This project supports the protection of wildlife through monitoring, restoration of the forest landscape and partnering with local communities and stakeholders to build sustainable livelihoods without compromising environmental conservation values.
Thailand – Elephant Conservation in Kuiburi National Park
Kuiburi National Park’s rich ecosystems support an array of endangered wildlife including over 200 wild elephants. The project supports the conservation of these species through habitat improvement activities such as the expansion of grassland areas for feeding as well as maintaining mineral licks and watering holes to ensure there are sufficient water sources during droughts. In addition to that, community outreach activities will be conducted to raise awareness about the importance of elephant conservation within the landscape to mitigate potential human-wildlife conflict.
Viet Nam – Supporting Saola Conservation in the Central Annamites Landscape
Viet Nam’s Central Annamites Landscape (CAL) is a global biodiversity hotspot spanning 2.3 million ha. It is home to an array of protected species including the saola. Often referred to as the “Asian Unicorn” due to its rare and elusive nature, the saola is a critically endangered species under threat due to habitat loss, hunting and poaching for illegal wildlife trade. This project supports the conservation of the species and its habitats by establishing a rewilding program, scaling up saola detection in 15 watersheds as well as supporting a rescue and breeding conservation centre. In addition to that, community outreach activities will be conducted in the buffer zones of the nature reserve to engage with local communities and raise awareness about the importance of local biodiversity.
Laos – Supporting the Nong Kham Sen Wetland
Nong Kham Sen is a conserved wetland area rich in biodiversity with over 175 bird species recorded and plays an essential role in supporting nearby communities for food and agriculture. Its high cultural value, freshwater biodiversity and potential for environmental education makemakes it a key landscape that supports the livelihoods of local communities. The project supports the creation and installation of educational materials and advisories as well as the construction of bird hides for locals and tourists to appreciate the local biodiversity.
Cambodia – Supporting Rangers in the Eastern Plains Landscape
Covering 600,000 ha, the Eastern Plains Landscape (EPL) spans is considered a global biodiversity hotspot, boasting the world’s largest population of wild Banteng and Cambodia’s largest population of Asian elephants. However, with only 99 rangers actively patrolling the vast landscape, illegal poaching and logging activities have become a key challenge. This has resulted in the drastic decline of wildlife populations such as tigers which are now deemed functionally extinct within the area. This project supports the funding and training of additional rangers and patrol teams to conduct more frequent anti-poaching patrols.
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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