Congratulations and a warm welcome to Martin Kabaluapa-Kapinga, our new Chief of the Country Offices Division (COD). It was a pleasure to have him visit the WWF Thailand office as part of his onboarding to oversee and support all Country Offices worldwide. His time with our team offered meaningful conversations – on the experiences in the field, challenges we navigate, and the leadership advice we collectively aspire to. Martin also shared the bigger-picture perspective on future conservation priorities, helping ensure we are aligned in our mutual goals as One WWF.
Under his leadership, we are confident that we will continue to have impact in our work and attain our collective mission.
During his visit, on 18 November 2025, WWF Thailand convened conservation leaders, government officials, academics, and civil society partners for the Safeguards and Inclusive Conservation Roundtable. The event highlighted Thailand’s emerging role as a leader in rights-based and community-centered conservation.
Supported by an open civic space, a vibrant media sector, and strong civil society engagement, Thailand offers one of the region’s most favorable environments for advancing human rights in conservation. Through collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), NGOs, and academic institutions, Thailand continues to expand opportunities for local communities to participate in environmental governance.
“Safeguards are essential tools that build trust with communities and ensure that conservation delivers positive outcomes for people and nature,” stated Dr. Phichet Munpa, WWF Thailand ESSF Lead. “By embedding safeguards into every stage of our work, we move beyond compliance to empower communities, uphold rights, and strengthen long-term conservation impact.”
Thailand’s Emerging Leadership in Safeguards
The Roundtable recognised Thailand as a regional frontrunner in translating policy safeguards into practice. This progress is driven by strong collaboration within the Thailand Safeguards Network, which includes WWF Thailand, RECOFTC, IUCN, the Sustainable Environment Research Institute (SERI), the Environment, Development, and Sustainability Program at Chulalongkorn University, Norwegian Capacity (NORCAP), and government partners.
Notably, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) was acknowledged for its work with coastal communities to protect Bryde’s whales, dugongs, and sea turtles, demonstrating the power of participatory, community-driven conservation.
Key WWF Thailand achievements include:
- Universal Screening: 100% of projects are now screened under WWF’s Environmental and Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF), with risk mitigation plans active in major landscapes like the Western Forest Complex, Dawna-Tenasserim, and Kaeng Krung.
- Capacity Building: Comprehensive training for staff and partners has successfully embedded Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles across all operations.
- Co-establishment of the Safeguards Network in Thailand, a multi-institutional platform for shared learning and research.
- Supporting MONRE’s OECM designation process, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) with more than 20 communities.
Strengthening Collaboration for Better Conservation Outcomes
Speakers emphasised that effective safeguards require strong collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, communities, academic partners, and the private sector. While government, civil society, academia, and local communities are already engaged, the private sector can also play a critical role in advancing the conservation agenda and reinforcing safeguard measures. Importantly, amplifying local voices and ensuring an inclusive approach that actively involves women is essential to guarantee that community perspectives and traditional knowledge guide decision-making and strengthen the effectiveness of safeguards. Examples from WWF Thailand’s work include training with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) to strengthen stakeholder engagement, and community-driven UAV monitoring initiatives where local people co-design, co-analyse, and co-decide actions based on drone data.
“Safeguards are not an add-on—they are a fundamental part of conservation design and delivery,” said Dr. Martin Kabaluapa-Kapinga, Chief of Country Offices Division, WWF International. “Institutionalising safeguards takes leadership, commitment, and continuous learning. WWF’s network-wide approach ensures consistent accountability while adapting to local contexts.”
Looking Forward
The event concluded with a shared commitment to deepen peer learning across Asia, strengthen national safeguard systems, and expand community-centered approaches across conservation landscapes.
WWF Thailand emphasised that inclusive conservation is essential not only for ecological success but for long-term social resilience. As Thailand advances its role as a regional leader, Thailand’s model shows that conservation grounded in rights, respect, and participation is not only possible – but powerful.
