The Environmental & Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) provides an institutional mechanism to manage environmental and social risks, together with the impacts of WWF’s work, helping deliver better conservation outcomes, contributing to the well-being of local communities in the places where WWF operates. ESSF is designed to address range of environmental and social risks, mindful of the different challenges and needs in different parts of Importantly, ESSF also supports WWF’s accountability and transparency towards those who may be affected place-based work.
WWF’s Safeguards are a set of standards, planning and implementation mechanisms, and compliance systems, that how activities are planned and carried out to safeguard people and natural systems from harm arising from our They are necessary to help ensure that conservation efforts do not have adverse environmental and social impacts advance the fulfillment of human rights. As a common set of standards and processes, the ESSF provides a consistency approach across the entire WWF network.
The framework comprises nine Safeguards, a list of excluded activities, and as part of the Safeguard on Grievance Mechanisms, includes compliance with the Office of the Ombudsperson, which will perform the independent monitoring and review function.
The Safeguard Process defines the consistent process that WWF is committed to carrying out to identify and manage environmental and social risks and other issues relevant to our place-based activities so that safeguards implementation is effectively and adaptively managed.
This safeguard specifies the requirements that enable WWF to respect the participation and consultation rights of rights-holders while providing for the meaningful engagement of all stakeholders. This safeguard is also essential for the effective implementation of The Safeguard Process.
This safeguard specifies the requirements that enable WWF to respect the participation and consultation rights of rights-holders while providing for the meaningful engagement of all stakeholders. This safeguard is also essential for the effective implementation of The Safeguard Process.
This Safeguard specifies requirements to identify potentially adverse impacts that may stem from access restrictions in WWF’s place-based activities – and to avoid or respond to them. Resettlement is to be avoided where there is no documentation of mutually accepted negotiations and informed consent of the affected people and communities of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples.
This safeguard specifies requirements that uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples in relation to WWF’s place-based activities, including their right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).
This safeguard specifies requirements to identify and either avoid or respond to any potentially adverse impacts to the health, safety and security of communities in the context of the place-based activities, paying particular attention to groups and individuals who may be disadvantaged, marginalized or in vulnerable situations.
This safeguard specifies requirements for the protection of biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources from potentially adverse impacts in the context of place-based activities.
This safeguard specifies requirements for safe and environmentally sound pest management in relation to the place-based activities. Use of harmful chemicals in pest management is to be avoided, and the environmental and health risks associated with justifiable pesticide use are minimized and managed.
This safeguard specifies requirements to protect tangible, natural and intangible cultural heritage from potential adverse impacts in the context of the place-based activities. It applies regardless of legal or protection status and includes the cultural heritage of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
