SIG, a leading packaging system solutions provider, and WWF marked the second-year progress of their Forests Forward partnership in Thailand, which supports conservation and improved forest management across 60,000 hectares of strategic forest landscapes spanning across three of Thailand’s most critical forest landscapes: the Mae Ping–Kaeng Krung forest corridor, the Lower Songkhram River Basin wetlands, and the Dong Phayayen–Thap Lan forest complex.
These areas play an important role in supporting biodiversity, ecosystem services and communities living alongside forest and wetland ecosystems. The project supports Thailand’s broader 30×30 direction, the ambition to conserve and restore 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. Through improved forest conditions and landscape-level conservation outcomes, the initiative contributes to wider efforts to protect biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem resilience and support communities living alongside critical natural landscapes.
Since the project’s inception in October 2024, it has delivered progress across forest restoration, protected area management, technology-enabled monitoring and community-based conservation. While the broader project supports improved conservation and management outcomes across 60,000 hectares of forests, direct restoration activities have covered 69.72 hectares across five priority sites. The project has also trained 120 forest rangers in SMART Patrolling, strengthened 47 community forests covering more than 9,883 hectares, and established 31 community fish conservation zones covering 142 hectares in the Lower Songkhram Basin.
In the target areas, project monitoring recorded a 30% reduction in reported human-elephant conflict incidents during the project period. Five rapid-response teams and 25 officers have been trained to use thermal drones to support elephant tracking and response in conflict-prone areas. Real-time wildfire surveillance has also been introduced across 25,000 hectares along the Mae Ping forest corridor, supported by UAVs and live video systems to help rangers detect and respond to threats more effectively.
Mr. Vatcharapong Ungsrisawasdi, Head of Market AreaThailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia at SIG: “Healthy forests are essential to biodiversity, climate resilience and the well-being of communities that depend on natural resources. Through our partnership with WWF, we are supporting practical action on the ground from forest restoration and ranger capacity building to community-led conservation and human-elephant conflict mitigation. This reflects SIG’s broader regenerative approach to nature, where responsible sourcing, climate action and resource efficiency are connected with real impact in the landscapes that matter.”
In conjunction with World Environment Day 2026 (June 5), senior executives from SIG and WWF Thailand joined government representatives, partner networks and more than 180 members of the Ban Nong Sano community in Yan Ri Sub-district, Sam Ngao District, Tak Province, for a traditional forest ordination ceremony and tree-planting activity to support local ecosystem restoration. The event also featured an exhibition showcasing the project’s progress and a certificate presentation recognizing individuals and community organizations for their contributions to conservation.
Mr. Rattaphon Pitakthepsombat, Deputy Conservation Director WWF Thailand: “The most challenging aspect of modern forest conservation is balancing human livelihoods with wildlife survival. Our partnership with SIG has allowed us to integrate advanced technologies as crucial tools. Whether it is real-time video monitoring for forest fires or using thermal drones to track wild elephants in conflict zones. The 30% reduction in human-wildlife conflict and the achievement of zero casualties prove that technology and community engagement can effectively protect our forests.”
Mr. Worraphat Kamkhai, a community leader from Ban Nong Sano, Tak Province: “For our community, the forest ordination is a meaningful way to show our commitment to protecting the forest we depend on. Restoring the forest is not only about making it greener, but also about bringing back moisture, food sources and balance to the local ecosystem. When the forest is healthy, wildlife can remain within its habitat, and communities can farm with greater peace of mind. This is something we want to preserve for our children and future generations.”
As the project enters its third year, SIG and WWF Thailand will continue to build on the progress achieved across the three landscapes, with a focus on strengthening protected area management, supporting community-led conservation, improving monitoring capabilities and scaling approaches that have shown positive results in target areas.
