Conservation Allies and our Asia-Pacific partners came together today at WCC 2025 to share strategies for addressing the region’s pressing conservation challenges, from agricultural expansion and infrastructure development to poaching and human-wildlife conflict. In an energizing day of conservation networking, partners exchanged insights on community engagement and policy innovation, identified opportunities to scale up proven strategies, and forged new collaborations across the region’s biodiversity hotspots.
One notable achievement comes from our partner Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), as they have saved over 14,000 acres of ancient biodiversity forests across 120 villages in the northern Western Ghats—a global biodiversity hotspot. AERF also established the first community reserve in the Western Ghats dedicated to Endangered species including the Indian ground pangolin, Asiatic wild dog, Indian leopard, and Great hornbill.
Furthermore, NGO Forum on Cambodia is advancing environmental policy reform to connect critical green spaces, while Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation is training wildlife enforcement officers in the Philippines. In Sumatra, Belantara Foundation tackles human-elephant conflict through innovative resolution programs. RSPN Bhutan rounds out this dynamic network of grassroots conservationists with their dedication to conserving the Critically Endangered White-bellied heron.
Their work demonstrates what’s possible when local expertise meets long-term partnership. Conservation Allies is proud to stand alongside these organizations doing the hard work of protecting Asia’s irreplaceable biodiversity.
