Environmental and Climate Protection
Nature Conservation
WWF Greater Mekong Programme
The Greater Mekong Programme of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) works across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and Yunnan, China, to protect one of the world’s most biologically diverse regions. The programme focuses on conserving forests, rivers, and endangered species while addressing critical threats such as deforestation, wildlife trade, and unsustainable development.
From 2021 to 2023, The Silent Foundation supported this three-year initiative to advance research, education, and community engagement across the Mekong Basin.
The project combined two core components:
1, Biodiversity and Livelihood Research
This component documents the rich biodiversity along the Mekong River. Researchers identify key animal species and study how local communities rely on them for their livelihoods. This data provides essential evidence of the region’s ecological importance and highlights the social and economic connections to natural resources.
2, Policy Advocacy and Community Engagement
Building on these findings, the programme engaged policymakers and communities to raise awareness of the impacts of dam construction and to promote sustainable alternatives. While not explicitly anti-dam, the initiative encouraged limiting new dam development and exploring other energy solutions and income sources to protect biodiversity and support long-term community well-being.
The Silent Foundation’s contribution helped make it possible for WWF to deliver this work at scale, resulting in commitments from several Mekong countries to consider moratoriums or restrictions on dam building. Through this partnership, the Foundation affirms its commitment to safeguarding vulnerable ecosystems and supporting the communities whose lives depend on them.
WWF Mongolia Eco-Clubs Program
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Mongolia Eco-Clubs Program empowers young people to become champions of conservation and environmental stewardship. Through a network of school-based clubs, students learn about local wildlife, sustainable practices, and the importance of protecting fragile ecosystems such as the habitats of the endangered snow leopard. By encouraging hands-on activities and community engagement, the program aims to inspire a lifelong commitment to nature conservation among Mongolia’s next generation.
The Silent Foundation supported the Eco-Clubs Program in the Altai-Sayan region of Western Mongolia, an area renowned for its biodiversity. In October 2015, the Foundation’s directors visited the region and were deeply impressed by the creativity and enthusiasm of the children participating in the program.
One of the most impactful initiatives was an anti-trap campaign called “A Safe Mountain for Wildlife.” Over the course of six weeks, 200 students educated their families about the dangers of traps and collected 234 traps from households near snow leopard habitats. The traps were dismantled and transformed into a public sculpture displayed in the town centre of Khovd city, symbolizing the community’s commitment to protecting wildlife.
Students also wrote letters to government ministers advocating for greater awareness, organized mini parliaments to call for a ban on traps, and performed a musical to express the suffering of snow leopards caught in snares.
Following the success of these efforts, WWF planned to expand the Eco-Clubs to other regions in Mongolia. The Silent Foundation provided funding to help grow the program and nurture a new generation of conservation leaders.