Tigers and elephants are not the sole victims of illegal wildlife trade
Tigers and elephants are not the sole victims of illegal wildlife trade
“Illegal Wildlife Trade is NOT an issue far from home. Singapore remains a key transit hub for wildlife trafficking”
Singapore’s strong connectivity and efficient transportation network makes it a potential route for trafficking syndicates to move endangered wildlife and their products. They enter Singapore from source countries in Southeast Asia and Africa, and are shipped out to large consumer markets such as China and Europe.
One such example is the critically endangered Sunda pangolin—the world’s most trafficked mammal, and is native to Singapore. They are poached for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine in Asia, and for their meat, which is also eaten as a symbol of wealth or traded internationally as an exotic meat.
Large amounts of pangolin scales have been seized in Singapore before they could be smuggled to other countries. In 2019 alone, Singapore port authorities seized three shipments containing around 35 tonnes of pangolin scales. That’s an estimate of 40,000 pangolins killed!
As a result, the Singapore Government adopts a zero-tolerance stance on the smuggling of endangered species through Singapore.
Learn more about endangered animals
Tiger
Elephant
Pangolin
Ball Python
Sea Turtle
Straw-headed Bulbul
What we do
The Coalition to End Wildlife Tracking Online was launched in 2018 by WWF, TRAFFIC and IFAW together with 21 tech company members, with the aim of shutting down online marketplaces for wildlife traffickers.
WWF-Singapore helps e-commerce businesses to tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade through policy changes and to identify illegal listings on their sites. We also hold webinars and plenary discussions to engage businesses on local Illegal Wildlife Trade matters, and to share their best practices or challenges.
Individuals are also empowered to be part of the solution, as key citizen scientists, under the The Wildlife Cyber Spotter Programme. As the voices across the globe, Cyber Spotters detect and report illegal online listings.
Our impact since Oct 2020
How you can help
Your contribution allows us to carry on our advocacy work, and develop tools and resources that enable policymakers, large businesses and the public to make impactful changes to address Illegal Wildlife Trade.
Legislative
Participating in consultations to strengthen key wildlife legislation and agreements.
Enforcement
Developing tools and resources to support government capacity to intercept wildlife trade entering or transiting through Singapore.
Distribution
Working with shipping and e-commerce companies, enabling them to identify suspicious shipments or listings of illegal wildlife trade.
Public Engagement
Working with enthusiastic individuals like you in Singapore to identify and report prohibited wildlife products found online.
Help us continue our efforts to save wildlife from becoming endangered and help prevent the sale and demand of Illegal Wildlife Trade.
“Illegal Wildlife Trade is NOT an issue far from home. Singapore remains a key transit hub for wildlife trafficking”
Singapore’s strong connectivity and efficient transportation network makes it a potential route for trafficking syndicates to move endangered wildlife and their products. They enter Singapore from source countries in Southeast Asia and Africa, and are shipped out to large consumer markets such as China and Europe.
One such example is the critically endangered Sunda pangolin—the world’s most trafficked mammal, and is native to Singapore. They are poached for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine in Asia, and for their meat, which is also eaten as a symbol of wealth or traded internationally as an exotic meat.
Large amounts of pangolin scales have been seized in Singapore before they could be smuggled to other countries. In 2019 alone, Singapore port authorities seized three shipments containing around 35 tonnes of pangolin scales. That’s an estimate of 40,000 pangolins killed!
As a result, the Singapore Government adopts a zero-tolerance stance on the smuggling of endangered species through Singapore.
Learn more about
endangered animals
What we do
The Coalition to End Wildlife Tracking Online was launched in 2018 by WWF, TRAFFIC and IFAW together with 21 tech company members, with the aim of shutting down online marketplaces for wildlife traffickers.
WWF-Singapore helps e-commerce businesses to tackle Illegal Wildlife Trade through policy changes and to identify illegal listings on their sites. We also hold webinars and plenary discussions to engage businesses on local Illegal Wildlife Trade matters, and to share their best practices or challenges.
Individuals are also empowered to be part of the solution, as key citizen scientists, under the The Wildlife Cyber Spotter Programme. As the voices across the globe, Cyber Spotters detect and report illegal online listings. As a result, the Singapore Government adopts a zero-tolerance stance on the smuggling of endangered species through Singapore.
Our impact since Oct 2020
How you can help
Your contribution allows us to carry on our advocacy work, and develop tools and resources that enable policymakers, large businesses and the public to make impactful changes to address Illegal Wildlife Trade.
Legislative
Participating in consultations to strengthen key wildlife legislation and agreements.
Enforcement
Developing tools and resources to support government capacity to intercept wildlife trade entering or transiting through Singapore.
Distribution
Working with shipping and e-commerce companies, enabling them to identify suspicious shipments or listings of illegal wildlife trade.
Public Engagement
Working with enthusiastic individuals like you in Singapore to identify and report prohibited wildlife products found online.
Help us continue our efforts to save endangered species from extinction and prevent the sale and demand of illegal animal products.
“Plastics are so resilient that they can take up to 400 years to decompose!”
To achieve the vision of No Plastics in Nature by 2030, Plastic ACTion (PACT) is working towards the elimination of all unnecessary plastics, reduction of single-use waste and movement towards a circular economy.
What we do
Started by WWF-Singapore and based on WWF’s No Plastic in Nature Initiative, Plastic ACTion (PACT) is a business initiative that aims to reduce waste and move towards a circular economy. The programme empowers companies to adapt their business models and processes to be more resource-efficient.
By providing businesses with guidance and resources to help reduce their plastic consumption, this will lower their environmental footprint, and address the growing consumer demand for sustainability.
We engage with businesses via 2 approaches:
Sectoral Collaboration
PACT targets unnecessary plastics which are easiest to remove from a business model
Individual Company Commitments
Get individual companies (also known as PACT Champions) to commit to time-bound targets and goals
Our impact in 2021
Since 2019, WWF-Singapore has brought together 35 companies from the food & beverage, retail, food delivery service and other sectors to reduce the use of single-use packaging and especially plastics. Collectively, PACT companies avoid over 85 million pieces of single-use plastics annually!
Case studies
01
WWF-Singapore X Lendlease: Tackling the Waste Problem in Retail Sector
In 2018, large shopping malls contributed 7% of the country’s total waste disposed.
Recognising that more can be done to address the high waste levels in the retail sector, Lendlease has pledged to reduce plastic waste from tenants on their properties through innovative solutions, and to provide valuable insights to spur adoption of waste management innovations in the retail sector.
Results
- Collaborated with PACT to produce the Circularity in Retail: Tackling the Waste Problem Report, a guide for the retail sector to improve efforts towards waste reduction and a circular economy strategy
- Potentially implementing waste reduction pilots in Lendlease’s operations and inspiring others to take action, based on the above-mentioned study
02
Delivering on circularity: Feasibility study for reusable packaging in Singapore
The pandemic has massively accelerated the growth of e-commerce, and we now have over 200,000 e-commerce parcels delivered daily in Singapore. This also leads to lots of packaging waste.
A possible solution is using reusable packaging, which can be collected from customers and used repeatedly to prevent landfill waste.
Supported by UNIQLO Singapore, WWF-Singapore’s Plastic ACTion (PACT) conducted a feasibility study to understand and identify the barriers of using reusable packaging in e-commerce, focusing on business-to-consumer packaging.
Pilot Programme
Building on the results of the e-commerce feasibility study, WWF-Singapore aims to tackle the e-commerce packaging waste problem by partnering with retailers and logistics partners.
Under this pilot programme, customers can opt-in to receive their orders in reusable packaging, and return the empty packaging by dropping it off at their nearest SingPost postal box.
We launched the pilot programme on 5 April 2022, starting by partnering with the following companies: Atlantic Sports, Cloversoft, Davines, Good Dog People & Curious Cat People, Herbal Pharm, Outfyt, Retykle, Thryft, Unpackt and our very own WWF merchandise.
Do keep a lookout for these companies and remember to opt-in for the reusable packaging and try out the convenience for yourself!
How you can help
Since the formation of PACT, several large companies have committed to charging for single-use carrier bags in their outlets, with the proceeds donated to WWF for plastic-related work. Collectively, they have seen over 60% reduction of single-use bags, and over 300,000 bags are saved every month!
Your donation can help us with:
Circular Economy
Transform Singapore towards a circular economy, which involves sharing, repairing, reusing, refurbishing and recycling to make products.
No Plastics in Nature
Reduce the amount of new plastic produced and eliminate leakage of plastic into nature.
Help us work towards a plastic-free Singapore. If you are a business interested to work towards a circular economy, contact us.
“Plastics are so resilient that they can take up to 400 years to decompose!”
To achieve the vision of No Plastics in Nature by 2030, Plastic ACTion (PACT) is working towards the elimination of all unnecessary plastics, reduction of single-use waste and movement towards a
circular economy.
What we do
Started by WWF-Singapore and based on WWF’s No Plastic in Nature Initiative, Plastic ACTion (PACT) is a business initiative that aims to reduce waste and move towards a circular economy. The programme empowers companies to adapt their business models and processes to be more resource-efficient.
By providing businesses with guidance and resources to help reduce their plastic consumption, this will lower their environmental footprint, and address the growing consumer demand for sustainability.
We engage with businesses via 2 approaches:
Sectoral Collaboration
PACT targets unnecessary plastics which are easiest to remove from a business model.
Individual Company Commitments
Get individual companies (also known as PACT Champions) to commit to a time-bound targets and goals
Our impact in 2021
Since 2019, WWF-Singapore has brought together 35 companies from the food & beverage, retail, food delivery service and other sectors to reduce the use of single-use packaging and especially plastics. Collectively, PACT companies avoid over 85 million pieces of single-use plastics annually
Case studies
In 2018, large shopping malls contributed 7% of the country’s total waste disposed.
Recognising that more can be done to address the high waste levels in the retail sector, Lendlease has pledged to reduce plastic waste from tenants on their properties through innovative solutions, and to provide valuable insights to spur adoption of waste management innovations in the retail sector.
Results
- Collaborated with PACT to produce the Circularity in Retail: Tackling the Waste Problem Report, a guide for the retail sector to improve efforts towards waste reduction and a circular economy strategy
- Potentially implementing waste reduction pilots in Lendlease’s operations and inspiring others to take action, based on the above-mentioned study
The pandemic has massively accelerated the growth of e-commerce, and we now have over 200,000 e-commerce parcels delivered daily in Singapore. This also leads to lots of packaging waste.
A possible solution is using reusable packaging, which can be collected from customers and used repeatedly to prevent landfill waste.
Supported by UNIQLO Singapore, WWF-Singapore’s Plastic ACTion (PACT) conducted a feasibility study to understand and identify the barriers of using reusable packaging in e-commerce, focusing on business-to-consumer packaging.
Pilot Programme
Building on the results of the e-commerce feasibility study, WWF-Singapore aims to tackle the e-commerce packaging waste problem by partnering with retailers and logistics partners.
Under this pilot programme, customers can opt-in to receive their orders in reusable packaging, and return the empty packaging by dropping it off at their nearest SingPost postal box.
We launched the pilot programme on 5 April 2022, starting by partnering with the following companies: Atlantic Sports, Cloversoft, Davines, Good Dog People & Curious Cat People, Herbal Pharm, Outfyt, Retykle, Thryft, Unpackt and our very own WWF merchandise.
Do keep a lookout for these companies and remember to opt-in for the reusable packaging and try out the
convenience for yourself!
How you can help
Since the formation of PACT, several large companies have committed to charging for single-use carrier bags in their outlets, with the proceeds donated to WWF for plastic-related work. Collectively, they have seen over 60% reduction of single-use bags, and over 300,000 bags are saved every month!
Your donation can help us with:
Circular Economy
Transform Singapore towards a circular economy, which involves sharing, repairing, reusing, refurbishing and recycling to make products.
No Plastics in Nature
Reduce the amount of new plastic produced and eliminate leakage of plastic into nature.
Help us work towards a plastic-free Singapore. If you are a business interested to work towards a circular economy, contact us.
“Fishes are harvested from the sea at rates too high for species to replace themselves. As a result, both our fish stocks and coral reefs are threatened in the process.”
The use of bottom trawling nets by industrial fisheries to meet the increase in demand for seafood is damaging our marine ecosystem. Not only are our coral beds damaged in the process, but we’re fishing at a rate where our fish stock is unable to replenish itself. Overfishing can also lead to algae growth going unchecked, which eventually kills our coral reefs as well.
What we do
Coral Restoration Research Project
Despite the limited sea space and demands on the environment, Singapore’s coastal habitats continue to support rich species diversity. However, these remain challenges that require solutions to counter continued ecosystem degradation.
For the first time, WWF-Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI, NUS) are working together to pilot the planting and restoration of coral at reefs that receive limited light in the Southern Islands. Building upon past and existing efforts by the National Parks Board (NParks) and NUS, we also aim to expand citizen science programmes to support these efforts, and contribute to raising awareness on coral restoration and conservation.
Responsible Seafood Action (REACT) project
The Responsible Seafood Action (REACT) project aims at increasing supply and encouraging market demand for responsible seafood through extensive business
and public outreach.
With the depletion of global fish stocks, fish farming—aquaculture—will increasingly be the means to meet the growing population’s demand for seafood. In fact, aquaculture already yields more seafood than the world’s fisheries. This reinforces the need for WWF-Singapore to work with more local aquaculture farms to improve farming practices, and businesses to improve
responsible seafood sourcing.
“Coral reefs play an important role in providing coastal protection. Sadly, for hundreds of years, coral reefs have been degraded as a result of over fishing and pollution.”
— National Parks Board
Case study
WWF-Singapore Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs):
Contributing to Singapore’s responsible seafood supply
To increase responsible seafood production in Singapore
To support local aquaculture farms in achieving ASC certification (a first in Singapore!)
Forming partnerships with local aquaculture farms is an important step forward for WWF-Singapore to increase the domestic supply of responsible seafood. To date, we are currently collaborating with Barramundi Group and Singapore Aquaculture Technologies to improve production practices.
In these AIPs, WWF-Singapore provides advice and guidance for the implementation of an aquaculture improvement work plan, and works out milestones to achieve the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification—the highest sustainable standards of farming!
How you can help
Your donation can help towards research to restore deeper, degraded reef zones in the Southern Islands of Singapore, train volunteers to work alongside us in the pilot restoration process, and raise awareness on local marine conservation efforts.
Help support our efforts in guiding and transforming local aquaculture farms to adopt responsible seafood production in Singapore, in turn increasing the supply of responsibly sourced seafood for consumers like yourself!
Restore degraded coral reefs
Volunteer
training
Raise awareness on local marine conservation
Let’s come together to protect our one and only blue planet.
“Fishes are harvested from the sea at rates too high for species to replace themselves. As a result, both our fish stocks and coral reefs are threatened in the process.”
The use of bottom trawling nets by industrial fisheries to meet the increase in demand for seafood is damaging our marine ecosystem. Not only are our coral beds damaged in the process, but we’re fishing at a rate where our fish stock is unable to replenish itself. Overfishing can also lead to algae growth going unchecked, which eventually kills our coral reefs as well.
What we do
Coral Restoration Research Project
Despite the limited sea space and demands on the environment, Singapore’s coastal habitats continue to support rich species diversity. However, there remain challenges that require solutions to counter continued ecosystem degradation.
For the first time, WWF-Singapore and the National University of Singapore’s Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI, NUS) are working together to pilot the planting and restoration of corals at reefs that receive limited light in the Southern Islands. Building upon past and existing efforts by the National Parks Board (NParks) and NUS, we also aim to expand citizen science programmes to support these efforts, and contribute to raising awareness on coral restoration and conservation.
Responsible Seafood Action
(REACT) Project
The Responsible Seafood Action (REACT) project aims at increasing supply and encouraging market demand for responsible seafood through extensive business and public outreach.
With the depletion of global fish stocks, fish farming—aquaculture—will increasingly be the means to meet the growing population’s demand for seafood. In fact, aquaculture already yields more seafood than the world’s fisheries. This reinforces the need for WWF-Singapore to work with more local aquaculture farms to improve farming practices, and businesses to improve responsible seafood sourcing.
“Coral reefs play an important role in providing coastal protection. Sadly, for hundreds of years, coral reefs have been degraded as a result of over fishing and pollution.”
— National Parks Boards
Case Study
WWF-Singapore Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs): Contributing to Singapore’s responsible seafood supply
Forming partnerships with local aquaculture farms is an important step forward for WWF-Singapore to increase the domestic supply of responsible seafood. To date, we are currently collaborating with Barramundi Group and Singapore Aquaculture Technologies to improve production practices.
In these AIPs, WWF-Singapore provides advice and guidance for the implementation of an aquaculture improvement work plan, and works out milestones to achieve the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification—the highest sustainable
standards of farming!
To increase responsible seafood production in Singapore.
To support local aquaculture farms in achieving ASC certification (a first in Singapore!)
How you can help
Your donation can help towards research to restore deeper, degraded reefs zones in the Southern Islands of Singapore, train volunteers to work alongside us in the pilot restoration process, and raise awareness on local marine conservation efforts.
Help support our efforts in guiding and transforming local aquaculture farms to adopt responsible seafood production in Singapore, in turn increasing the supply of responsibly sourced seafood for consumers like yourself!
Restore degraded coral reefs
Volunteer training
Raise awareness on local marine conservation
“The choices that we make now will define who we are as a people, and what values and ideals we pass on to future generations.”
— PM Lee Hsien Loong
By involving the next generation of leaders, we hope to leverage on their social influence and creative minds to build an environmentally-conscious society, and empower them to be the next generation of changemakers.
What we do
The Eco-Schools Programme works with educators to nurture future leaders by equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle environmental challenges today.
The programme’s framework guides students to conduct an environmental review of the school, and enables them to carry out outreach efforts and implement changes that are impactful in transforming the school into a
sustainable campus.
Our impact since 2013
Community events and workshops to engage with youths in Singapore
How you can help
Your donation can help us continue running student environmentalism workshops and developing learning materials for schools, so that students are more aware of climate change, and resilient to its impacts. Additionally, your donation will also help to enhance educator training for student outreach and sustainability initiatives!
Fund student
environmentalism
workshops
Fund learning materials
for school
Enhance
educator training
Help us build a generation that is climate-resilient!
“The choices that we make now will define who we are as a people, and what values and ideals we pass on to future generations.”
— PM Lee Hsien Loong
By involving the next generation of leaders, we hope to leverage on their social influence and creative minds to build an environmentally-conscious society, and empower them to be the next generation of changemakers.
What we do
The Eco-Schools Programme works with educators to nurture future leaders by equipping students with the knowledge and skills to tackle environmental challenges today.
The programme’s framework guides students to conduct an environmental review of the school, and enables them to carry out outreach efforts and implement changes that are impactful in transforming the school into a sustainable campus.
Our impact since 2013
Community events and workshops to engage with youths in Singapore
How you can help
Your donation can help us continue running student environmentalism workshops and developing learning materials for schools, so that students are more aware of climate change, and resilient to its impacts. Additionally, your donation will also help to enhance educator training for student outreach and sustainability initiatives!
Fund student
environmentalism workshops
Fund learning materials
for school
Enhance educator training
Help us build a generation that is climate-resilient!
“Sustainable finance is about ensuring your savings, investments and spendings are contributing positively to the environment, nature and people.”
We move into a sustainable economy by shifting financial flows to move away from fossil fuels, investing in more green and nature-positive projects, harnessing innovation and research to scale sustainable finance, and more!
What we do
Following the success of the recently launched ASFI Academy—with sustainable finance e-learning courses targeted at the finance sector and professionals—WWF-Singapore aims to expand this to everyone in Singapore by developing a mobile-optimised awareness and e-learning tool, $ustain, that seeks to: