The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...
- WWF Global
- Adria
- Argentina
- Armenia
- AsiaPacific
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belgium
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Borneo
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Caucasus
- Central African Republic
- Central America
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Croatia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- European Policy Office
- Finland
The Environmental & Social Safeguards Framework (ESSF) provides an institutional mechanism to manage the environmental and social risks, together with the impacts of WWF’s work, helping deliver better conservation outcomes, and contributing to the well-being of local communities in the places where WWF operates. ESSF is designed to address a broad range of environmental and social risks, mindful of the different challenges and needs in different parts of the world. Importantly, ESSF also supports WWF’s accountability and transparency towards those who may be affected by our place-based work.
WWF's ESSF explained
WWF’s Safeguards are a set of standards, planning and implementation mechanisms, and compliance systems, that govern how activities are planned and carried out to safeguard people and natural systems from harm arising from our activities. They are necessary to help ensure that conservation efforts do not have adverse environmental and social impacts, and help advance the fulfillment of human rights. As a common set of standards and processes, the ESSF provides a consistency of 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.
SAFEGUARD PROCESS
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.
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SAFEGUARD ON STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT
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.
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SAFEGUARD ON GRIEVANCE MECHANISMS
This safeguard strengthens WWF’s accountability by having effective mechanisms at relevant levels so that individuals and communities who may be adversely impacted by WWF’s work know how and where to raise their grievances and have them addressed.
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SAFEGUARD ON RESTRICTION OF ACCESS
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.
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SAFEGUARD ON 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).
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SAFEGUARD ON COMMUNITY HEALTH, SAFETY & SECURITY
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.
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SAFEGUARD ON BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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.
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SAFEGUARD ON PEST MANAGEMENT
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.
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SAFEGUARD ON CULTURAL HERITAGE
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.
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Safeguards in action
Tuna fishing is vital for the livelihoods of communities around Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro Strait in the Philippines. WWF-Philippines has worked in these areas since 2011, supporting sustainable fisheries management and socio-economic development in communities. As well as focusing on the conservation of natural resources, the project increasingly aims to strengthen the resilience of communities, including areas such as financial management and disaster preparedness. By using the ESSF screening tool, WWF-Philippines has gained a deeper understanding of the socio-economic and conservation issues facing these communities, as well as the risks that its activities and advocacy work may have on fisherfolk. This is helping to design mitigation measures, explore trade-offs and find compromises that benefit both people and nature. (Case study #11: The Philippines, Human Rights and The Environment Report 2022)
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions, recommendations or any other kind of feedback; we're happy to receive it. Get in touch at safeguardshelpdesk@wwfint.org.
Below you can download a full package of all documents.