TLIF in Thailand

Stage 2/6: Partner Selection and Agreements 

Country Context  

Thailand has seen encouraging signs of tiger population recovery in recent years and is recognized as a regional leader in tiger conservation. The latest wild tiger population estimate, released by the Royal Thai Government, is between 179 and 223 individuals as of 2024 – approximately a 21% increase from the 2022 estimate.¹ Tiger habitats are located across a network of protected areas, buffer zones, and wildlife corridors that sustain not only tiger populations but also vital ecosystem services such as clean water, climate regulation, and pollination. Communities living in and around these landscapes depend on natural resources for their livelihoods, making sustainable economic opportunities an important component of long-term conservation success. 

Tiger Landscapes Investment Facility 

Several landscapes have been identified as key priorities in Thailand, in alignment with the National Tiger Action Plan. TLIF aims to mobilize domestic private sector investment into conservation-friendly businesses operating in and around these landscapes. 

Priority Sectors  

Thailand’s tiger landscapes support diverse economic activities that, when managed sustainably, can contribute directly to conservation outcomes. Priority sectors identified for TLIF investment include regenerative agriculture and value chains, sustainable forest management and value chains, eco-tourism, biodiversity monitoring technologies, and solutions that reduce human–wildlife conflict. 

Approach 

By strengthening local enterprises and enabling green lending from financial institutions, TLIF promotes sustainable livelihoods and ecosystem conservation in communities surrounding tiger habitats. These efforts contribute to sustaining Thailand’s tiger recovery while advancing national priorities under the Thailand Tiger Action Plan, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy agenda. 

Status 

A scoping study has been completed in Thailand, which has been instrumental in adapting the facility to the Thailand context. Several Civil Society Organizations have been provided funding for pipeline development. Bilateral negotiations regarding a risk-sharing mechanism are ongoing with the preferred financial institution. 

Sources
[1] Royal Thai Government (2024), Thailand Recognized as the First Country in Southeast Asia to Increase Tiger Population. Public Relations Department. 
[2] Global Tiger Forum (2024), Global Tiger Protected Area Network Compendium 2.0.