Asia-Pacific Sustainability Action Awards-Sustainability Action Awards SDG15:Bronze
Krungthai Bank Public Company Limited
The “Krungthai Loves Phetchaburi” project
“Krungthai Loves Phetchaburi” Project is a strategic partnership between Krungthai Bank, UNDP BIOFIN, and Thailand’s Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). It demonstrates how biodiversity conservation can become a sustainable economic opportunity through biodiversity finance, community-led ecotourism, and local enterprise development. Implemented in Laem Phak Bia, Pak Thale, and Bang Tabun subdistricts of Phetchaburi Province, the project protects coastal ecosystems, mangroves, mudflats, and habitats for migratory shorebirds, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Key results include three low-impact ecotourism programs, a community-managed environmental fund, a Local Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (LBSAP), and financial literacy training for local leaders and residents. The project benefits more than 56,800 residents, supports income opportunities for over 50 households, and strengthens women’s participation in local governance. By reinvesting revenue from ecotourism and community enterprises into conservation, it creates a scalable Conservation Financing Loop aligned with SDGs 5, 8, 13, 14, 15, and 17. (3) Resources