The Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary and the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary are considered one of the most biodiverse and abundant conservation areas in Thailand. They were jointly declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. Seub Nakhasathien was a crucial driving force in the effort, actively spearheading the initiative and drafting the proposal report submitted to UNESCO.

To perpetuate the intentions of the former Chief of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, the Seub Nakhasathien Foundation prioritized these two conservation areas from its inception. This commitment was enshrined as the organization’s very first objective: “To promote and support the welfare and operations of the staff and temporary employees of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary and the Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary.”

Throughout its over three decades of operation, the Foundation has consistently focused on this World Heritage Site. In the initial phase, the Foundation provided essential funding and equipment for operations, such as procuring audiovisual equipment, installing solar-powered generators, and purchasing boat engines and GPS devices.

This also included securing funds to establish a comprehensive radio communication network across the Western Forest Complex, improving the welfare of the forest rangers in the area, and allocating funds for an advance payment revolving fund to cover the wages of daily-rate temporary employees during periods when the supervising agency delayed their payments.

Subsequently, the Foundation extended its support to cover the surrounding buffer zones of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. This was achieved by coordinating with the Uthai Thani Provincial Government and local conservation non-governmental organizations to implement activities aimed at protecting the Huai Kha Khaeng forest, such as the World Heritage Fence Project and the Wildfire Prevention Project.

In the later phase, the Foundation expanded its operational scope to encompass the entire Western Forest Complex. The mission to protect the forest and its wildlife was no longer limited exclusively to the World Heritage Site. While the format of activities evolved to suit the context, mission, and other factors, the Foundation continued to consistently support conservation activities within the World Heritage Site through various projects.

This included specific focus on promoting the activities of forest protection officials, such as providing essential work equipment, necessary supplies, and offering morale-boosting visits.

Furthermore, the Foundation has never hesitated to step forward and take the lead in defending the Thungyai Naresuan and Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries whenever a project or activity threatened to impact them negatively.

Currently, the Foundation’s vision (2024–2027) heavily emphasizes these two conservation areas, stating: “To maintain the value of the Huai Kha Khaeng–Thungyai forests as a model for balanced co-management among the forest, wildlife, and local communities, and to expand this model to surrounding areas, while also serving as a core conservation organization for monitoring situations that impact the forest, wildlife, and natural resources, to mitigate threats and restore Thailand’s biodiversity based on academic principles.”

Key missions include supporting the World Heritage Management Center and backing the activities of the Protected Area Advisory Committee (PAC).

Moreover, the Foundation integrates its work within the buffer zones surrounding the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary through an initiative called ‘Huai Kha Khaeng Family.’ This initiative encourages agencies working in the vicinity of the sanctuary to collaborate on conservation issues, such as reducing the impact of and conflict between humans and wildlife that venture outside the protected area, managing community forests, and sustainably managing resources for livelihood.

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