OECMs – Conservation Beyond Protected Areas
 
Biodiversity loss is becoming a major global challenge, with declining species populations, habitat loss, and ecosystem degradation. Many valuable natural areas are located outside legally protected areas. Future conservation efforts therefore cannot rely only on national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, or traditional protected areas.
 
Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) offer new opportunities for biodiversity conservation outside protected areas. They aim to achieve effective and lasting positive outcomes for biodiversity.
 
The key principle of OECMs is not whether an area is legally designated for conservation, but whether its management can effectively protect nature and biodiversity. Areas managed for other purposes, such as community forests, wetlands, agricultural land, urban green spaces, and privately owned land, can qualify as OECMs if they have clear boundaries, effective management systems, and the ability to conserve biodiversity over the long term.
 
OECMs are therefore an important tool for achieving the 30×30 target under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This target calls for countries to effectively conserve and manage at least 30% of their terrestrial, inland water, and marine areas by 2030.
 
Getting to Know OECMs in Thailand
 
Thailand began taking concrete steps to promote OECMs in 2023, with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, coordinating the process. The assessment covers initial eligibility screening, consent from landowners or those with management rights, assessment of biodiversity values and management systems, official recognition, and long-term monitoring.
 
By the end of 2025, five areas had been officially recognized as OECMs, covering a total of 773 rai. These included the Wang Chan Forest Learning Center in Rayong, Khlong Khanom Chin in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, the Chivapanawej Biodiversity and Sustainability Learning Center in Chachoengsao, the Metro Forest Learning Center in Bangkok, and Singha Park Chiang Rai – 70 Rai Reservoir in Chiang Rai.
 
In 2026, as of September, another 17 areas were officially recognized as OECMs, covering a total of 100,293 rai. These included five recreational forests in Phayao, Bueng Kan, Prachin Buri, and Uthai Thani; five community forests in Tak; Mahidol University's Kanchanaburi Campus; Kasetsart University's Wang Nam Khiao Forestry Student Training and Research Station; and safety zones around the central processing platforms and wellhead platforms of the South Bongkot petroleum production project.
 
These areas vary widely, from restored forests, freshwater ecosystems, urban green spaces, wetlands, and waterbird habitats to marine areas. They show that conservation does not have to follow a single model, and that those responsible for managing these areas do not necessarily have to be conservation agencies.
 
However, many of the areas recognized during the early stages have been managed by the private sector and educational institutions. Thailand still has many other potential areas, particularly those managed by local communities, ecologically valuable agricultural areas, and other natural areas that could qualify as OECMs in the future.
 
OECMs Offer More Than an Increase in Conservation Areas
 
The value of OECMs goes beyond increasing Thailand's conservation areas to meet the 30×30 target. They also help protect "natural capital", which directly supports people's lives and the economy.
 
Community forests provide food and medicinal plants while helping store water and carbon. Wetlands help retain and slow water flows and provide food sources and habitats for aquatic animals. Mangroves and seagrass beds serve as nursery grounds for marine life and help reduce coastal erosion. Sustainable agricultural areas can protect local plant varieties, pollinators, and soil fertility. Urban green spaces help reduce heat, absorb rainwater, and provide recreational spaces for people.
 
OECMs therefore help bring conservation and land use together. They also create opportunities to recognize the contributions of those who already care for nature, including communities, local authorities, businesses, and landholders.
 
Moving Forward: Strengthening and Expanding OECMs
 
Thailand's first official recognition of OECMs marks an important step in showing that biodiversity conservation can take place outside legally protected areas. Although the areas recognized in the early stages mainly reflect the role of the private sector, Thailand has opportunities to expand OECMs to areas where communities, local authorities, and other organizations are already helping protect natural resources.
 
Moving forward, Thailand should raise awareness and improve understanding of OECMs. The recognition process should be made simpler and more accessible to area managers without lowering standards. Digital systems should also be developed to connect spatial data, biodiversity information, and long-term monitoring results.
 
Importantly, support mechanisms should be developed for areas after OECM recognition. These could include conservation funding, tax incentives, technical assistance, and budgets for area management and monitoring. Such support is particularly important for communities and local governments that could manage natural resources but face limited budgets and staff.
 
In addition, increasing the number of OECMs as separate sites may not be enough to protect biodiversity if natural areas remain fragmented and face pressure from surrounding development. OECMs should therefore be integrated into national and local land-use planning, including ecological landscape plans, urban planning, buffer zones, and ecological corridors. This would help create connected networks of natural areas that can better respond to long-term changes.
 
Thailand's key question should not simply be "How many more OECMs are needed to reach the target?" Instead, it should be "How can OECMs become part of the country's land management system?"
 
Such a system should have clear and reliable standards, data and monitoring systems, financial support mechanisms, recognition of the roles of communities and area managers, and strong links with policies and development planning. This could mark an important shift in the way Thailand approaches conservation, making nature protection a meaningful part of development planning and decision-making.
 
Ultimately, protecting nature today not only reduces future restoration costs but also safeguards the natural resources and resilience needed to support Thailand's economy, society, and people's quality of life over the long term.