On 25 February 2026, the Climate, Coastal, and Marine Biodiversity (CCMB) Project, implemented by GIZ Thailand, in collaboration with the Office of the National Land Policy Board (ONLB), the Department of Climate Change and Environment, and Kasetsart University (as project consultant), presented the final results of the study entitled ‘Assessment and Development of Land Management Approaches to Enhance Carbon Sequestration Potential in ONLB Areas – Phase I’, at the ONLB .
The study aimed to evaluate carbon sequestration potential alongside biodiversity conservation while developing context-specific land and soil management approaches. Proposed practices had included integrated farming systems, agroecology, and sustainable land-use planning, all designed to generate environmental, social and economic co-benefits, and improve the long-term quality of life for communities within ONLB areas.
During the meeting, the consulting team presented findings on above-ground and below-ground carbon storage, soil carbon assessments, ecosystem integrity, and analyses of land-use patterns that support long-term carbon accumulation. The session also invited multi-stakeholder feedback from government agencies, academia, the private sector and civil society. Participating organisations included the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, the Agricultural Land Reform Office, the Office of Agricultural Economics, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Royal Forest Department, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, the Land Development Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agricultural Extension, and Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. Their contributions helped ensure that the proposed recommendations were practical, comprehensive and adaptable to real-world implementation.
Key components of the study included the application of geospatial analysis tools and scenario modelling to forecast future land-management outcomes. These analyses examined potential impacts on carbon stocks, soil fertility, plant diversity, household income and climate resilience. In addition, a set of co-benefit indicators was developed based on priorities identified by farmers and local communities, such as food security, reduced production costs, improved soil and water quality, and opportunities to access green agricultural markets and future carbon credit schemes.
The outcomes of ONLB Phase I not only strengthened carbon sequestration potential and biodiversity conservation in ONLB areas but also established essential datasets, analytical tools and policy recommendations for long-term land-use planning. A Carbon Sink Potential Roadmap at the area level was developed to serve as a reference framework for land restoration, the promotion of sustainable agriculture, and balanced land allocation between conservation and economic development.
The ONLB Phase I activities under the CCMB Project have received additional support from the Support Project for Implementation Instruments of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement (BioClime) to scale up to the next phase under the initiative Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Climate into Sustainable Land and Soil Management (ONLB Phase II), which is scheduled for implementation from March 2026 to February 2027.
This phase aims to integrate biodiversity, climate change and the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) into policy formulation, land-use planning, and systematic land and soil resource management at both national and local levels. It will further advance pilot implementation in selected areas, develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and strengthen the capacity of local authorities and communities to effectively and appropriately apply land and soil management tools.
In addition, the project emphasises the creation of incentives through green agricultural markets and opportunities in carbon credit markets to increase farmers’ incomes and enhance household food security. These efforts will be complemented by the development of geospatial databases and decision-support systems to enable relevant agencies to carry out land-use planning in a more accurate, transparent and sustainable manner.
For more information about the CCMB Project, please visit https://www.thai-german-cooperation.info/climate-coastal-and-marine-biodiversity-ccmb/
