BEDO Hosts “Biodiversity Credit Roadmap of Thailand”
BEDO Hosts “Biodiversity Credit Roadmap of Thailand” Workshop to Advance Nature Positive Economy
Bangkok – The Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (Public Organization), or BEDO, organized a workshop titled “Biodiversity Credit Roadmap of Thailand” from 26 to 28 March 2026 at The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok. The event aims to advance biodiversity finance mechanisms in Thailand in alignment with international frameworks.
The workshop supports the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which sets the “Nature Positive” target to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and restore ecosystems over the long term. Biodiversity Credit is being developed as a market-based financial mechanism to mobilize funding from all sectors for conservation and ecosystem restoration.
Raweewan Bhuridej, Ph.D., Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, delivered the opening remarks and highlighted the implementation of policies under Mr. Suchart Chomklin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. She stated that Thailand has established a clear direction to integrate conservation with development through the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2023 to 2027. The plan outlines three key strategies and 12 major targets, including expanding protected areas to at least 30 percent of land and marine areas, maintaining the status of threatened species, and encouraging businesses to integrate biodiversity considerations into their operations.
She added that BEDO serves as a key agency in driving Thailand’s bioeconomy and has been studying international approaches to Biodiversity Credit, covering definitions, principles, assessment systems, and market mechanisms. These efforts are accompanied by an analysis of their applicability to Thailand, which has rich ecosystem diversity and therefore requires strong academic knowledge and collaboration from all sectors.
Tanit Changthavorn, Ph.D., Director General, Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (Public Organization), said in his keynote that the world is facing three major crises: climate change, PM2.5 pollution, and biodiversity loss. These challenges directly affect the global economy, with more than 50 percent of global GDP depending on nature. This highlights the need for innovative financial tools such as Biodiversity Credit to mobilize funding for conservation and ecosystem restoration.
BEDO is advancing the concept of a Nature Positive Economy through collaboration with the private sector under the Biodiversity and Business Sustainability program. The initiative aims to enable businesses to operate while enhancing natural capital, while also creating opportunities for local communities to access funding and actively participate in ecosystem restoration through mechanisms such as Community Biobanks and family forests.
The workshop also brought together experts from Thailand and abroad, including representatives from UNDP, the Asian Development Bank, Conservation International, and WWF, as well as leading academics and private sector stakeholders. Discussions focused on market trends, international frameworks, and global case studies related to Biodiversity Credit.
In addition, participants were introduced to the Business and Biodiversity Check tool, which helps assess business impacts and dependencies on biodiversity. The program also included practical training on developing Biodiversity Credit projects and evaluating credits in accordance with international standards such as VERRA.
BEDO expects that the workshop will enhance understanding of Biodiversity Credit in Thailand, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, and support the development of policy approaches to drive the sustainable conservation and utilization of biodiversity in the long term.
ข่าวภาษาไทย / Thai Version
