The research aimed to study the context of area-based approach learning management and guidelines of area-based approach learning management for sustainable highland community resource management of social studies teachers in the learning center for Thai hill tribe communities in northern Thailand. The method of qualitative research was used. Purposive sampling was conducted to obtain key informants which were social studies teachers of the highland learning center, accounting for 285 people. This area is a development area of the royal project. Learning center for Thai hill tribe communities in northern Thailand have accessed to organize social studies teaching at the basic education level. The tools used in the research consisted of in-depth interviews and focus group discussion recording. Then, content analysis was conducted. From the research result, it was found that the context of area-based approach learning management for sustainable highland community resources management of social studies teachers consisted of: executing the process of area-based management by surveying and collecting village data to be used as knowledge in learning management for pre-school students and students of basic education and the illiterate; developing occupations for the interested group in communities; developing life skills by using the method of coordination with community leaders; building local networks; participating in meeting with the community; and exchanging information in order to inform people in the community of external exchanges. Regarding the use of area-based knowledge of social studies teachers, they have implemented the knowledge until this has brought about guidelines for promoting community resources management. For example, the community has participatory development plans. The community has networks of natural resources and environmental conservation and citizens have local conscience. Results of sustainable highland development are the fact that the community has strong power in conserving traditions, inheriting tribe cultures, establishing local herbal plants groups to take care of community health. Moreover, there are groups developing local products, building community declarations and regulations for living together in the community peacefully. The guidelines of area-based approach learning management for sustainable highland community resource management of social studies teachers consisted of 5 components which were FPCIL, namely (1) F: Facilitator, (2) P: Participatory assessment and planning, (3) C: Community capital value added, (4) I: Innovation of knowledge and (5) L: Lesson-learned.