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© Simon de TREY-WHITE / WWF-UK In Terai, Nepal, the land was previously grazed on, leaving it barren and bereft of life. Through sustainable management the area has now been regenerated
FoReWoRD The widespread loss of natural ecosystems and biodiversity is much more than a conservation issue. Natural ecosystems provide socially and economically valuable services – such as food and fiber resources, clean water and climate regulation – that are fundamental to human welfare, but are often overlooked in decision-making processes The Asia and Pacific region has some of the largest and most diverse ecosystems on earth. The Coral Triangle boasts an astonishing 3,000 species of fish and harbours 76% of the world’s coral species. In the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), 1,200 new species have been discovered in the past 20 years, while on the island of Borneo, scientists have discovered 600 new species in that same time span. The Himalayan mountain range is another biodiversity hotspot with an incredible spectrum of flora and fauna, and the Eastern Himalayas are the source of freshwater for one billion people in the region. Despite the rich natural capital in the region, this report reveals that biodiversity is in decline in all types of ecosystems, including in forests, rivers and oceans, with the rate of species loss about twice the global average. Furthermore, data presented on ecological footprints and biocapacities shows that the Asia and Pacific region has a “biocapacity deficit”. This means that countries in the region use more biologically productive land and sea to support the consumption of food, fibre and energy, as well as to build infrastructure and absorb carbon dioxide emissions, than is available within the region. This shortfall can only be made up by importing natural resources or by continuing to deplete natural capital, which has significant economic and environmental implications, including rising commodity prices and worsening degradation of natural resources. The loss of natural capital in the region is the result of numerous factors associated with human activity. These range from the clear cutting of primary forests to make way for plantations and agricultural land to the dynamiting of coral reefs to catch fish. In Borneo, for instance, an average of 850,000 hectares of forest has disappeared every year over the last 25 years. Similarly, deforestation has been a major issue in the GMS, with 8.5 million ha lost between 1990 and 2005. In the last 40 years, the Coral Triangle has lost 40% of its coral reefs, and 80% of the spawning aggregations of reef fish has disappeared or declined. Meanwhile, among many other impacts, climate change is accelerating the melting of glaciers in the Himalayan region, threatening regional water and energy security and raising concerns regarding disaster impacts. 5
Page 1 and 2: REPORT JUNE 2012 Ecological footpri
Page 3: Contents Foreword 5 Acknowledgement
Page 7 and 8: © WWF-Canon / www.ateliermamco.com
Page 9 and 10: ACknoWLeDgeMents ADB and WWF signed
Page 11 and 12: Loading harvested mangrove poles in
Page 13 and 14: 17% teRRestRIAL PRoteCteD AReAs noW
Page 15 and 16: This report highlights major initia
Page 17 and 18: Young boy holding a Bagrid catfish,
Page 19 and 20: Most of these threats stem from hum
Page 21 and 22: © James Morgan / WWF International
Page 23 and 24: The Ecological Footprint of nations
Page 25 and 26: 47% the CARBon CoMPonent RePResents
Page 27 and 28: Papua New Guinea Malaysia Biocapaci
Page 29 and 30: With tight supplies of resources, c
Page 31 and 32: © Jürgen Freund / WWF-Canon
Page 33 and 34: Figure 10: Global and Indo-Pacific
Page 35 and 36: 20% FRoM 1990 to 2010, the AReA oF
Page 37 and 38: 75% In eAst AsIA ALMost 75% oF the
Page 39 and 40: 70% 70 PeRCent oF ALL WAteR Is Cons
Page 41 and 42: © Jun Lao
Page 43 and 44: gMs the gReAteR Mekong suBRegIon Is
Page 45 and 46: PAPUA NEW GUINEA CoRAL tRIAngLe Val
Page 47 and 48: 70% oF the 20 MAjoR RIveRs In BoRne
Page 49 and 50: Forestry provides income for rural
Page 51 and 52: 4 MILLIon theRe ARe An estIMAteD 4
Page 53 and 54: Mangroves split level. Banggi, Kuda
Page 55 and 56:
27 theRe ARe 27 sPeCIes oF MARIne M
Page 57 and 58:
50% IF CuRRent CLIMAte tRenDs ContI
Page 59 and 60:
Fisherman pulling up a newly caught
Page 61 and 62:
70% thAnks to CeRtIFICAtIon, eIght
Page 63 and 64:
hALtIng the DeCLIne AnD PotentIAL e
Page 65 and 66:
1,100 the Mekong Is thought to PRov
Page 67 and 68:
2011 In 2011, WWF AnD the InteRnAtI
Page 69 and 70:
The magnificent tiger is the larges
Page 71 and 72:
2002 the FIRst gMs suMMIt, heLD In
Page 73 and 74:
170,000 gMs BCC PRojeCt tARgets 170
Page 75 and 76:
Pak Mun dam, Ubon Ratchathani Provi
Page 77 and 78:
Protected areas are often seen as t
Page 79 and 80:
RsAt the RsAt hAs Been suCCessFuLLY
Page 81 and 82:
10,000 the AReA hARBouRs 10,000 PLA
Page 83 and 84:
Extensive grazing by domestic lives
Page 85 and 86:
The Living Himalayas InItIAtIves --
Page 87 and 88:
Agricultural worker Pangbuche Chosa
Page 89 and 90:
2009 In 2009, the goveRnMent oF Bhu
Page 91 and 92:
The Sacred Himalayas Bhutan Biologi
Page 93 and 94:
Young boy in traditional dug-out ca
Page 95 and 96:
Conclusion the GMS and the Coral Tr
Page 97 and 98:
Conclusion The large-scale ecosyste
Page 99 and 100:
Food and Agriculture Organization.
Page 101 and 102:
Thailand and Viet Nam. Vientiane, L
Page 103 and 104:
Abbreviations ADB Asian Development
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