Current threats & problems

The huge and increasing population is putting enormous pressure on the unique natural resources of the region. Forests are being cut down for timber, plantations, agriculture, roads and urban development; its fresh water and seas are being polluted and over fished - in the sea destructive methods such as cyanide fishing and explosives are being used to catch fish.

China | Indonesia | The Philippines | Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia | Malaysia | India | Thailand | Nepal | Bhutan | South Pacific

China
China is the third biggest country in the world - it covers seven per cent of the Earth's surface and contains a huge range of habitats. China has a fifth of the world's population, most of whom live in the fertile plains. The vegetation boasts more than 30,000 species and there are more than 1,000 species of birds, 13,000 marine species and 500 species of mammals including the giant and red panda, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, tiger, Bactrian camel and river dolphin. At least 350 species of plants, 40 species of mammals and 83 species of birds are under threat in China. These species are losing their natural habitat due to human pressure: the need for agricultural land to grow food leads to the felling of trees and draining of wetlands. Pollution affects species and their habitats, often in the form of acid rain - five of the world's 10 most polluted cities are in China. WWF is working with the Chinese government to protect the giant panda and the forests of south-west China; to improve the management of Yangtze river; to reduce the impact of climate change; and, with assistance from BP, we have been developing a wide-ranging environmental education programme.

Indonesia
Indonesia contains the world's biggest group of islands - 13,667 of them. It has lush rainforests, savannah grasslands, snow-capped peaks, mangrove swamps, turquoise seas, and coral reefs which all teem with life. But more than 200 Indonesian species are threatened or endangered, including the Javan and Sumatran rhino, the Bali starling, the Sumatran tiger, orang utan, proboscis monkey, giant palm civet, marine turtles and Burmese python. These species are losing their habitat - logging and fires have contributed to destruction of the rainforest, which in turn causes soil erosion and floods.

Ten per cent of the country's area is protected and the government has a comprehensive conservation strategy, but much of the wildlife and habitat is still threatened by mining, oil exploration and deforestation by both legal and illegal logging. The deforested land is used for agriculture, such as oil palm plantations that produce vegetable oil for export. To help improve forest management, WWF encourages trade in timber harvested from forests to be certified as well-managed, and we are working with the government to combat illegal logging. WWF is also working to conserve Indonesian species: rhino (Javan and Sumatran), marine turtles, tigers. In the near future we will be establishing an orang utan programme.

The Philippines
This is an archipelago of 7,100 islands, mostly small and uninhabited. Originally, rich, tropical rainforest covered 94 per cent of the land but now only a small fraction remains. The disappearance of the forests has threatened most forest-dwelling Philippine birds, such as the monkey-eating eagle, the Sulu hornbill, the Palawan peacock pheasant and the imperial pigeon of Mindoro. Also endangered are the country's biggest land mammal, the tamaraw (a species of wild cattle) now reduced to fewer than 300, the spotted deer, and the scaly pangolin (an anteater). The Philippine crocodile now only survives in isolated pockets.

The Philippine marine environment is the most biologically diverse in the world, comprising mangrove forests, tidal mudflats, sea grass beds and extensive coral reefs. Six species of marine turtle that live there, including the green and the hawksbill, are endangered. Whale sharks swim in the seas around the islands and dugongs inhabit shallower waters. Many areas suffer massive over-fishing by net and trawler, or dynamite and cyanide methods that destroy coral reefs; while mangrove forests have been cleared for charcoal and shrimp farms. WWF's work in the Philippines focuses on the sea. We involve local hunters in projects such as whale watching trips, designed to persuade them to become guardians of these endangered species. We also work with local communities to reduce illegal fishing and to manage turtle populations sustainably.

Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Cambodia
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia contain extremely diverse tropical forests and wetlands, which are priority areas for conservation. The Mekong River, which starts in China, tracks through evergreen forest in Laos and reaches the sea in Vietnam where the delta has been largely developed for agriculture. In Cambodia the river is linked to a huge lake - the Tonle Sap - which, together with surrounding swamp forests, acts as a natural sponge to control floods during rainy seasons. The gaur, a large wild cow, lives in forests on the borders of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and has suffered badly from disturbance, hunting and loss of natural cover. Also extremely threatened are the greater one-horned rhino, tiger and several endemic primates including the douc langur.

Thirty years of almost constant warfare have devastated vast areas of this region and caused untold harm to wildlife. Large tracts of forest were destroyed by napalm and more was degraded by 72 million litres of herbicide used as a weapon of war. In Vietnam a huge programme of reforestation was mounted and 87 areas are now protected - but more forest has been lost since the war than during it, because of huge population increases. However, there have been some recent discoveries - three new species: a small muntjac, a giant muntjac and the saola, a goat-like animal. WWF is working with the governments of the three countries to improve the management of the protected areas, and to develop a network of corridors so animals can move safely between them. We have also been working closely with TRAFFIC on wildlife trade issues.

Malaysia
This country comprises the Malay peninsula on the Asian mainland, and Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo. Its forests house the Sumatran rhinoceros, Asian elephant, orang utan, clouded leopard, Malayan tapir, hornbill, and gibbon. Its diverse flora includes palms, rattans, mangoes, wild orchids and the giant rafflesia (the world's largest flower). Large areas of this important habitat continue to be cleared for oil palm, cocoa and rubber plantations. In addition, the timber trade has a major negative impact on most of Malaysia's lowland forests. Sarawak has suffered particular problems from the logging industry. As much as 73 per cent of the state's forests have been cut down or designated for future logging, and there is widespread resentment among local communities about the effects of this policy.

Thousands of migratory birds, on their way to Australia, stop off in the mangroves and mudflats along the west coast of peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, India, the Philippines and Burma. These areas are critical for the birds as resting points and food sources. WWF is working to protect freshwater and forest resources throughout the country, and has species programmes focusing on orang utans and turtles. WWF Malaysia also has a long history of working on environmental education.

India
No other landmass of comparable size presents such a diversity of habitat and biological resources. Hot and cold deserts, monsoon and thorn forests, ice-clad mountains, boggy wetlands and offshore islands are all found in this vast sub-continent. It has around 45,000 species of plants, more than 5,000 of insects and 1,200 of birds.

India's large and fast-growing population (more than a billion people) puts pressure on its natural resources. Agriculture, cattle grazing and development schemes such as hydroelectric dams compete for space with natural habitats, and have caused the degradation of vast areas. The total forest cover in India is now less than 19 per cent of the land area, and there are 172 animal species considered globally threatened by IUCN. The government tried to help prevent this habitat loss by establishing sanctuaries and reserves across the country, but they proved unpopular with the people living around them, most of whom live in poverty. Illegal occupation and grazing continues, and poaching is rampant inside many reserves. WWF India is working on many environmental issues, including the Tiger Conservation programme, which focuses on improving management of reserves, reducing conflict with local people and establishing corridors of well-managed forest between the protected areas. WWF, in partnership with the Indian government, is also developing ways for the local villagers to live in harmony with the parks.

Thailand
Thailand is home to more than 265 mammal species, including the world's smallest - the bumblebee bat - and the huge but endangered Asian elephant. It has 915 bird species and 12,000 vascular plants. However, Thailand has lost more than half of its forest, mainly to slash and burn agriculture and logging. In 1989, Thailand imposed a ban that made all logging in Thailand illegal. Instead, it now imports timber from surrounding countries, which causes extra pressure on their forests. The logging ban has also left domesticated elephants used in the industry out of a job. WWF is helping to reintroduce suitable elephants into the wild.

While most species are threatened by the destruction of their habitat, many are also at risk from hunting for food and the wildlife trade. Some species, such as the tiger and elephant, are killed in revenge for the damage they do to crops or livestock. Large carnivores, such as the tiger, are losing their food sources as local villagers hunt the same species as them. Working in partnership with communities and government, WWF is trying to reduce this conflict and develop schemes for the collaborative management of natural resources. Through a partner organisation, Wildlife Fund Thailand, we are encouraging improved management of threatened coral reefs and mangroves around the coast in southern Thailand.

Pakistan
Pakistan has towering mountains (including the second highest mountain in the world, K2), barren deserts and fertile plains. The varied terrain is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, but only three per cent of Pakistan is forested and what remains is decreasing. Pakistan also suffers, like many developing countries, from a high level of pollution caused by industry and agriculture. As a result of these problems, a high level of Pakistan's wildlife is now endangered, including more than 30 species of mammals (including the Himalayan brown bear, snow leopard, wild ass, ibex, blue sheep and Indus dolphin), 20 bird species (including the Houbara bustard), five reptile species and 500 plants. WWF runs workshops on environmental management techniques for both industry and rural communities in Pakistan, to demonstrate how they can protect their environment. We are also working with the government to improve management of protected areas across the whole country.

Nepal
Nepal nestles among the Himalayas, the world's highest mountain range, which includes Everest. But the country also has lowlands, and the change in altitude creates a huge range of habitats that provide shelter to some of the world's rarest animals. These include the endangered Bengal tiger, swamp deer and Gangetic dolphin as well as the snow leopard, Asian elephant, greater one-horned rhino and red panda. There are 6,500 species of flowering plants and 640 of butterflies. Nepal has established a wide network of protected areas that cover all the major habitat types.

WWF Nepal has been working with communities to harvest medicinal plants and fuel wood sustainably. But the latest and most exciting programme is the development of a whole series of forest corridors linking areas in the lowlands of the Terai region, which will help protect rhinos, tigers and elephants.

Bhutan
This tiny country, covering just 46,500 square km, is one of the 10 most important areas on Earth for environmental conservation. It already has 60 per cent forest cover and is unique in the world as its forest cover is increasing. Tiger, red panda, deer, bear, Asian elephant, the endemic golden langur and 362 species of birds live in its forests. The government is committed to protecting the environment and ensures it is considered in any new policies or decisions about development. WWF and the Bhutanese government have jointly identified a series of corridors to link the protected area system. There is also a well-established programme of environmental education carried out with partner organisations.

South Pacific
The Pacific region is home to eight million people, across 22 island countries, on 30,000 islands scattered across 30 million square kilometres of ocean. It also houses the world's richest fishing grounds, the most extensive and diverse coral reefs, and world's third largest area of tropical rainforest. On some islands of the South Pacific, more than 80 per cent of species are endemic (i.e. found nowhere else in the world). The islanders depend heavily on their environment, and much of the land on the South Pacific islands is communally owned. Most of WWF's work in the region focuses on collaborative management of tropical forest, fresh water and corals with the islanders to ensure development plans protect both the environment and the cultural heritage. WWF is also supporting a local theatre group on the islands of Vanuatu, who travel throughout the region spreading the message of conservation through their plays; this is especially effective in the region as most communication is by spoken word.


What WWF is doing

WWF has over 200 conservation projects in the Asia Pacific region, many of which involve working with people to help them use the environment in a sustainable way. This often involves environmental education in partnership with governments and communities. WWF has identified 28 priority areas in the Asia Pacific region where most of our work will focus in the future. These include forests and wetlands that are home to vast numbers of species. WWF also supports TRAFFIC offices in the region that monitor the wildlife market in an effort to eliminate illegal trade.