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| Asia Pacific |
Introduction
The Asia Pacific is a vast region. It houses half of the world's population - two countries, India and China, are home to over one billion people each. And it boasts the highest mountain in the world - Everest, and the deepest ocean - the Pacific, which covers one third of the globe.
It is also a region of great cultural and biological diversity. The Pacific has some 1400 languages and Asia is the centre of many of the world's major religions. Biologically the region is incredibly diverse - with many endemic species, such as the giant panda, tigers, birdwing butterflies, rhododendrons. And the coral reefs north of Australia, up to the Philippines, contain more fish and coral species than anywhere else in the world
Working in the region has its own challenges and difficulties, including: rapid social and economic transformation; it is home to some of the world's richest countries, but also two-thirds of the world's poor; longstanding traditions; multitude of languages; and aspirations for improvements in lifestyle and living standards. Alongside these realities are worrying environmental trends: rising temperatures; falling water table; agriculture land area per person is decreasing; collapsing fisheries; forest loss; and loss of plant and animal species. |
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WWF-UK > Research > Places > Asia Pacific
