Global Environment Outlook 3 (GEO 3)

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FORESTS

Some 21 per cent of Asia and the Pacific is still forested and deforestation, while continuing, is at a relatively low rate — an annual average of 0.1 per cent a year forest, more than 40 per cent covered with trees more than 5 metres high; mid-green represents open (10–40 per cent coverage) and fragmented forest; light green represents other woodland, shrubland and bushland Note: dark green represents closed

Forests: Asia and the Pacific Asia and the Pacific region accounts for 18.8 per cent of global forests. Within the region, Northwest Pacific and East Asia has the largest forest area (29.3 per cent of the regional total), followed by Southeast Asia (29.1 per cent), Australia and New Zealand (22.3 per cent), South Asia (11.7 per cent), South Pacific (4.8 per cent) and Central Asia (2.7 per cent) respectively. Average per capita availability of forest area in the region in 2000 was 0.2 ha, less than one-third of the world average of 0.65 ha per person (FAO 2001a). Forest degradation and deforestation Deforestation and forest degradation are critical issues, threatening biodiversity, ecosystem stability and the long-term availability of forest products as well as depleting the natural resource base underpinning many national economies (UNESCAP and ADB 2000). Population pressure, heavy dependence on fuelwood, timber and other products, as well as conversion of forests to agricultural, urban and industrial land are the underlying factors for deforestation in the region. Forest degradation and deforestation has also resulted from overgrazing and shifting cultivation. In addition, as forests have become degraded, so fire, pests, diseases and natural disasters have caused greater damage. Construction of irrigation schemes, dams and reservoirs as well as mining are further causes of deforestation (ADB 2000a) while armed conflict has also taken a toll in some countries (UNESCAP and ADB 2000).

Forest extent: Asia and the Pacific

Source: FAO 2001a

The latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FAO 2001a) showed that, within the region, annual deforestation rates were highest in Southeast Asia at 1 per cent (equivalent to 2.3 million ha per year), whereas Northwest Pacific and East Asia had an increase of 1.85 million ha annually, due mainly to afforestation in China. More that 40 per cent (and the highest diversity) of the world’s mangroves grow along the coasts of South and Southeast Asia. A further 10 per cent grow in the Pacific. Mangrove forests provide numerous benefits to people and the environment but they are disappearing at an alarming rate in this region. More than 60 per cent (some 11 million ha) of Asia’s mangroves have already been converted to

Change in forested land 1990–2000 by sub-region: Asia and the Pacific

total land area total forest 1990 total forest 2000 % of land change 1990-2000 % change (million ha) (million ha) (million ha) forested in 2000 (million ha) per year

Australia and New Zealand 795.0

164.9

162.5

20.4

-2.4

-0.1

Central Asia

391.6

16.6

19.3

4.9

2.7

1.6

Northwest Pacific and

1 147.8

195.2

212.7

18.5

17.4

0.9

East Asia South Asia

640.3

86.3

85.3

13.3

-1.0

-0.1

Southeast Asia

434.5

234.7

211.4

48.7

-23.3

-1.0

South Pacific

53.9

36.4

35.1

65.2

-1.2

-0.4

Asia and the Pacific

3 463.2

734.0

726.3

21.0

-7.7

-0.1

Source: compiled from FAO 2001a Note: numbers may not add due to rounding