Asia

This booklet summarizes the discussions held during the annual expert consultation on forests and climate change organized by FAO and RECOFTC to assess the outcomes of the UNFCCC COPs, which were a response to a set of 11 key questions, designed to inform stakeholders on the implications of the Lima COP 20 for Asia and the Pacific. 

East Asia abounds in water, with wetlands in every corner, and the culture of wetlands is entrenched in daily life. The epitome of this is the rice paddy, but there are other traditions as well. The hope is that this document can increase the discourse on the unique cultural characteristics of each country and region as well as the similarities unifying East Asian cultures.

In an increasingly crowded world reconciling environmental ‘conservation’ with the ‘sustainable use’ of natural resources is now our greatest challenge. Nature conservation has traditionally focused on protecting iconic and important areas of biodiversity from human exploitation through the establishment of National Parks and World Heritage Areas.

Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are unique in being the world's only truly scaly mammals, but are in dire need of urgent conservation action. Pangolins have been subject to very little conservation or natural history research, and consequently, little is known about their biology, ecology, and conservation needs. It was in response to this predicament that the IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group was re-formed in 2012.

In February 2014, RECOFTC - The Center for People and Forests in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) brought together 11 climate change and forestry experts in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The panel of experts discussed the key outcomes of negotions for the 19th Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held in Warsaw, Poland, 11-22 November 2013.

Between the 13th and 17th of November 2013, some 800 participants from 40 countries gathered at the Sendai International Center, Sendai city, Japan, to attend the first ever Asia Parks Congress (APC).

Asia has a rich cultural and natural heritage, but rapid development, population growth and an erosion of traditional practices are resulting in habitat loss and degradation, which is putting protected areas in Asia at risk and leading to serious decline in the biodiversity they harbour.

Our oceans and coasts are the origin of life on earth, an important food source, and crucial for the global ecological equilibrium,  yet despite their global significance, marine and coastal ecosystems face a wide array of threats. It was in the spirit of making enhanced concerted efforts at the global, regional, national and local levels that the Blue Solutions Initiative was created.