Issues

The region has about 17 per cent of the world’s total forests and woodlands. Over the period 1981–90, 3.9 million hectares per year of forest and woodland were lost compared with 2 million hectares a year during 1976–81. Deforestation is one of the major environmental issues in the region due to continuing industrialization, expansion of agriculture and trade in forest products. At the current rate of harvesting, the remaining timber reserves in Asia will not last for more than 40 years. 

The Asia-Pacific region ranges from arid and semi-arid areas to humid tropical regions with high levels of precipitation. Despite having plentiful water resources, the per capita availability is substantially below the world average. Groundwater resources are extensive throughout the region and form an important source of freshwater, especially for the small island states, some of which are suffering severe salinization of the groundwater due to sea water intrusion. Water pollution is caused mainly by domestic sewage, industrial effluents and run-off from land-based activities, such as agriculture and mining. 

Increased energy consumption is leading to local and regional problems of air pollution, including transboundary air pollution. The region accounted for 41 per cent of the global consumption of coal in 1993. Ten out of 11 cities surveyed in the region had dangerous levels of suspended particulate matter that exceeded World Health Organization guidelines by more than a factor of two. Human health is also at risk in the lower income urban households and in rural areas from the use of other low quality fuels, such as wood, crop residues and dung for cooking and heating. Vehicular emissions are a significant problem in all major cities and problems of acidification have also started to emerge in parts of the region. 

Almost all of the nations are heavily dependent on direct harvesting of natural products. The region includes the second largest rainforest complex and more than half the coral reefs of the world. Only 20–30 per cent of natural habitats remain in many countries. Actual biodiversity losses still have to be quantified, but the rates of loss of coral reef and mangrove habitats are amongst the highest in the world. 

The majority of the population reside along the coasts. Marine resources are economically important to most countries in the region and some islands rely solely on marine resources for external earnings, for example through fishing and tourism. However, some fish stocks are being over-harvested at unsustainable levels. Although the substantial growth in tourism has created employment, increased the flow of foreign exchange, promoted the development of infrastructure and the restoration of cultural and heritage sites, it has also resulted in direct and indirect damage to marine and coastal environments, for example through the construction of hotels and marinas and pressure from boats and souvenir collectors in coral reefs. Coastal and marine pollution is widespread, arising from land-based (e.g. domestic and industrial discharges and agricultural run-off) and sea-based (e.g. offshore mineral exploitation and marine transportation) activities. 

Many of the developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region are subject to natural hazards and disasters, such as floods, earthquakes and tidal waves. Environmental degradation and vulnerability to disasters are very closely linked, for example the loss of coastal habitats, such as mangrove forests and coral reefs, has increased the vulnerability of coastal areas. 

The total waste generated in the region amounts to 2,600 million tonnes a year. Inadequate waste collection, improper storage and poor standards of disposal lead to environmental health risks; 30–50 per cent of solid waste is not collected. In addition, untreated domestic and industrial wastewaters are discharged directly into canals and rivers in many areas. Small island states have a particular problem with solid waste disposal because of their limited land area. 

Underlying causes

Urban populations in the developing countries of the region grew at between 3 and 6.5 per cent per year in the mid-1990s. Migration from rural to urban areas has contributed substantially to urban growth in most developing countries in the region. The growth of cities has been accompanied by a proliferation of slums and squatter settlements without basic infrastructure, water and sanitation. This gives rise to associated health risks. High rates of urbanization and industrialization are increasing the demand for water suitable for domestic and industrial use. Urban expansion has contributed to deforestation through increased demand for fuelwood for cooking. The increased aggregation of people into urban centres, together with environmental degradation and a lack of planning and preparedness, also increases vulnerability to natural hazards. 

The developing countries of the region have the fastest growing economies in the world and, although this has reduced the incidence of poverty, it has been accompanied by serious environmental problems. Transportation is a key accelerating factor in economic growth and environmental degradation. Road transport, for example, contributes the major share of air pollution in major cities. One of the results of rapid economic growth in the region has been an associated increased demand for energy. The main source of industrial energy in the region is also fossil fuel, which contributes substantially to air pollution. 

The underlying causes of loss of biodiversity in the region include international trade (particularly timber), population growth, poverty, the introduction of non-native species and improper use of agrochemicals. 

Policy responses and directions

Measures to combat land degradation are being taken at national and regional level, including the formulation of policies, programmes and projects (such as watershed management and sand dune stabilization) and the development of methods for monitoring and data collection. Governments have responded to the problem of deforestation by creating protected areas and new plantations. To meet the growing demands for good quality water and to protect water resources, many measures are being introduced, such as water reuse, desalinization, demand-side management, legislation and economic incentives. To reduce air pollution from vehicular emissions, measures are being taken by many countries, including emission standards for vehicles and the use of unleaded petrol. In response to the need to protect biodiversity, Governments are participating in biodiversity conventions and there has been much progress in designating protected areas. Although there is increasing evidence of marine and coastal pollution and degradation, the level of pollution in most coastal waters is still manageable and many countries have joined international and regional agreements and initiatives. The significance of disaster prevention and mitigation has been realised and many countries are taking initiatives to address the issue, including in the areas of forecasting, early warning, risk assessment and mapping of climate and water-related hazards. 

Although there are many examples of national initiatives and action plans to deal with the issues affecting the region, great emphasis has been placed on regional environmental co-operation with the help of many international organisations and aid agencies. The South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) Strategy and Programme (1992–96), for example, has 15 priority areas, including regional co-operation in social forestry; wildlife conservation and genetic resources; conservation of corals, mangroves, deltas and coastal areas; regional seas; energy and environment; and environmental impact assessment and cost-benefit analysis. The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment has several strategies, including a regional framework on biological diversity conservation and sustainable use of its components; promotion of protection and management of coastal zones and marine resources; and promotion of environmentally sound management of toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes and control of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.