Chapter 8 - Environmental governance and biodiversity conservation in the ASEAN region

Abstract

Tropical biodiversity is in the mid of biodiversity tragedy and on a trajectory toward disaster as it continues to undergo loss at an unprecedented rate. The multidimensionality of the problem becomes clear in view of the fact that it currently harbors more than two thirds of all known species and is populated by some of the world's poorest people. The Southeast Asian region in particular is a bio-cultural hotspot containing diverse biological resources that are threatened by many climatic and human-related factors. This chapter will analyze the current issues and concerns related to the current state of biodiversity in the Southeast Asian region as well as the effectiveness of the regional environmental governance. It will also evaluate some of the best practices adopted by developing nations around the world which manage to strike the appropriate balance between conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development with a view to address the biodiversity loss in the region.