Nature in Asean under threat

Burgeoning demand for food, consumer goods and exotic animals is putting pressure on nature's bounty in Asean like never before. Fish stocks are plunging, reefs are deteriorating, wildlife is vanishing and forests in much of the region are in decline. Here's a snapshot of nature in Asean.

World’s plant and animal species

Global mangrove forests

Global coral reefs

World’s marine �sh production

Global biodiversity hot spots

20%

35%

30%

14%

4 of 25

Source: ASEANFOCUS, A PUBLICATION OF THE ISEAS – YUSOF ISHAK INSTITUTE’S ASEAN STUDIES CENTRE STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS

CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA:

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA:

2010

1990

Philippines Indonesia Singapore

20years

50 tonnes

35 tonnes

10 tonnes

8 tonnes

US$

US$113,404(S$149,000)

10years

US$794,786 US$

369,8222years

Tigers, elephants, bears and pangolins are four of the most widely traded species in the Golden Triangle.

Vietnam is the world’s top destination for South African rhino horn. An estimated 3,700–4,500 tonnes of wildlife products are traded and consumed every year here alone.

The Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot ranks among the top 10 biodiversity hot spots for irreplaceability and the top 5 for threat.

Greater Mekong region

• Home to some of the planet’s most endangered wild species, including the tiger, saola, Asian elephant, Mekong dolphin and Mekong giant cat�sh.

Coral Triangle

Singapore

• 75% of popular seafood species here are unsustainable.

• The seizure of 3,000 tonnes of Malagasy rosewood by Singapore authorities in 2014 is possibly the largest seizure of illegal wildlife ever made.

Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are among the 17 “megadiverse” countries that harbour the majority of earth’s species.

Indonesia has six priority Tiger Conservation Landscapes in Sumatra: Ulumasen-Leuser, Kampar-Kerumutan, Bukit Tigapuluh, Kerinci Seblat, Bukit Balai Rejang Selatan and Bukit Barisan Selatan.

38.7m

32.3m

of the world’s reef-building corals are located here.75%

39%

1

2

3

4

6

5of the world’s tiger population has vanished over the last century, including Javan and Bali tigers.

95%

MALAYSIA

CAMBODIA

THAILAND

MYANMAR VIETNAM

LAOS

SINGAPORE

BRUNEI

I N D O N E S I A

CHINA

PH I L I P P INE S

SouthChinaSea

PhilippineSea

NorthPacificOcean

Banda Sea

Mekong River

1

4

6

5

3

2

• 2,524 new species were discovered between 1997 and 2016 in this region alone.

• Provides 2.6 million tonnes of �sh, or about 25% of the global freshwater catch every year.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA HOUSES:

13% to 42% species lost by

2100

95% of coral reefs are at risk

from local threats

Value estimated per year.

of worldwide total seizure of ivory

Asean countries with the largest ivory seizures by weight (2009 to 2014)

Traf�cking of wildlife and timber is criminalised under laws of all Asean member states, which are also parties to

Maximum imprisonment and �nes associated with wildlife and forest crimes

Forest designated for conservation

(in hectares)

Indochinese leopards remain

in the wild.

Forest cover loss in 10 years

SOUTH-EAST ASIAN WILDLIFEUNDER THREAT:

51% 54%

20202010

Around

973 to

2503

US$

Malaysia Vietnam Thailand Singapore

8 to10

the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.

billion