Land Degradation and Biodiversity Loss in Southeast Asia

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Author(s): Rajendra P. Shrestha (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand)
Copyright: 2011
Pages: 25
Source title: Land Use, Climate Change and Biodiversity Modeling: Perspectives and Applications
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Yongyut Trisurat (Kasetsart University, Thailand), Rajendra P. Shrestha (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand)and Rob Alkemade (Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency, The Netherlands)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-60960-619-0.ch015

Keywords: Environment & Agriculture / Environmental Science and Technologies / Environmental Technologies / Information Science Reference

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Abstract

Land degradation and biodiversity loss are important global change issues because of their enormous effect on the functioning of ecosystem. Despite the fact that there have been tremendous concerns on land degradation and biodiversity loss for nearly two decades, there is still the need of having a sound data and information base, specifically in developing countries. The need has been more pronounced in the face of climate change as these three issues are intricately interlinked. Southeast Asia is an important geographic region from all these perspectives, as it has high biodiversity on the verge of rapid loss, continuing rapid land degradation due to desire of higher economic development, and of climate change importance with a large tract of forest areas in the region. This chapter, first of all, examines general status of land degradation and biodiversity in the region and goes on presenting two case studies. The first case study, based on secondary data, presents land degradation assessment in the Lower Mekong Basin demonstrating the use of spatial data and technologies and various land degradation indicators. The second case study specifically documents plant diversity and examines the relationship of plant diversity with biomass and soil erosion by making use of field surveyed primary data. Both studies aim at producing additional information which can help make better landuse allocation and planning for ecosystem maintenance without compromising much on regional or local livelihood through production.

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