Forest Policy Brief 03 – The Forest Biodiversity Challenge

This policy brief highlights that most of the terrestrial biodiversity within the Asia-Pacific region is contained within forests. Protected areas are the mainstay for biodiversity conservation although other forest areas are also important. The document notes that habitat destruction and extraction of high-value species are major threats to biodiversity. Ecosystem stability is based on interdependence among constituent species and with biodiversity loss, resilience to change is reduced. Therefore, it states that awareness raising, stringent environmental impact assessments, and improved law enforcement are required.