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Cause for concern in South East Asia
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests
Heavily logged for timber in the past, the primary risks for these forests are shifting cultivation and illegal logging. Other problems include overgrazing by livestock, as well as regular burning to encourage new growth of grasses for livestock. Poaching and capture of wildlife for trade remain serious threats to biodiversity as well.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Myanmar coastal rain forests
Most of the seasonal evergreen forests and nearly all of the freshwater swamps of this ecoregion have been cleared for agriculture. Cutting forests for timber is a growing threat to the region's forest as well. Aside from habitat loss, poaching is the main threat to wildlife. Tigers are nearly extinct in the northern part of the ecoregion, and Sumatran rhinoceroses that once lived here have been locally extinct, or extirpated, from the ecoregion for more than 15 years.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Nicobar Islands rain forests
Protected areas cover about 30 percent of the Nicobar Islands, and only 14 percent of the ecoregion's native forest has been lost. Unfortunately, existing protected areas are not well situated to protect certain native species. Habitat conversion poses the greatest threat to the ecoregion. Proposals to make the Nicobars a major tourist destination pose a major potential threat in the future, along with road development and the rubber and cashew trade. Wildlife exploitation threatens the edible-nest swiftlet, the Nicobar megapode, saltwater crocodiles, and sea turtles.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests
Elephants, tigers, and the other large animals in this ecoregion need large blocks of habitat to survive. These populations are declining quickly--the forests are being cleared and converted into rubber, tea, and coffee plantations--with only a quarter of the natural habitat remaining in scattered fragments.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
North Western Ghats montane rain forests
Over half of the natural habitat in this ecoregion has now been cleared. Many of the valleys that supported large stands of forests have been submerged by reservoirs created after hydroelectric dams were built. Expanding cities and agriculture also take their toll on the forest. Mining for iron and manganese are now severe threats.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Northern Annamites rain forests
More than half of this ecoregion has been cleared or degraded in other ways. However, forests in the northern areas are still fairly intact. Although human population density is moderate in the high elevations, shifting cultivation and logging have heavily impacted the forest and led to widespread erosion. Major hydroelectric projects (dams) will inundate large areas of habitat, further degrading the ecoregion.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Northern Indochina subtropical forests
Threats to the biodiversity of this ecoregion stem from logging, land clearing for shifting cultivation, and hunting for food and income. Almost all of the ecoregion forests that occur in Vietnam have been cleared. Elsewhere, a few large blocks of habitat remain, but their future is uncertain unless large-scale forest clearing is stopped.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Northern Khorat Plateau moist deciduous forests
Unfortunately, most larger bird and mammal species in this ecoregion have been greatly reduced or eliminated altogether. A few elephants remain in a local wildlife sanctuary. Hunting by Laotians is even more widespread than in northern Thailand, so even common birds are more scarce here than elsewhere. The use of fire by hunters and farmers is degrading forestlands. Other human uses, including fishing, recreation, and ferry traffic, are also threatening the river and its surrounding habitats.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Northern Thailand-Laos moist deciduous forests
These river valleys have long been cultivated, and shifting cultivation has caused more recent forest destruction. Large areas of forest have been replaced by teak farms, cotton fields, and fruit orchards. Logging and burning have also greatly altered the landscape. The construction of hydroelectric dams on Thailand's major rivers has destroyed many riverine areas. Lastly, illegal wildlife hunting and trading continues with little or no law enforcement.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Northern Triangle subtropical forests
Because of the inaccessibility of these mountains, very little of the ecoregion has been substantially altered by human activity. On hill slopes, however, forests are being rapidly cleared for shifting cultivation. Because of this, bamboo is starting to replace broadleaf forest. Continual timber extraction and mining remain threats as well.
