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Cause for concern in South East Asia
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
South Western Ghats montane rain forests
Large areas of the natural forests have already been cleared for plantations of tea, coffee, potato, teak, and cardamom. Small-scale farmers practicing shifting cultivation are clearing patches of old-growth forest. Other threats to this area include livestock grazing, mining, road construction, and tourism. Along the big rivers, dam construction causes tremendous habitat destruction and disturbances.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Southern Annamites montane rain forests
Because of this ecoregion's high elevations and steep slopes, human population density is moderate, but people are increasingly burning woodlands for agriculture and settlements. More than 75 percent of this ecoregion's natural habitat has been degraded, with the remaining forest distributed in small, isolated fragments.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Southwest Borneo freshwater swamp forests
Less than two percent of this ecoregion's original vegetation remains, with the rest cleared or modified by human activities. Fires are a common occurrence, set to clear forests for large commercial oil palm plantations. In 1997 and 1998, El Nio driven fires burned through large portions of Sumatra and Borneo. Hundreds of adult orangutans were killed as they fled the fires into areas populated by humans. Gold mining and the introduction of exotic species are also ongoing threats.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Sri Lanka lowland rain
Rice paddies, houses, and plantations of tea, rubber, and coconut have replaced most of the natural forests. Now only scattered patches of the lowland forests remainabout eight percent of the original extent. Human activities have a particularly strong effect on this ecoregion.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Sri Lanka montane rain forests
Almost all of the montane rain forests have been cleared to create large tea plantations. These plantations have wiped out an unknown number of highly localized endemic species. What is left are small patches of forest that are threatened by logging and clearing for agriculture, even in areas that are officially protected.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Sulu Archipelago rain forests
Virtually no forest remains on Sulu Island, and only the eastern and north-central portions of Tawitawi are forested. Of the smaller islands, some have been degraded but others are fairly intact and shelter important populations of birds. Overall, habitat loss is the major threat to wildlife, but hunting is also a problem.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Sumatran freshwater swamp forests
Less than one-fifth of the original natural habitat remains in this severely threatened ecoregion. Because the soils are very fertile, they've been developed for agriculture. Large-scale logging, much of it illegal, has occurred throughout the region. Several large fires have destroyed whole blocks of forest. And hunting of estuarine crocodiles and false gharials--both out of fear and for their skins--has decimated their populations. The mugger, another species of crocodile from this ecoregion, is now thought to be extinct due to overexploitation.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Sumatran lowland rain forests
This ecoregion's forests are in critical condition; less than one third of the native forests remain. Most of this habitat has been lost to agricultural expansion, notably oil palm plantations and logging. Even protected areas are not safe. Lack of government controls has allowed these areas to be invaded and exploited for their natural resources.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Sumatran montane rain forests
Despite Sumatra's dense human population, this ecoregion contains several large blocks of intact forest. Unfortunately, widespread logging is so depleting the lowland forests of the region that these upper elevations are likely to become more fragile and also more attractive to logging operations. Illegal logging, rampant throughout all of Indonesia, threatens the habitat of many species, including prime habitat for the orangutans, siamangs, and white-handed gibbons.
Indo-Malay
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Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Sumatran peat swamp forests
More than half of the Sumatra Peat Swamp Forests have been cleared, mostly in the southern portion of the region. Large areas have been drained, primarily for settlements and large-scale development projects. Fires and illegal logging also threaten parts of the region. Although the soils are nutrient-poor and not terribly good for growing crops, large-scale plantations of coconuts and pineapple have replaced native forests in some parts of the region.
