A new study warns that Southeast Asia's forests, rich in biodiversity and vital for both humans and animals, are facing severe losses by 2090 due to a combination of climate change and deforestation. The study projects significant tree cover reductions across all forest types in the region unless policies addressing both climate change and land use change are implemented.
The trees across all forest types in the region are projected to suffer severe losses by 2090 in three of four scenarios modelled, found the study.
The trend of decline be stopped and reversed, so tree cover in the region increases instead, only in the scenario where policies to address both climate change and land use change are enacted.Said the study’s lead author Sean Pang: “Policymakers must recognise that addressing both climate and land use change is crucial for protecting the fate of South-east Asia’s trees, and likely for much of the region’s biodiversity.
“It is hard to say if climate change or land use change is the bigger threat,” said Dr Pang, now a postdoctoral fellow at the Aarhus University in Denmark. “Reduce land clearance but still rely massively on fossil fuels for societal development? Montane systems will be devastated,” Dr Pang said. For example, the most ideal pathway is one where the world takes steps to cut emissions and develop more sustainably, resulting in the lowest levels of global warming.
“Unexpectedly, losses were overall greatest under intermediate climate change pathways rather than under the most extreme pathway,” said the researchers. The researchers say that under these two scenarios, the most at-risk trees are those found in coastal and lowland areas, such as mangroves or tropical rainforests.
When tree diversity in the region is lost, the intangible links they have to the region’s unique cuisine and culture are severed too.
Climate Change Deforestation Southeast Asia Forests Biodiversity Policy
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Southeast Asia and Middle East want more business ties with Hong KongAnalysts speaking at the Belt and Road Summit urged that cooperation between these regions and Hong Kong should be nurtured.
Read more »
Singapore to play bigger role in improving Southeast Asia’s ability to detect hazeThe main focus of a new centre here is predicting air quality and identifying how far such haze would be able to spread.
Read more »
“I’m terribly worried”: UN chief on warming temperatures in Southeast AsiapWhich country needs to reverse emissions trends? Who has to start phasing out coal? Who must answer the SOS on rising sea levels affecting islands and coastal cities? In an exclusive interview with CNA, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres tells Climate Conversations co-host Liling Tan why the world’s biggest polluting countries need to...
Read more »
Singapore expected to have largest share of passenger EVs in Southeast Asia by 2040: ReportSINGAPORE — Singapore is forecast to have the largest share of passenger electric vehicles (EVs) in South-east Asia by 2040, according to a report from Bloomberg's energy research service BloombergNEF.
Read more »
Philippines says China 'biggest disruptor' of peace in Southeast AsiaMANILA: China is the "biggest disruptor" of peace in Southeast Asia, the Philippine defence chief said on Tuesday (Aug 27), as tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed reefs and waters in the South China Sea escalate.
Read more »
Daily roundup: Singapore expected to have largest share of passenger EVs in Southeast Asia by 2040Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. Singapore expected to have largest share of passenger EVs in Southeast Asia by 2040: Report Singapore is forecast to have the largest share of passenger electric vehicles (EVs) in South-east Asia by 2040, according to a report from Bloomberg's energy research service BloombergNEF...
Read more »