South-East Asia’s environmental future: the search for sustainability

The book is based on papers commissioned for an international conference 'Toward a sustainable environmental future for the Southeast Asian region' organized by the United Nations University as part of their research and training programme, and held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in May 1991. In addition to edited papers, commentator's remarks and reports of discussions are included. The 16 chapters are presented in five parts: The driving forces of change (Dimensions of environmental change and management in the Southeast Asian region; Population growth in Southeast Asia - pushing the limits; Industrialization and urbanization in Southeast Asia; Energy and mineral development - environment and economics; and Onslaught on the forests in Southeast Asia); Climatic change and variability (Climate model predictions for the Southeast Asian region; ENSO, drought and flooding rain in Southeast Asia; and Climatic change and agriculture - problems for the Asian tropics); Selected issues - change and the environment (Sustaining and expanding the 'green revolution' in rice; Ecological policies for sustaining high production in rice - observations on rice intensification in Indonesia; Problems of upland land management; Hazard of fire; and Coastal, inshore and marine problems); Selected issues - places and people (Threatened places; Threatened peoples; and Urban environmental issues in Southeast Asian cities - an overview); and Conclusions and recommendations. An index is included.