The Asia/Pacific Programme

BIODIVERSITY



he forests, coral reefs, and wetlands of the Asia/Pacific region are home to a fascinating array of animals and plants. They also supply people with basic needs such as food and medicines. By working to conserve these natural treasure troves, WWF helps not only to protect the habitat of endangered pandas, rhinoceroses, and tigers but also the livelihoods of local people.

Although legally protected, some plants and animals can be sold for high prices. Tigerbone and rhino horn, for example, are key ingredients in some traditional medicines. A WWF-sup-ported programme known as TRAFFIC*, with several offices in the region, monitors the wildlife market in an effort to eliminate illegal trade.

Meanwhile, WWF activities in Indonesia's Gunung Leuser National Park aim to safeguard the future of rare orangutans, Asian elephants, and Sumatran rhinos. And staff working in Vietnam's Vu Quang Nature Reserve recently identified the sao la and the giant muntjac - two large mammal species previously unknown to science.

The sea plays a vital role in the life of this region. WWF therefore works to conserve the valuable resources of the Philippines' El Nido Marine Reserve and to protect the fragile coral reefs that lie off Japan's Nansei-Shoto Islands.


*Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce



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Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature