Conservation in the Anthropocene

This chapter considers options for conserving the biodiversity of Tropical East Asia in the face of the pervasive threats described in previous chapters. Sources of funding are first considered, including domestic governments, foreign aid, non-governmental organizations, businesses, payments for ecosystem services, REDD+, biodiversity offsets, tourism, and eco-certification. The next section discusses the use of surrogates in conservation planning, methods of prioritizing species, and various approaches to prioritizing areas and ecosystems. The establishment of new protected areas is dealt with along with alternative models for protection. This is followed by the options for reducing unsustainable exploitation of timber, wildlife, and other forest products, controlling fires, managing invasive species, and minimizing the magnitude and impacts of climate change. The potential for restoring forests and reintroducing species is then discussed. The chapter ends with sections on education and related issues, and a discussion of possible ways forward for biodiversity conservation in Tropical East Asia.