Topic Overview

This first topic introduces socio-economic and biodiversity status in Asia.  In this topic, we will look into bio-physical condition of Asia along with trends of socio-economic and development status as well as their ecological footprint followed by their consequences on biodiversity in Asia. Further, you will become familiar with the rich biodiversity status particularly biodiversity hotspots and other important measures of biodiversity indicator and their threats. This topic, hence, set up a stage for further debate on development and conservation in Asia.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and describe major bio-physical attributes in Asia.
• Describe socio-economic status and ecological foot print of Asia.
• Describe major globally relevant systems to identify areas of importance for biodiversity in Asia.
• Describe major biodiversity hotspots and corresponding threats in Asia.

Required & Optional Readings

Required Readings

• Myers, Norman, Russell A. Mittermeier, Cristina G. Mittermeier, Gustavo AB Da Fonseca, and Jennifer Kent. “Biodiversity Hotspots for Conservation Priorities.” Nature 403, no. 6772 (2000): 853–858.
• Squires, Dale. “Biodiversity Conservation in Asia.” Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies 1, no. 1 (2014): 144–159.
• EU 2018 Larger than tigers: Inputs for a strategic approach to biodiversity conservation in Asia-Synthesis report. pp 148 (Read only Background page 26-32)
• Hu, X., Huang, B., Verones, F., Cavalett, O., & Cherubini, F. (2020). Overview of recent land‐cover changes in biodiversity hotspots. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

Fundamental Concepts

PPT Presentations:

Topic 1.0 Overview of Asia and terrestrial biodiversity.pdf Download Topic 1.0 Overview of Asia and terrestrial biodiversity.pdf

Topic 1.1 Distribution, Status, and Key Forest Ecosystems in Asia.pdf Download Topic 1.1 Distribution, Status, and Key Forest Ecosystems in Asia.pdf

Self-test Quiz (For certificate learning only)

After viewing lecture PPT presentation for this topic, take 10 minutes to take this self-test quiz. It is intended to serve as a quick check points of your learning progress about the factual content for this topic. Immediate feedback or answer key will be provided after your attempt. Click Self-test Quiz 1.1 to start.

Online Discussions (For certificate learning only)

Each week you will participant in the topic discussions of the week. The purpose of these discussions is to enable you to critically discuss and apply the core concepts you learned each week. Each online weekly topic discussion will include two parts: 1) your initial response to topic discussion questions posted by the instructor; and 2) your peer comment on other peer posts. Instructor will post one or two discussion questions related to the assigned module and topic every week. Response to these online discussion question and subsequent peer comment on these responses is mandatory. By doing this, you will enhance your knowledge through multiple perspectives posted by your peers. These questions will be focused on the most important aspect of the assigned module and topic and reflection on how you can apply these concept and tools from the assigned module and topic in your own context. For detailed requirements and grading rubric go to Online Discussions page.

To join the online topic discussions for this week go to Online Topic Discussion 1.1.

Graded Assignment for the Week (For certificate learning only)

NA.