Why Protecting Nature in Asia Is Important

Asia is home to some of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, ranging from lush tropical rainforests and mangrove swamps to coral reefs, mountains, rivers, and coastal waters. These ecosystems are not only biologically rich, they also provide fundamental services that support human well-being, economic activity and climate stability. However, this extraordinary natural wealth is under unprecedented threat due to rampant deforestation, unsustainable development, overfishing, mining, and other forms of ecosystem degradation. Without decisive action, these trends risk irreversibly degrading the very foundation of life and livelihoods across the region.

One of the key reasons protecting nature in Asia matters is because biodiversity supports the basic needs of billions of people. Healthy forests and seas are essential for food security, clean water, medicine, and cultural identity for countless communities — including Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) who have stewarded ecosystems for generations. Many people in Asia depend directly on natural resources for their daily survival, making biodiversity loss not just an environmental issue, but a socio-economic crisis as well. 

Beyond local and regional needs, Asia’s ecosystems play a critical global role in regulating the Earth’s climate. Forests, peatlands and mangroves store vast amounts of carbon, helping to moderate global temperatures and reduce the impacts of climate change. Marine ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass beds support fish populations and act as buffers against storms and sea-level rise. In a world already experiencing more extreme weather and warming, keeping these natural carbon sinks intact is vital. 

Yet, despite the obvious benefits, legal protections for nature in many parts of Asia remain limited or poorly enforced. Laws are often aspirational rather than binding, and there are significant gaps in how national policies translate into real-world conservation outcomes. Weak legal frameworks make it easier for short-term economic interests to take precedence over long-term ecological health, leading to loss of habitats, species decline, and weakened natural resilience.

Another reason nature protection is important is that ecosystem decline disproportionately affects marginalized and vulnerable communities. IPLCs, small-scale fishers, farmers, and rural populations are typically the most reliant on natural resources but also the least able to cope with environmental damage. Strengthening legal protections helps ensure that conservation efforts are not only effective, but also equitable — recognising local rights, knowledge and leadership in managing natural assets. 

Protecting nature in Asia also aligns with global commitments such as the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30×30 goal, which aims to conserve at least 30% of land and marine areas by 2030. Translating such international pledges into enforceable national law is key to achieving measurable, long-lasting conservation outcomes. Legal innovation, therefore, is not an abstract ideal but a practical necessity for making conservation binding and economically viable.

Conserving Asia’s natural heritage is crucial not only for protecting species and habitats, but for sustaining human health, supporting equitable livelihoods, stabilising the climate, and ensuring resilient ecosystems for future generations. Strengthening legal frameworks and empowering local communities are essential steps toward these goals.