Oxford Monographs on Biogeography
1 primary work
Book 5
Malaysia is one of the world's most biologically diverse regions, but in recent years vast tracts of its forests have been cleared or degraded, with serious human and environmental consequences. This work explores four closely related themes. First it describes the country's forests and the abundance and diversity of their flora and fauna; secondly, it outlines the processes and policies by which human activity has altered these forests since the early 19th century; thirdly, it examines some of the environmental, biological and cultural consequences of such changes both past and present; and finally, it looks at what has been done to conserve the region's natural wealth and recommends changes that could put Malaysia on the path to a more sustainable future.