rates of production and consumption of food from livestock (Steinfeld et al., 2006ab). The dynamic Asian livestock sec­tor is growing at a rate between 3.5 and 5% annually—more rapidly than crops such as cereals, vegetables and pulses— driven partly by increasing population, rising incomes and changes in consumer lifestyles.
     Livestock production in Asia and the Pacific grew rap­idly from 1992-1994 to 2002-2004, with the most rapid growth occurring in China, 93%; Viet Nam, 93%; and the Philippines, 79% (FAO, 2006b). For the region as a whole, all categories of livestock products grew rapidly. The most rapid production growth was in poultry, 83% and eggs, 78%. Rapid growth in poultry and egg production was widespread throughout the region. Production of milk ex­hibited strong growth in East Asia, 136%; Southeast Asia, 65%; South Southwest Asia, 52%; and the industrial econo­mies, 33%. Pork production grew 50% for the region, with strong growth in Southeast Asia, 55%; East Asia, 53%; and the Pacific Islands, 44%. Although most ESAP countries were technically capable of increasing production in meat, milk and eggs, most faced shortages of key feed ingredients. As a result, there was a large and burgeoning world trade in feed crops. On the other hand, the drive by livestock grow­ers to serve urban markets led to intensive production, with problems of livestock waste, land management and distribu­tion of meat products. Awareness increased of the potential for transmitting diseases from animals to humans, particu­larly with the bird flu, or avian influenza, crisis. Diseases affecting animals and humans could spread rapidly across the region, creating transboundary epidemics. Concerns re­mained about the rising demand for livestock feed, increased need for veterinary services and training, loss of genetic re­sources and need for extension for profitable livestock op­portunities for small-scale producers (FAO, 2006b). More than half the small-scale farmers in Asia rely on livestock as a major source of income and nutrition. However, small-scale producers have mostly not been a part of the rapid rise in intensive animal production (FAO, 2006b).
     In population, the figures from 1994 to 2004 for all the livestock and poultry species showed no definite trends. Ruminant numbers seemed not to have increased, except goats, which increased by almost 100 million over ten years. The number of buffalo declined by more than 10 million in ten years. Pigs and poultry, nonruminants, increased, with chickens increasing by almost 10 billion from 1994 to 2004. Growth in production of poultry and pork resulted in a growing shift away from pasture systems. As livestock production became more intensified, feed shifted from lo­cally available resources to commercial feed concentrates, particularly in pig and poultry production (Steinfield et al., 2006b).

1.2.1.5  Plant biodiversity
ESAP encompasses parts of three of the world's eight bio-geographic realms and includes the world's highest moun­tain  system, the  second largest rainforest complex and more than half the world's coral reefs. The rainforests of Southeast Asia contain more than 25,000 species of flow­ering plants, equivalent to about 10% of the flora of the world. The region as a whole encompasses two-thirds of the world's flora. Almost all nations in the region, except Singa-

pore and Brunei Darussalam, depend heavily on harvesting natural products directly.
     Flora and fauna of the region are increasingly threat­ened, but only a few countries have designated more than 15% of their land as protected areas. The drive for increased agricultural production has resulted in loss of genetic di­versity. The area of land under rice cultivation rose by only 25% between 1960 and 1970, although production rose by 77% by replacing traditional varieties with higher-yielding, semidwarf varieties. More than 100,000 varieties of rice were found in Asia early in the 20th century. In 2002 there were less than a dozen modern rice varieties being planted on 70% of land being cultivated for rice (Dano, 2002). In Indonesia, 1,500 varieties of rice disappeared from 1975 to 1990 (see subchapter 2.4.1).
     The Indo-West Pacific is the key area for shallow-water marine biodiversity. Coastal habitat loss and degradation, combined with increased sediment, nutrient and pollutant discharge into coastal areas, is a major cause of concern, particularly for the island countries. The rates of loss of coral reef and mangrove habitat in this region are among the highest in the world. Thailand alone lost about 0.2 mil­lion ha of mangrove forest from 1961 to 1993. Conversion of mangrove forest to shrimp aquaculture and the use of unsustainable fishing practices, such as blast fishing, were widespread.  However, the effects  of such unsustainable practices on regional biodiversity are difficult to quantify.
     Although terrestrial biodiversity loss has been a major concern, actual losses still have to be quantified. As much as 70% of major vegetation types in Indo-Malaya have been lost, with a possible associated loss of up to 15% of terres­trial species. Dry forests suffered 73 % loss and moist forests 69%, while wetlands, marsh and mangroves were reduced by 55%. Overall habitat losses were most acute in the coun­tries of the Indian subcontinent, the People's Republic of China, Thailand and Viet Nam (ESCAP, 1995b).
     The underlying causes of biological diversity loss in the region include international trade, particularly the trade in timber, which results in habitat loss; population growth, leading to accelerated rates of change in land use; poverty and demand for common access resources, leading to their unsustainable consumption; introduction of nonnative spe­cies, leading to destruction of predator and prey equilib­rium; and improper use of agrochemicals, leading to loss of aquatic species. Other major reasons include loss of keystone species, extensive deforestation and habitat loss, increased trafficking in animals and animal body parts, widespread conversion of land to agriculture and construction of large-scale dams.
     In response, national governments have implemented conventions related to biodiversity and are taking measures to protect biologically rich areas. Twenty-nine ESAP coun­tries had ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity by 1 May 1996. Several regional conventions covering parts of ESAP dealt with specific aspects of biological diversity; the most significant were the Convention on Conservation of Nature in the South Pacific (Apia Convention), the ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Re­sources (ASEAN Agreement), and the Convention on the Protection of the Natural Resources and the Environment of the South Pacific (SPREP Convention).