South and Southeast Asia REDD+ Atlas

The atlas is a cooperative agreement between Winrock International and the LEAF program, with the goal of providing a comprehensive overview of the region's forest cover, carbon stocks, and emissions. Regional statistics indicate that South and Southeast Asia have significant forest cover, with an estimated 1.3 billion hectares of forestland. However, forest cover in protected areas is relatively low, at around 10%. Gross forest cover loss between 2000 and 2005 was estimated at 1.4 million hectares per year. Biomass carbon stocks in the region are estimated to be around 45 billion metric tons, while carbon emissions from deforestation are estimated to be around 1.3 billion metric tons per year. Several factors contribute to regional circumstances, including elevation, roads, settlements, climate, soil nutrient availability, and rural population growth. Elevation ranges from sea level to over 4,000 meters, with roads and settlements concentrated in lower-elevation areas. Climate varies from tropical to temperate, with soil nutrient availability and rural population growth also playing significant roles. Forest threats in the region include deforestation, forest degradation, and land conversion for agriculture and urbanization. Analysis #1: Forest and Carbon Stocks indicates that forest cover and carbon stocks are closely linked, with areas of high forest cover also having high carbon stocks. Analysis #2: Forest and Agriculture Suitability suggests that forest areas are often unsuitable for agriculture due to soil and climate conditions. The atlas also provides a detailed analysis of Cambodia, with national statistics indicating that forest cover is around 60% of the country's land area. Forest cover in protected areas is relatively high, at around 30%. Gross forest cover loss between 2000 and 2005 was estimated at 0.4 million hectares per year. Biomass carbon stocks in Cambodia are estimated to be around 2.5 billion metric tons, while carbon emissions from deforestation are estimated to be around 0.2 billion metric tons per year.