Asia (ASI)

Asia is the largest continental region on Earth by land area and contains an exceptional range of climates, landscapes, ecosystems and species. Its geography extends from Arctic environments in the north to equatorial forests and coral-rich tropical seas in the south, and from major continental deserts and grasslands to some of the world's highest mountains, largest rivers and extensive coastal wetlands.

For the Earth Resource Map (ERM), Asia is understood primarily as a natural and ecological region rather than simply a collection of countries. Its mountains, forests, deserts, grasslands, rivers, wetlands, lakes, islands, coastal environments and surrounding seas form interconnected systems that influence biodiversity, water, soils, climate and the distribution of natural resources.

At a glance

Measure	Asia
Area	Approximately 44.58 million km² (17.21 million sq mi)
Continental position by area	1st
Population	Approximately 4.69 billion (2021)
Population density	Approximately 100 people/km²
Share of world population	Approximately 59.5% in 2021
ERM focus	Land, water, biodiversity, ecosystems, species, natural resources and environmental change

Area and population figures depend on the geographic definition and dataset used.

A continent of extreme environmental diversity

Asia contains some of the strongest contrasts in terrestrial and aquatic environments found anywhere on Earth.

The continent includes:

• high mountain systems and alpine environments

• extensive plateaus and uplands

• temperate, boreal and subtropical forests

• tropical rainforests

• monsoon forests

• grasslands and steppe

• deserts and semi-deserts

• large river basins

• freshwater lakes and wetlands

• mangroves and coastal wetlands

• tropical islands and archipelagos

• coral reef environments

• temperate and tropical coastal ecosystems

• extensive marine environments surrounding the continent.

This environmental diversity is strongly influenced by latitude, elevation, monsoon systems, ocean circulation, continentality and the distribution of mountain ranges.

The Himalaya and associated mountain systems are particularly important to the continent's environmental geography. They influence atmospheric circulation, rainfall patterns, snow and ice storage, river systems and downstream freshwater availability.

Asia's environmental systems are therefore highly connected. Water originating in mountain environments can move through rivers, wetlands and floodplains before reaching coastal and marine ecosystems. Forests influence rainfall, soil stability and water movement, while wetlands provide important freshwater and habitat functions.

The IPBES regional assessment of Asia and the Pacific considers terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine biodiversity and examines the relationships between ecosystems, biodiversity and nature's contributions across the region.

Mountains and high-elevation environments

Asia contains the world's highest mountain system, the Himalaya, together with extensive high-elevation landscapes across Central, East and South Asia.

Mountain environments create strong ecological gradients over relatively short distances. Temperature, precipitation, soils, vegetation and available habitat can change rapidly with elevation.

These environments contain:

• alpine meadows

• montane forests

• shrublands

• high-altitude grasslands

• glaciers and permanent snow

• mountain wetlands

• headwater streams

• steep river valleys.

Mountain ecosystems are particularly important for freshwater because precipitation and snow and ice storage feed numerous river systems.

The ecological importance of Asian mountains extends far beyond the highest peaks. Mountain catchments connect upland forests, soils and wetlands with downstream rivers, floodplains, lakes and coastal environments.

Deserts, drylands and grasslands

Large areas of Asia are characterised by arid and semi-arid climates.

The continent includes extensive deserts, including the Gobi, Taklamakan, Arabian, Karakum and Kyzylkum, together with surrounding semi-desert, shrubland and grassland environments.

Drylands can appear biologically sparse while supporting highly specialised ecological communities. Plants and animals living in these environments may depend on adaptations such as drought tolerance, seasonal growth, nocturnal activity, water storage or the ability to move between widely separated resources.

Asian grasslands and steppe ecosystems also provide important habitat for native plants, herbivores, predators, birds and soil organisms.

The condition of drylands is closely linked to vegetation cover, soil stability, rainfall variability, fire, grazing pressure and land-use change. Maintaining vegetation and soil structure helps reduce erosion and supports the ecological processes that allow dryland systems to recover after drought.

Forest ecosystems

Asia contains a wide range of forest types, from tropical forests in Southeast Asia to temperate and boreal forests farther north.

The region's forests include:

• tropical evergreen rainforest

• tropical seasonal forest

• mangrove forest

• subtropical forest

• temperate broadleaf forest

• temperate mixed forest

• coniferous forest

• boreal forest

• montane and cloud forests.

FAO's forest assessment records substantial forest cover across Asia, with approximately 20% of the region's land area classified as forest in 2020. The same dataset records substantial differences between forest types and regions, including naturally regenerating and planted forests.

Forests provide habitat for a large proportion of Asia's terrestrial biodiversity. They also influence carbon storage, soil formation, water movement, erosion and local and regional climate processes.

However, forest cover alone does not describe forest condition. A naturally regenerating forest, a plantation, a fragmented forest remnant and a highly degraded woodland may all be classified as forest while providing very different ecological functions.

Rivers, lakes and wetlands

Asia contains some of the world's largest and most ecologically significant river systems.

Major river basins include the:

• Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna

• Indus

• Yangtze

• Yellow River

• Mekong

• Irrawaddy

• Salween

• Amur

• Tigris–Euphrates

• Ob–Irtysh

• Yenisei

• Lena.

These systems connect mountains, forests, grasslands, agricultural landscapes, floodplains, wetlands, lakes, deltas and coastal environments.

Freshwater ecosystems are especially important for biodiversity. IUCN identifies Asia's rivers and wetlands as major centres of freshwater biodiversity, including highly diverse fish communities and globally important wetland systems. The Mekong basin, for example, is recognised as one of the world's most biodiverse river basins.

Wetlands occur across a wide climatic range, from high-altitude wetlands and inland lakes to floodplain wetlands, mangroves and coastal mudflats.

These ecosystems can store water, slow flows, filter sediments and nutrients, provide habitat and support ecological connections between land and water.

Water availability is highly uneven across Asia. FAO identifies increasing water stress, changing rainfall patterns, drought and pressure on freshwater resources as important environmental challenges across the Asia-Pacific region.

Coastal and marine environments

Asia has an extensive and environmentally diverse coastline extending across the Indian, Pacific and Arctic oceans and associated seas.

Coastal environments include:

• mangrove forests

• tidal mudflats

• saltmarshes

• estuaries

• lagoons

• seagrass meadows

• coral reefs

• rocky shores

• sandy beaches

• coastal forests

• shallow continental shelf ecosystems.

Tropical Southeast Asia contains particularly important coral reef and coastal ecosystems, while northern and temperate regions contain very different cold-water and seasonal marine environments.

Coastal systems connect terrestrial and marine resources. Rivers transport water, sediments and nutrients towards the coast, while wetlands and mangroves provide transitional habitat between freshwater, land and the sea.

UNEP identifies Asia-Pacific as containing substantial proportions of global biodiversity, tropical forests and coral reefs, demonstrating the region's importance within global natural systems.

Biodiversity

Asia contains some of the world's most biologically diverse environments.

Its geographical range includes major centres of plant, animal and fungal diversity, together with many species that occur only within particular islands, mountain systems, forests, river basins or other ecological regions.

The region supports diverse:

• flowering plants

• conifers and other gymnosperms

• ferns and other vascular plants

• fungi

• mammals

• birds

• reptiles

• amphibians

• freshwater fish

• marine species

• invertebrates

• soil organisms.

IUCN identifies Asia as one of the world's highly biodiverse regions and documents pressures on species associated with habitat loss and degradation, fragmentation, unsustainable harvesting, invasive species, pollution and climate change.

Biodiversity is not restricted to protected areas. Species and ecological communities occur throughout forests, agricultural landscapes, rivers, wetlands, grasslands, deserts, coastlines and modified environments.

Soils and natural resources

Asia contains a broad range of soils associated with its different climates, geological formations, vegetation communities and landforms.

Examples include:

• fertile river and delta soils

• tropical soils

• volcanic soils

• mountain soils

• desert soils

• steppe soils

• peat soils

• saline soils

• coastal sediments.

Soil is a living natural resource rather than simply a growing medium. It contains minerals, organic matter, microorganisms, fungi, roots and soil fauna that interact with water and vegetation.

Soil condition influences:

• plant growth

• nutrient cycling

• water infiltration

• erosion

• carbon storage

• decomposition

• habitat quality

• agricultural productivity.

Asia's natural-resource systems also include forests, freshwater, fisheries, soils, minerals, biological resources and marine resources. Sustainable management depends on understanding how extraction or land-use change affects the wider ecological system rather than treating each resource independently.

FAO identifies integrated management of soil, water, forests, biodiversity and other natural resources as an important component of environmental resilience across Asia and the Pacific.

Environmental change

Asia contains many ecosystems experiencing environmental change at the same time.

Major environmental pressures documented across the region include:

• habitat loss and fragmentation

• forest degradation and conversion

• freshwater depletion and alteration

• wetland loss and degradation

• soil degradation and erosion

• pollution

• invasive species

• unsustainable harvesting

• overexploitation of natural resources

• biodiversity decline

• changing temperature and rainfall patterns

• increasing climate-related extremes.

These pressures do not affect every part of Asia equally. Environmental conditions vary considerably between ecosystems, climatic zones and subregions.

The IPBES Asia-Pacific assessment identified changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functions across terrestrial, freshwater and coastal systems and examined both direct and indirect drivers of environmental change.

The appropriate response therefore depends on the ecosystem and resource being considered. A desert, rainforest, river, wetland, mountain meadow and coral reef cannot be managed using the same assumptions.

Conservation and restoration

Asia contains an extensive network of protected and conserved areas covering terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine environments.

The World Database on Protected Areas currently records more than 36,000 protected areas across its Asia & Pacific regional profile, although regional datasets and geographic definitions differ and should be checked before comparing figures.

Protected areas can conserve habitat, maintain ecological processes, protect watersheds and provide refuges for species. However, conservation is not limited to formally protected areas.

Ecological restoration can also contribute to recovery by improving:

• native vegetation

• soil condition

• river function

• wetland condition

• forest structure

• habitat connectivity

• coastal ecosystems

• degraded landscapes.

FAO's regional biodiversity work includes ecosystem restoration, forest and landscape restoration, sustainable wildlife management and biodiversity integration within agricultural systems.

For ERM, conservation information should therefore record what is being protected, where it occurs, which ecological processes are involved, what pressures exist and what evidence supports the recommended action.

ASI geographic index

• Afghanistan (AF)

• Armenia (AM)

• Azerbaijan (AZ)

• Bahrain (BH)

• Bangladesh (BD)

• Bhutan (BT)

• Brunei (BN)

• Cambodia (KH)

• China (CN)

• Cyprus (CY)

• Georgia (GE)

• Hong Kong (HK)

• India (IN)

• Indonesia (ID)

• Iran (IR)

• Iraq (IQ)

• Israel (IL)

• Japan (JP)

• Jordan (JO)

• Kazakhstan (KZ)

• Kuwait (KW)

• Kyrgyzstan (KG)

• Laos (LA)

• Lebanon (LB)

• Macau (MO)

• Malaysia (MY)

• Maldives (MV)

• Mongolia (MN)

• Myanmar (MM)

• Nepal (NP)

• North Korea (KP)

• Oman (OM)

• Pakistan (PK)

• Palestine (PS)

• Philippines (PH)

• Qatar (QA)

• Saudi Arabia (SA)

• Singapore (SG)

• South Korea (KR)

• Sri Lanka (LK)

• Syria (SY)

• Taiwan (TW)

• Tajikistan (TJ)

• Thailand (TH)

• Timor-Leste (TL)

• Türkiye (TR)

• Turkmenistan (TM)

• United Arab Emirates (AE)

• Uzbekistan (UZ)

• Vietnam (VN)

• Yemen (YE)

References

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020). Global forest resources assessment 2020: Main report. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9825en

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2024). Managing water scarcity in Asia and the Pacific. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2026). Biodiversity. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2026). Climate action, biodiversity and natural resources management (NRM) in Asia and the Pacific. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. (2018). The IPBES regional assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Asia and the Pacific. IPBES Secretariat. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3237374

International Union for Conservation of Nature. (2026). Asia: A rich and dynamic region. IUCN.

International Union for Conservation of Nature. (2026). Water and wetlands. IUCN.

International Union for Conservation of Nature. (2026). Species. IUCN.

United Nations Environment Programme. (2018). Assessment report on biodiversity & ecosystem services in Asia and the Pacific: A primer. UNEP.

United Nations Environment Programme. (2026). Asia and the Pacific. UNEP.

UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. (2026). Protected Area Profile for Asia & Pacific from the World Database on Protected Areas, September 2026. Protected Planet.