Managing the environment for development and to sustain pro-poor growth

Environmental resources have made a substantial contribution to economic growth and poverty reduction in Asia. Natural assets, such as fertile soils, rivers and forests, are often critical for the livelihoods of poor people, This article shows how resourceintensive development in Asia has been achieved at significant environmental cost. Environmental problems such as deforestation, pressure on water supplies, and pollution from industry place real limits on further economic growth and increase the region's already high vulnerability to natural disasters. The challenge for governments and policy makers is to use natural wealth to generate growth and enable poor people to benefit from this growth, while at the same time sustaining its capacity to produce these benefits in the future. The article argues that progress can be advanced through international partnerships which build on existing initiatives in a number of areas including climate change, sustainable forestry and fishing, disaster preparedness and pro-poor conservation.