4th Asian Wetland Symposium   

The theme for AWS 2008, “Wetlands – the Heart of Asia,” sought to reflect the importance of wetlands to the lives of people throughout Asia. Wetlands provide food for the majority of people in Asia; with rice serving as a major part of the region’s staple diet. Wetlands have spiritual and religious significance for Asian people and host a wide variety of plant and animal species that form an important component of global diversity. Asian countries, especially those in the South and Southeast, are prone to natural disasters such as typhoons and tsunamis. Wetlands have proven to act as soft dikes to mitigate the impacts of these natural disasters. They will also be vital in facing the climate change challenges of today’s world.