Forests are vital to the well-being of rural populations, particularly indigenous communities, smallholders, those living in close proximity to forests, and those who make use of trees outside forests. In Oceania, forests comprise 70% of the limited land area of small island states. Over 450 million Asians live in or around tropical forests and savannahs, and of them, 84 million live in extreme poverty.
An estimated 210 to 260 million people living in Asia and Oceania identify as indigenous or tribal. Indigenous cultures typically aspire to remain distinct culturally, institutionally and geographically. They usually live within or maintain an attachment to geographically distinct ancestral territories. Their traditional knowledge is locally adapted and deeply connected with nature. Indigenous livelihoods respect and protect natural resources. As they represent a small portion of the region’s population, many are struggling to sustain their socio-cultural integrity.