In the context of Strategy 2020 and in the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), ADB prepared the report Environment Operational Directions, 2013–2020. The report aims to provide a coherent overview of its environment operations and to articulate how it will step up efforts to help the region achieve a transition to environmentally sustainable growth or green growth. Building on ADB sector and thematic plans, this paper provides a brief review of recent ADB experience in environment operations, and identifies effective approaches for the development of “greener” country partnership strategies, investment projects, and associated knowledge and technical assistance activities. The paper is aligned with key elements of relevant ADB sector and thematic operational plans, particularly for sectors where environmental sustainability is a priority. These include the Sustainable Transport Initiative Operational Plan, the Urban Operational Plan, the Water Operational Plan, the Energy Policy, and the Sustainable Food Security Plan, as well as the Climate Change Strategic Priorities.

This publication provides an overall picture of forest concession estates in Indonesia that can be used as a reference of policy making in forestry. The statistical data on forest concession estates covers active forest concession estates during 2012 in Indonesia.

The widespread loss of natural ecosystems and biodiversity is much more than a conservation issue. Natural ecosystems provide socially and economically valuable services--such as food and fiber resources, clean water and climate regulation--that are fundamental to human welfare, but are often overlooked in decision-making processes. Produced through a partnership between ADB and WWF International, this report provides examples of promising approaches for sustainably managing natural capital in the region. These are based on experiences from four important regional cooperation initiatives, which demonstrate the commitment of the participating governments to protecting the integrity of natural ecosystems while improving livelihoods and reducing poverty.

The annual Asian Development Outlook, generally launched in April, presents an analysis of developing Asia's recent economic performance plus its prospects for the next two years. This Update shows whether these forecasts were met, explaining divergence between forecasts and the actual outturn, and firms the forecasts for the next 18 months or so. Asian Development Outlook 2011 Update: A Look at Aging Asia The Update expects developing Asia to sustain its robust growth over the next 2 years, despite the tepid outlook for the United States, the eurozone, and Japan. The region will be buttressed by healthy domestic demand and buoyant intraregional trade. Managing inflation has to be a key focus for policy makers, to allow for inclusive growth. Such growth includes the elderly, who are all too often left behind as Asia's traditional family networks weaken. As the elderly will form an ever-larger share of the regions population over the next few decades, states will have to ensure their economic security—and meet the wider economic implications for society.