Library Guides: Biomes & Food Security: Biomes of South-East Asia

Read through the resources below to learn more about the global region of South-East Asia and its biomes.

South-East Asia (Ducksters, n.d.)

Southeast Asia is located, just like it sounds, in the southeast portion of the continent of Asia. Read through this website to learn more about this global region.

South-East Asian countries (Northern Illinois University, n.d.)

This online directory lists the countries of South-East Asia and provides links to information about each country.

South-East Asia (Britannica, n.d.)

Southeast Asia, is a vast region of Asia situated east of the Indian subcontinent and south of China. It consists of two dissimilar portions: a continental projection (commonly called mainland Southeast Asia) and a string of archipelagoes to the south and east of the mainland (insular Southeast Asia). Extending some 700 miles (1,100 km) southward from the mainland into insular Southeast Asia is the Malay Peninsula; this peninsula structurally is part of the mainland, but it also shares many ecological and cultural affinities with the surrounding islands and thus functions as a bridge between the two regions. Read through this article to learn more.

Introduction to South-East Asia (Centre for Global Education, n.d.)

Southeast Asia consists of eleven countries that reach from eastern India to China, and is generally divided into “mainland” and “island” zones. The mainland (Burma, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam) is actually an extension of the Asian continent. Read through this website to learn more.

South Asian rainforest biome (Blue Planet Biomes, n.d.)

The Southeast Asian rainforests are the oldest, consistent rainforests on Earth, dating back to the Pleistocene Epoch 70 million years ago. It has a biological richness and diversity unequaled by that of the Amazon or African rainforests. Yet Southeast Asia is losing its rainforests faster than any equatorial region, and has the fewest remaining primary rainforests. It is projected that most of the primary rainforests of Southeast Asia will be destroyed in the next 10 years. Read through this website to learn more.

South-East Asia (Global Victoria, n.d.)

Southeast Asia is diverse and complex, accounting for 11 different economies, which all share a vibrancy that can be seen in the region’s young and increasingly urbanised, connected and educated populations. Read through this website to learn more about the South-East Asia region and its connection and influences on Victoria.

South-East Asia: Indonesia and Malaysia (World Wildlife Fund, n.d.)

Borneo Lowland Rain Forests are the richest rainforests in the world and rival the diversity of New Guinea and the Amazon. Read through this fact sheet to learn more about the rainforests of South-East Asia, including the biodiversity they contain and the threats they face.

South-East Asia: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand (World Wildlife Fund, n.d.)

The Southeastern Indochina Dry Evergreen Forests [IM0210] ecoregion occurs in a broad band across northern and central Thailand into Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Dry evergreen forest is more appropriately called semi-evergreen forest because a significant proportion of canopy tree species are deciduous at the height of the dry season. Read through this fact sheet to learn more.

Welcome to Malaysia by Grace Pundyk
Publication Date: 2004
From the Orang Asli and other indigenous peoples to the non-bumiputera Chinese and Indians - Malaysia is a country of many different cultures and ethnic groups. Join this voyage of discovery and take a closer look at the lives of the Malaysians and the land of longhouses, leatherbacks, rafflesia, and the Rajang River.
Culture in Thailand by Melanie Guile
Publication Date: 2003
Looks at a vibrant and diverse culture that is quite different from any other, despite foreign influences. Learn about Thailand's ethnic groups and their distinctive ways of life. Read about the many festivals and holidays celebrated by devout but fun-loving Thais.
Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific realm by Bruce McClish
Publication Date: 2008
Southeast Asia and the Pacific Realm is a region dominated by islands, including the continent of Australia. Its landscapes range from tropical rainforests to dry deserts and active volcanoes, and to the south is the icy continent of Antarctica. How is this diverse region of sharp cultural contrasts meeting the challenges of the 21st century?
Indonesia and Jakarta by Louise Spilsbury
Publication Date: 2014
Geography series that explores some of the fastest-developing countries and cities in the world and assesses how they are dealing with the challenges of the 21st century. Topics looked at include: population structure, the economy, environmental sustainability and the outlook for the future. Each title also features a closer look at an individual city within the country.
Culture in Indonesia by Melanie Guile
Publication Date: 2002
Looks at the diverse culture of Indonesia, a nation made up of hundreds of distinct peoples with their own homelands, customs, traditions and cultures.
The arts by Trisha Sertori
Publication Date: 2007
Fascinating account of life in the Indonesian archipelago. The series offers valuable insights into the daily life, culture, traditions and beliefs of the Indonesian people. Learn about the history that shaped the modern nation and the people, landscape, plants and animals that make Indonesia one of the most culturally diverse countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The islands by Trisha Sertori
Publication Date: 2007
Fascinating account of life in the Indonesian archipelago. The series offers valuable insights into the daily life, culture, traditions and beliefs of the Indonesian people. Learn about the history that shaped the modern nation and the people, landscape, plants and animals that make Indonesia one of the most culturally diverse countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Indonesia : islands of the imagination by Michael Vatikiotis & Jill Gocher
Publication Date: 2005
Indonesia's stunning beauty and diversity is captured in this book and for the first time, the frequent traveller, or the complete stranger can enjoy this illustrated introduction to Indonesia's wondrous complexity.
Cambodia by Dayaneetha de Silva
Publication Date: 2000
Once the seat of the glorious Khmer Empire, Cambodia has, since the 1970s, been plagued by civil war, starvation, poverty, and genocide. Today, Cambodians are working together to rebuild their country and restore their culture. From the ancient splendour of Angkor Wat to the graceful movements of the apsaras, from saffron-robed Buddhist monks to the magic of the achar,|and from the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge to the suffering of land mine victims, this volume traces the history of a resilient people on the road to a peaceful future.
Vietnam by Charlotte Guillain
Publication Date: 2012
Vietnam is a beautiful country that has recovered from the destruction of war to become an exciting nation. It lies in the eastern part of Southeast Aisa. Much of Vietnam is countryside, filled with stunning forests, coastlines, mountains and paddy fields. Some of the world's rarest animals live in Vietnam.
Vietnam by Melanie Guile
Publication Date: 2001
Australia is tucked away at the bottom of the Earth, surrounded by lonely oceans, but to the north-west strings of islands jostle together in the warm seas. If you follow these islands on a map, they lead your eye across Indonesia up the Malay Peninsula to Indo-China, which juts into the South China Sea. Here lies Vietnam, a thin sliver of land on the eastern coast of South-East Asia.
Vietnam by Nick Ray
Publication Date: 2009
Experience the best of Vietnam with Lonely Planet. Our 10th edition is so full of practical information that you'll be watching the sunset from a junk on Halong Bay, sucking back "bia hoi" street-side in Hanoi, or bargaining like a local in Ho Chi Minh City in no time.|In This Guide: Detailed itineraries on beaches, food, the Ho Chi Minh Highway and more -- Comprehensive information on everything from food and language to health and transport -- Full-Color chapter on the hill tribes of Vietnam
Philippines by Michael Burgan
Publication Date: 2012
As an island nation, the Philippines has no land borders with any other countries. Its closest neighbours are Malaysia (to the southwest), Indonesia (to the south), and China and Taiwan (to the north). The Philippines is part of a region called Southeast Asia.
Indonesia by Carmel Reilly
Publication Date: 2010
Provides a comprehensive outline of the land, history, government, people and culture of Indonesia. Indonesia's relationship with Australia is detailed, from colonial days until today. Daily life in Indonesia is also explored through the eyes of Indonesian children.
Thailand by Andrew Einspruch
Publication Date: 2007
Discover what life is like in Thailand as you read about its history, language, customs and traditions. Find out about Thailand's best known landmarks and its unique plants and animals. Learn about life in the towns and in the country, and the many different peoples that live there.
Malaysia by Anand Radhakrishnan
Publication Date: 2003
Located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has some of the largest and most spectacular limestone caves and some of the oldest rain forests in the world. Once a British colony, the country has developed into an important economic hub and is now the world's largest producer of rubber and palm oil. From the imposing Petronas Towers, to the traditional longhouse, from the indigenous people of East Malaysia to the city dwellers of Kuala Lumpur, and from the talents of P. Ramlee to sepak takraw, this book introduces a nation forging ahead to a bright future.
Indonesia by Carmel Reilly
Publication Date: 2009
Looks at the cultures of people from Indonesia from a young person's point of view. Each young person describes his or her family background; some difficulties he or she or his or her parents or grandparents faced on arrival in Australia; and his or her cultural traditions, including the arts, festivals and food.
Thailand by Scott Bridie
Publication Date: 2002
Thailand stands alone in the fact that it has never been colonised by the empires of Europe. There is a deep reverence for the monarchy. King Bhumipol, the longest reigning monarch in the world occupies an unchallenged position. The Chakri Dynasty, of which he is the ninth King, boasts many famous reformers. They have their own unique language, both written and spoken, and their special version of Buddhism.
Singapore by Elizabeth Onslow
Publication Date: 2002
The Republic of Singapore stands today as an example of what can be achieved in a very short time by people with a|single-minded dedication and national unity. A tiny nation in both population and area terms, Singapore's presence and stature are|much greater than these statistics would lead observers to expect. In just thirty-five years Singapore has developed from a former|British colony and trading port into the key financial, shipping and technology centre for South-east Asia. The huge problems of racial|tension, povery and poor environment that existed in the 1960s have been conquered to a large extent. In the early twenty-first|century Singapore is experiencing a slowing down of its phenomenal growth. Even so, it remains an economic powerhouse in the|Asia-Pacific region. It is expected that financial services and high-technology research and manufacturing will dominate its future.
Malaysia by Michael Andrews
Publication Date: 2002
Malaysia was created in the 1960s from a group of former British colonies on the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. One of the least populous of all Asian nations, most of its citizens enjoy a relatively high standard of living. Economic and political stability have encouraged many large corporations to establish factories in Malaysia in the past thirty years. The population is predominantly indigenous Malay, with significant Chinese and Indian minorities. It is one of the more successful examples of transition from European colonialism to independence.