{ Editor ’ s NOTE
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{ Editor ’ s NOTE
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In this special Green Edition of ASIAN Geographic , we continue our series of “ colour editions ” with a look at all things green in Asia .
In more ways than one , green is the colour of the continent . Much of Asia is situated in the tropics and subtropics – nearly all of West , South and Southeast Asia , and a good portion of East Asia – with lush greenery being the distinguishing characteristic of so many of its constituent countries . If you don ’ t believe us , just check out this issue ’ s Picturesque column , “ Green Dreams ” ( page 10 ).
But Asia has another association with green that you might not have considered . If green is the colour of the religion of Islam (“ Why so Green ?”, page 24 ) then Asia is also very green indeed : More than 60 percent of the world ’ s roughly two billion Muslims live here , mostly in seven countries – Indonesia , Pakistan , India , Bangladesh , Turkey , Iran and China .
Of course , “ green ” has another connotation that must not be ignored : Environmental issues are already affecting Asia disproportionately . Most significantly , the effects of a warming world are being felt in the region ’ s most isolated corners : We consider the impact on Pakistan ’ s glaciers (“ The Karakoram Anomaly Decoded ”, page 30 ) and on the permafrost in the northern Russian Far East (“ Life on the Edge ”, page 52 ). And just as importantly , as Asia faces the world ’ s most serious water crisis , there is much we must do to secure the region ’ s water future (“ Green Water Revolution ”, page 74 ).
Taken together , these different shades of green matter a great deal to our region , and I hope this edition helps you to “ think green ” a little more – whether it ’ s using less water , considering your Muslim neighbours , or making your next vacation an ecotourism adventure .
Ian Bongso-Seldrup