This document provides information on Southeast Asia, including: 1) Agriculture is the most important economic activity in the region, with over 50% of land used for rice farming which thrives in the warm, wet climate. 2) Other key industries include rubber, forestry (teakwood, ebony, mahogany), mining (oil), and commercial/industrial sectors centered in cities like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. 3) Environmental issues like pollution, deforestation, and natural disasters such as volcanoes, floods, typhoons and the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami have severely impacted the region and its people.

1. Chapter 31 Notes
Southeast Asia Today

2. Agriculture
 Rice farming is most important activity in
region
 More than 50% of land is used in rice farming
 Grows well because of fertile soil, abundant
water supply, warm wet climate

3. Agriculture (Continued)
 Rubber is also important cash crop
 Brought to region from South America less
than 100 years ago

4. Forestry
 Teakwood, ebony, mahogany and bamboo are
important for economies of S.E. Asian countries.
 Logging causes deforestation and environmental
damage
 Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia have
passed laws to limit certain timber exports

5. Mining
 Oil is also important for region
 Indonesia is member of OPEC

6. Commercial and Industrial
Growth
• Singapore – important port because of its
location and good harbors
• Water transportation very important for region

7. Other Industrialized Countries
 Kuala Lumpur – Petronas Towers –
world’s tallest building until 2004

8. Less Industrialized Countries
 Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
 Effected by wars and political changes
 Most people do not work in industry

9. Thailand Housing

10. Thailand Market

11. ASEAN
 Association of Southeast Asian Nations
 Goal – to promote tourism in member
countries
 Lower trade barriers, share products during
shortages.

12. Environmental Pollution
 Rapid over population leads to air, water
and noise pollution

13. Volcanoes, Floods, Typhoons

14. Tsunamis
 Wave caused by Underwater Earthquake

15. Tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004

16. Effects of Tsunami in 2004
 Destroyed homes, businesses
 Killed hundreds of thousands of people
 Devastated land

17. Before Tsunami

18. After Tsunami

19. Before

20. After

21. Before

22. After

23. How does the tsunami effect the
lives of the people who live in
the region?
What about the people who do
not live in the region? How does
it effect them?