For the 640 million rural Asians living in poverty, ecosystems and natural resources are the livelihoods they depend on. These are also the people who are most affected when these ecosystems degrade, and least able to rebuild their lives when natural disasters strike. The case studies presented in this publication highlight the challenges faced by these poor and, often, resource-dependent households across Asia. Some case studies focus on the complex linkages between gender, poverty, and environment, and others on how human-ecosystem interactions can lead to the spread of disease. This publication hopes that its analysis of various Asian experiences will lead to improvements in both poverty alleviation efforts and ecosystem conservation.