Abstract
Pulp manufacturing in Southeast Asia, until recently, drew much of the needed fiber from waste paper and agricultural wastes. However, wood-based pulp production has increased such that millions of hectares of primary and secondary tropical rainforest have been cleared. This transition is examined by looking at the operations of a number of pulp and paper companies operating in Southeast Asia, and the sustainability of such practices is critiqued. The prospects for revitalizing non-wood pulp and paper manufacturing in the region are addressed.