BRUNEI

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Brunei Darussalam Forest Figures

Forest Cover
Total forest area: 278,000 ha
% of land area: 52.8%

Primary forest cover: 278,000 ha
% of land area: 52.8%
% total forest area: 100.0%

Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005
Annual change in forest cover: -2,000 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -0.7%
Change in defor. rate since '90s: -13.1%
Total forest loss since 1990: -35,000 ha
Total forest loss since 1990:-11.2%

Primary or "Old-growth" forests
Annual loss of primary forests: -2000 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -0.7%
Change in deforestation rate since '90s: -13.1%
Primary forest loss since 1990: -10,000 ha
Primary forest loss since 1990:-11.2%

Forest Classification
Public: 100%
Private: 0%
Other: n/a
Use
Production: 62.6%
Protection: 6.8%
Conservation: 29.1%
Social services: 1.4%
Multiple purpose: n/a
None or unknown: n/a

Forest Area Breakdown
Total area: 278,000 ha
Primary: 278,000 ha
Modified natural: n/a
Semi-natural: n/a
Production plantation: n/a
Production plantation: n/a

Plantations
Plantations, 2005: n/a
% of total forest cover: n/a
Annual change rate (00-05): n/a

Carbon storage
Above-ground biomass: 63 M t
Below-ground biomass: 15 M t

Area annually affected by
Fire: n/a
Insects: n/a
Diseases: n/a

Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Number of native tree species: 2,000
Critically endangered: 37
Endangered: 24
Vulnerable: 31

Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood: 100,000 m3 o.b.
Wood fuel: n/a m3 o.b.

Value of forest products, 2005
Industrial roundwood: $3,160,000
Wood fuel: $2,000
Non-wood forest products (NWFPs): n/a
Total Value: $3,162,000


More forest statistics for Brunei Darussalam

Despite its size, Brunei supports a variety of forest types due to its varied topography and geology. Brunei's forests are largely intact (almost 100 percent are virgin, according to U.N. data), although environmentalists worry logging may increase in this tiny country's primary rainforests, especially once its offshore oil and gas reserves begin to wane. Currently, Brunei enjoys a high standard of living and is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that does not export timber. Recently the dry el Niño conditions contributed to the spread of fires sparked by slash-and-burn agriculture that burned more than 24,700 acres (10,000 hectares) of forest. Though forest burning has been banned since 1951, slash-and-burn agriculture is the primary means of clearing land for agriculture in Brunei. Breaking this forestry law is punishable by a maximum fine of $300. The government reacted to the fires by initiating a public-awareness campaign on fire safety and protecting forest biodiversity.

The government has otherwise made a strong commitment to conservation: more than 50 percent of the country is officially under some form of protection and the government has taken an active role in reducing logging activities. Brunei has some 6,000 species of plants, 455 birds, 157 mammals, and 73 reptiles.

Despite government efforts to prevent deforestation, Brunei lost 11.2 percent of its forests between 1990 and 2005.

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Suggested reading - Books
Unless otherwise specified, this article was written by Rhett A. Butler [Bibliographic citation for this page]

Other resources

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Last updated: 4 Feb 2006