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BRUNEI
Brunei Darussalam Forest Figures
Forest CoverTotal 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, 2000-2005Annual 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 ClassificationPublic: 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 BreakdownTotal area: 278,000 ha Primary: 278,000 ha Modified natural: n/a Semi-natural: n/a Production plantation: n/a Production plantation: n/a
PlantationsPlantations, 2005: n/a % of total forest cover: n/a Annual change rate (00-05): n/a
Carbon storageAbove-ground biomass: 63 M t Below-ground biomass: 15 M t
Area annually affected byFire: n/a Insects: n/a Diseases: n/a
Number of tree species in IUCN red listNumber of native tree species: 2,000 Critically endangered: 37 Endangered: 24 Vulnerable: 31
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.
Experts: Borneo in urgent need of protection
(05/23/2007) A prominent group of 1500 scientists in over 70 countries have called for the urgent conservation of Borneo's forests, which are fast-disappearing on the southeast Asian island due to logging, fires, and conversion for oil palm plantations.
U.S. supports "Heart of Borneo" conservation initiative
(08/02/2006) Tuesday, the U.S. State Department issued a statement supporting the "Heart of Borneo" conservation initiative that will protect 220,000 square kilometers of tropical rainforest across Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
Nigeria has worst deforestation rate, FAO revises figures
(11/17/2005) Nigeria has the world's highest deforestation rate of primary forests according to revised deforestation figures from the the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
US ranks #7 in global forest loss, Cambodia has worst deforestation rate
(11/16/2005) Cambodia has the world's highest deforestation rate, Brazil loses the largest area of forest annually, and Congo consumes more bushmeat than any other tropical country. These are among the findings from mongabay.com's analysis of new deforestation figures from the United Nations.
