Belgium: Forest Cover, 2005
| Total Land Area (ha) | 3,028,000 | | Total Forest Area (ha) | 667,000 | | Percent Forest Cover | 22.03% | | Primary Forest Cover (ha) | - | | Primary Forest, % total forest | 0.00% | | Primary Forest, % total land | 0.00% | | Other wooded land (ha) | 27,000 |
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Belgium: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
| Primary forest (ha | %) | - | 0.0% | | Modified natural (ha | %) | - | 0.0% | | Semi-natural (ha | %) | 392,000 | 58.8% | | Production plantation (ha | %) | 275,000 | 41.2% | | Production plantation (ha | %) | - | 0.0% |
Belgium: Change in Forest Cover
| TOTAL FOREST COVER | | Forest 1990 (ha) | 677,000 | | Forest 2000 (ha) | 667,000 | | Forest 2005 (ha) | 667,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | (1,000) | -0.15% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | (10,000) | -1.48% | | Change in rate (%) | -100.00% | | PRIMARY FOREST COVER | | Primary 1990 (ha) | - | | Primary 2000 (ha) | - | | Primary 2005 (ha) | - | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | #DIV/0! | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | #DIV/0! | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | #DIV/0! | | Change in rate (%) | #DIV/0! | | OTHER WOODED LAND | | Other 1990 (ha) | 21,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 27,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 27,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 600 | 2.86% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 6,000 | 28.57% | | Change in rate (%) | -100.00% | | PLANTATIONS | | Other 1990 (ha) | 303,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 284,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 275,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | (1,900) | -0.63% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | (1,800) | -0.63% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | (28,000) | -9.24% | | Change in rate (%) | 1.07% | TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations | | Other 1990 (ha) | 395,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 410,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 419,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 1,500 | 0.38% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 1,800 | 0.44% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 24,000 | 6.08% | | Change in rate (%) | 15.61% |
Belgium: Primary
| Primary or "old-growth" vegetation | | Primary Forest 2005 (ha) | 0 | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | 0 | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | 0 | | Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) | 0.00% |
Belgium: Forest designation
| Ownership of forest land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 43.5% | | Private (%) | 56.5% | | Other (%) | 0.0% | | Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 38.9% | | Private (%) | 61.5% | | Other (%) | 0.0% | | Designated functions of forest – primary function 2005 | | Production (%) | - | | Protection (%) | - | | Conservation (%) | - | | Social Services (%) | - | | Multiple Services (%) | 100.0% | | None of Unknown (%) | - |
Belgium: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
| Forest Area annually affected by | | Fire (%) | 0.00% | | Insects (ha) | 3.00% | | Diseases (ha) | 3.75% | | Other (ha) | 6.00% |
Belgium: Protected areas
| Protected areas | | Biosphere reserves, 2005 | | Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 | 9 | | World Heritage sites, 2004 | 8 | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land | 0.0% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land | 0.00% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 | 2.72% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 | 0.71% |
Belgium: Biodiversity - Wildlife
| Amphibians | | total species | 17 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 0 | | Birds | | total species | 427 | | endemic species | 3 | | threatened species | 10 | | Mammals | | total species | 92 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 9 | | Reptiles | | total species | 12 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 0 | | Wildlife diversity | | total species | 548 | | endemic species | 3 | | threatened species | 19 |
Belgium: Biodiversity - Plants
| Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | 63.90% | | Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | 88.80% | | Number of Native tree species | | | Native tree species | 58 | | Number of tree species in IUCN red list | | Critically Endangered | | 0 | | Endangered | 0 | | Vulnerable | 0 | | Vascular Plant Species, 2004 | | Total | 1550 | | Number endemic | 1 | | Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 | | Species threatened | 0 |
Belgium: Value of forests
| Biomass stock in forest, 2005 | | Above-ground biomass (M t) | 104 | | Below-ground biomass (M t) | 26 | | Dead wood (M t) | 3 | | Total (M t) | 133 | | Carbon stock in forest, 2005 | | Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) | 52 | | Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) | 13 | | Carbon in dead wood (M t) | 1 | | Carbon in litter (M t) | 14 | | Soil carbon (M t) | 47 | | Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) | | 1990-2000 | 2,940 | | 2000-2005 | 2,980 | | Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) | | 1990-2000 | 4.69 | | 2000-2005 | 4.47 | | Wood removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) | 3,768 | | Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) | 600 | | Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) | 4,368 | | Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) | 3 | | Plant products 2005 | | Food (t) | - | | Fodder (t) | - | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) | - | | Ornamental plants (t) | - | | Exudates (t) | - | | Other plant products (t) | - | | Animal products 2005 | | Living animals (units) | - | | Hides, skins and trophies (units) | - | | Wild honey and bee-wax (t) | - | | Bush meat (t) | - | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Other edible animal products (t) | - | | Other non-edible animal products (t) | - | | Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (US$) | $132,766,000 | | Wood fuel (US$) | $9,091,000 | | Non-wood forest products (US$) | - | | Total value (US$) | $141,857,000 | | Total value ($USD/ha) | $213 | | Employment in forestry 2000 | | Total people employed | 4,000 |
Belgium : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
| Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 550 | | Imports | 28 | | Exports | 18 | | Consumption | 560 | | Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 3,950 | | Imports | 2,645 | | Exports | 883 | | Consumption | 5,712 | | Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 1,175 | | Imports | 2,007 | | Exports | 982 | | Consumption | 2,200 | | Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 2,758 | | Imports | 1,451 | | Exports | 2,879 | | Consumption | 1,330 | | Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | 490 | | Imports | 1,008 | | Exports | 658 | | Consumption | 840 | | Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | 1,710 | | Imports | 3,080 | | Exports | 2,244 | | Consumption | 2,546 |
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Belgium: Environment
| Environment - current issues | the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants | | Natural hazards | flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes |
Belgium: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 23.28%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 76.32%
note: includes Luxembourg (2001) | | Natural resources | construction materials, silica sand, carbonates |
Belgium: Economy
| Economy - overview: | This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004-05. | | GDP - per capita | $31,800 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 1.5% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 1.3%, industry: 24.7%, services: 74% (2004 est.) | | Industries | engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum | | Population below poverty line (%) | 4% (1989 est.) | | Debt - external | $980.1 billion (30 June 2005 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 est.) |
Belgium: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 10,364,388 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 0.15% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 342.3 | | Median age (years) | total: 40.55 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 1.64 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11% |
Largest Cities in Belgium
Cities and urban areas in Belgium with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Brussels | Belgium | 958800 | 1740300 |
| Antwerp | Belgium | 444100 | 947600 |
| Ghent | Belgium | 222400 | 222400 |
| Charleroi | Belgium | 201000 | 201000 |
| Liege | Belgium | 184300 | 619700 |
| Brugges | Belgium | 115400 | 115400 |
| Namur | Belgium | 106100 | 106100 |
 Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005) and the State of the World’s Forests (2005, 2003, 2001)
Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.
Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site
The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund
With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com
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