TROPICAL RAINFORESTS: Deforestation rates tables and charts

Congo Forest Information and Data

According to the U.N. FAO, 65.6% or about 22,411,000 ha of Congo is forested, according to FAO. Of this 33.2% ( 7,436,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Congo had 75,000 ha of planted forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Congo lost an average of 15,750 ha or 0.07% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Congo lost 1.4% of its forest cover, or around 315,000 ha.

Congo's forests contain 3,438 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Congo has some 970 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 0.7% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 2.0% are threatened. Congo is home to at least 6000 species of vascular plants, of which 20.0% are endemic. 14.1% of Congo is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

2011 Update

In May 2011, Sassan Saatchi of Caltech's Jet Propulsion Lab and colleagues published a paper in PNAS with
new carbon stock estimates for global tropical forests.

Forest definition (canopy cover %)10% tree cover25% tree cover30% tree cover
Forest Area (M ha)282423
Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C)3,2233,0152,982
Belowground forest carbon (Mt C)868802793
Total forest carbon (Mt C)4,0913,8173,775
Average Carbon Density (t C/ha)144160162
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values

Congo Environmental profile

The following contains data relating to forest cover in Congo

Previous version of this profile (2009)

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Deforestation | Primary forest | Planted forest | Forest designation | Forest ownership | Growing stock | Carbon stock | Disturbances affecting forest land | Removals | Removals Value | Employment | Forest policy | Human resources | Revenue | Agreements | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books










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Congo: Forest Cover, 2010
Total Land Area (1000 ha)34150
Total Forest Area (1000 ha)22411
Percent Forest Cover66
Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha)7436
Primary Forest, % total forest33
Other wooded land (1000 ha)10513
Percent other wooded land31




Congo: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area)743633
Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area)1490066
Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area)75n.s.


Congo: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
22726225562247122411
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-17-17-12
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-0.08-0.08-0.05


Congo: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
22675225052242022336
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-17-17-17
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-0.1-0.07-0.08


Congo: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
7548749274647436
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-6-6-6
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
-0.07-0.07-0.08


Congo: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha)
1990200020052010
51515175
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
005
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation
1990-20002000-20052005-2010
008.02


Congo: Primary designated function (percent)
ProductionProtection of soil and waterConservation of biodiversitySocial servicesMultiple useOtherNone or unknown
88040700


Congo: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
OWNERSHIP PATTERN
Public ownershipPrivate ownershipOther
10000


PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
IndividualsBusiness entities and institutionsLocal, indigenous and tribal communities
---


HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS
Public administrationIndividualsBusiness entities and InstitutionsCommunitiesOther
4205800
Congo: Growing stock in forest
GROWING STOCK IN FOREST
Total
(million m3)
Per hectare
(m3)
Coniferous
(million m3)
Broadleaved
(million m3)
% commercial species
4539203--30
GROWING STOCK IN FOREST
Total (million m3)Per hectare (m3)Coniferous (million m3)Broadleaved (million m3)% commercial species
47946


Congo: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons)
1990200020052010
3487346134483438
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons)
2000
153
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr)
1990200020052010
-3-3-2
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr)
1990200020052010
n.s.n.s.n.s.


Congo: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005
FOREST FIRE
1000 ha% wild fire (not managed burn)
--


EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE
InsectsDiseasesOther biotic agentsAbiotic factorsTotal (excluding fire)% of 2005 forest area
------


Congo: Trends in removals of wood products 1990-2005
INDUSTRIAL ROUNDWOOD
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark)
199020002005percent of which from forest 2005
111711891450100
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark)
199020002005percent of which from forest 2005
94212351317100


Congo: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$)
Value per ha forest
(US$)
Industrial roundwoodWoodfuelNWFPTotal
23221---


Congo: Employment in forestry 1990-2005
TOTAL
(1000 full-time employees)
199020002005
---
IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY
(1000 full-time employees)
199020002005
---
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees)
199020002005
---


Congo: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (2002)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (-) In formulation
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (2000) Sub-national forest law: No

Congo: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
200020052008
#% female#% female#% female
------


Congo: Forest revenue and public expenditure on forestry 2005
Forest revenuePublic expenditure (1000 US$)
Domestic fundingExternal fundingTotal
(1000 US$)Operational expenditureTransfer paymentsOperational expenditureTransfer paymentsOperational expenditureTransfer payments
47396------


Congo: Status of ratification of international conventions and agreements as of 1 January 2010
  • CbD:
  • UNFCCC:
  • Kyoto Protocol:
  • UNCCD:
  • ITTA:
  • CITeS:
  • Ramsar:
  • World Heritage Convention:
  • NlbI: [an error occurred while processing this directive] Congo: Environment
    Environment - current issuesair pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
    Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
    signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
    Natural hazardsseasonal flooding


    Congo: Land use / Resources
    Land use (%)arable land: 0.51%
    permanent crops: 0.13%
    other: 99.36% (2001)
    Natural resourcespetroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower


    Congo: Economy
    Economy - overview:The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that has contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near term prospects. The Republic of Congo may be eligible for an IMF-World Bank heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative in early 2006, provided it meets the strict fiscal and monetary targets set out for it under a new three-year PRGF with the IMF.
    GDP - per capita$800 (2005 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate (%)5.5% (2005 est.)
    Agriculture - productscassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products
    GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 6.7%, industry: 62.4%, services: 30.9% (2005 est.)
    Industries petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes
    Economic aid - recipient$159.1 million (1995)
    Debt - external$5 billion (2000 est.)
    Population below poverty line (%)NA


    Congo: Population / Demographics
    Percent rural (2003)46.5%


    Largest Cities in Congo

    Cities and urban areas in Congo with population over 100,000
    [For more population information including updated figures and a wider selection of cities please visit
    The World Gazetteer]

    --> All figures are estimates for 2002.

    CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
    BrazzavilleCongo11338001133800
    Pointe NoireCongo527700789400


    Congo: Infrastructure
    Telephones - main lines in use7,000 (2003)
    Telephones - mobile cellular330,000 (2003)
    Roadways (km)total: 12,800 km
    paved: 1,242 km
    unpaved: 11,558 km (1999)


    Congo: Health
    Life expectancy at birth (years)total population: 52.26 years
    male: 51.17 years
    female: 53.39 years (2005 est.)
    Infant mortality rate92.41 deaths/1,000 live births
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)4.9% (2003 est.)
    Major infectious diseasesdegree of risk: very high
    food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
    vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

    Congo : References & Data Sources
     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 & 2010) and the State of the World's Forests (2009, 2007, 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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