Switzerland Forest Information and Data

According to the U.N. FAO, 31.0% or about 1,240,000 ha of Switzerland is forested, according to FAO. Of this 3.2% ( 40,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Switzerland had 172,000 ha of planted forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Switzerland lost an average of 4,450 ha or 0.39% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Switzerland gained 7.7% of its forest cover, or around 89,000 ha.

Switzerland's forests contain 143 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass. Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Switzerland has some 513 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 0.0% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 2.5% are threatened. Switzerland is home to at least 3030 species of vascular plants, of which 0.0% are endemic. 28.7% of Switzerland is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

The following contains data relating to forest cover in Switzerland

Previous version of this profile (2009)

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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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Switzerland: Forest Cover, 2010 Total Land Area (1000 ha) 4000 Total Forest Area (1000 ha) 1240 Percent Forest Cover 31 Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) 40 Primary Forest, % total forest 3 Other wooded land (1000 ha) 71 Percent other wooded land 2 Switzerland: Breakdown of forest types, 2010 Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 40 3 Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 1028 83 Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) 172 14 Switzerland: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010 TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 1151 1194 1217 1240 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 4 5 5 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0.37 0.38 0.38 Switzerland: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010 FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 992 1029 1049 1068 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 4 4 4 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0.4 0.37 0.38 Switzerland: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010 PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 40 40 40 40 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0 0 0 Switzerland: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010 PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) 1990 2000 2005 2010 159 165 168 172 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 1 1 1 ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation 1990-2000 2000-2005 2005-2010 0.37 0.36 0.47 Switzerland: Primary designated function (percent) Production Protection of soil and water Conservation of biodiversity Social services Multiple use Other None or unknown 40 1 7 5 0 40 7 Switzerland: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent) OWNERSHIP PATTERN Public ownership Private ownership Other 68 32 0 PRIVATE OWNERSHIP Individuals Business entities and institutions Local, indigenous and tribal communities 87 13 0 HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS Public administration Individuals Business entities and Institutions Communities Other 7 0 15 72 7 Switzerland: Growing stock in forest GROWING STOCK IN FOREST Total (million m3) Per hectare (m3) Coniferous (million m3) Broadleaved (million m3) % commercial species 428 345 290 139 100 GROWING STOCK IN FOREST Total (million m3) Per hectare (m3) Coniferous (million m3) Broadleaved (million m3) % commercial species - - Switzerland: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010 CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (million metric tons) 1990 2000 2005 2010 126 136 139 143 CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (per hectare in tons) 2000 115 ANNUAL CHANGE (1 000 t/yr) 1990 2000 2005 2010 1 1 1 ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE (t/ha/yr) 1990 2000 2005 2010 n.s. n.s. n.s. Switzerland: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005 FOREST FIRE 1000 ha % wild fire (not managed burn) n.s. 100 EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE Insects Diseases Other biotic agents Abiotic factors Total (excluding fire) % of 2005 forest area 3 - - 0 - - Switzerland: Trends in removals of wood products 1990-2005 INDUSTRIAL ROUNDWOOD Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) 1990 2000 2005 percent of which from forest 2005 4406 5154 4544 100 WOODFUEL Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) 1990 2000 2005 percent of which from forest 2005 843 1144 1250 100 Switzerland: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005 Value of removals (million US$) Value per ha forest (US$) Industrial roundwood Woodfuel NWFP Total 248 44 - - - Switzerland: Employment in forestry 1990-2005 TOTAL (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 - - - IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 8 6 5 IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION (1000 full-time employees) 1990 2000 2005 - - - Switzerland: Forest policy and legal framework 2008 National forest policy (year): No (-) Sub-national forest policy: No National forest program (year) - status: Yes (2004) In implementation National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1991) Sub-national forest law: Yes Switzerland: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008 2000 2005 2008 # % female # % female # % female - - - - 360 15 Switzerland: Forest revenue and public expenditure on forestry 2005 Forest revenue Public expenditure (1000 US$) Domestic funding External funding Total (1000 US$) Operational expenditure Transfer payments Operational expenditure Transfer payments Operational expenditure Transfer payments - 2570 107936 0 0 2570 107936 Switzerland: 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] Switzerland: Environment Environment - current issues air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea Natural hazards avalanches, landslides, flash floods Switzerland: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 10.42% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 88.97% (2001) Natural resources hydropower potential, timber, salt Switzerland: Economy Economy - overview: Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004, and 1.2% in 2005. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average. GDP - per capita $35,000 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 1.2% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 1.5%, industry: 34%, services: 64.5% (2003 est.) Industries machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments Population below poverty line (%) NA Debt - external $856 billion (30 June 2005) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 4.6%, industry 26.3%, services 69.1% (1998) Switzerland: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 7,489,370 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 0.49% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 188.3 Percent rural (2003) 32.5% Median age (years) total: 39.77 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 1.42 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6% Largest Cities in Switzerland Cities and urban areas in Switzerland with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Zurich Switzerland 333400 965700 Geneva Switzerland 172800 172800 Basel Switzerland 161900 553300 Bern Switzerland 120200 120200 Lausanne Switzerland 114700 114700 Switzerland: Infrastructure Telephones - main lines in use 5.419 million (2002) Telephones - mobile cellular 6.172 million (2003) Roadways (km) total: 71,212 km paved: 71,212 km (including 1,706 of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (2002) Switzerland: Health Life expectancy at birth (years) total population: 80.39 years male: 77.58 years female: 83.36 years (2005 est.) Infant mortality rate 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) 0.4% (2001 est.) Switzerland : 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 Select a Country or Region INDEX Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Caribbean Cayman Islands Central African Republic Central America Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Cote d�Ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic DR Congo East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oceania Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Lucia Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South America South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States United States of America United States Virgin Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Vietnam Virgin Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Tropical rainforest information  World Rainforests  Rainforest Structure  Rainforest Biodiversity  Canopy  Forest Floor  Rainforest Waters  Indigenous People  Deforestation  Global Importance  Rainforest Conservation  Country Reports update soon  References  Deforestation Tables  The Amazon Rainforest update soon  The Congo Rainforest update soon  Deforestation in Brazil  Rainforest Images   Web mongabay.com Mongabay Rainforests Mongabay News Mongabay Photos