Deforestation Rates in
Central America

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Deforestation Figures for Central America


Forest figure highlights for Central America
  • 43.9% of Total Central America's land area, or about 22,411,000 hectares (86,529 square miles / 55,378,787 acres / 224,110 square kilometers [km]) is covered with forest according to FAO figures from 2005.
  • FAO estimates that around 0.0% of Total Central America's forest cover consists of "primary forest" which is relatively intact.
  • About 4.8% Total Central America's forest is classified as "protected" while about 37.8% is "conserved" according to FAO.
  • About 14.8% Total Central America's forests are classified as "production forest."
  • Between 2000-2005, Total Central America lost about 1,426,000 ha of forest. Total Central America's 2000-2005 total deforestation rate was about 1.3% per year meaning it lost an average of 285,000 ha of forest annually.
  • Total Central America's total deforestation rate from 1990-2000 was 380,000 ha or 1.6% per year.
  • The 2000-2005 true deforestation rate in Total Central America, defined as the loss of primary forest, is defined as the loss of primary forest, is not available from FAO data.

Other forest statistics for Central America

Extent of forest and other wooded land
Land Area
Forest 22 411 000 ha 43.9% of land area
Other wooded land 5 018 000 ha
Other land
Total 23 644 000 ha
with tree cover 449 000 ha
Inland water 1 087 000 ha
Total area 52 160 000 ha


Change in the extent of forest and other wooded land
Forest Cover
Forest Area
1990 27 639 000 ha
2000 23 837 000 ha
2005 22 411 000 ha
Annual change rate
1990-2000 -380 000 ha/yr -1.6%
2000-2005 -285 000 ha/yr -1.3%
Other wooded land area
1990 000 ha
2000 000 ha
2005 000 ha


Ownership of forest and other wooded land
Forest
Total 23 837 000 ha
Public 42.5%
Private 56.1 %
Other 1.4
Forest
Other wooded land
Total 4 673 000 ha
Public 45.6%
Private 54.2%
Other 0.2%


Designated function of forest � primary function
Forest
Total 22 411 000 ha
Production 14.8%
Protection 4.8%
Conservation 37.8%
Social services 0.2%
Multiple purpose 34.6%
None or unknown 7.8%


Designated function of forest � total area with function
Forest
Total area 22 411 000 ha
Production 000 ha
Protection 000 ha
Conservation 000 ha
Social services 000 ha


Characteristics of forest and other wooded land
Forest
Total area 22 411 000 ha
Primary 000 ha
Modified natural 000 ha
Semi-natural 000 ha
Production plantation 000 ha
Protection plantation 000 ha
Other wooded land
Total area 5 018 000 ha
Primary 000 ha
Modified natural 000 ha
Semi-natural 000 ha
Production plantation 000 ha
Protection plantation 000 ha


Change in extent of primary forest
Area of primary forest
1990 000 ha
2000 000 ha
2005 000 ha
% of total forest area
1990 %
2000 %
2005 %
Annual change rate
1990-2000 ha/yr
2000-2005 ha/yr


Change in extent of forest plantations
Area of forest plantations
1990 000 ha
2000 000 ha
2005 000 ha
% of total forest area
1990 %
2000 %
2005 %
Annual change rate
1990-2000 ha/yr
2000-2005 ha/yr


Growing stock in forest and other wooded land
Forest
Growing stock
Area 22 411 000 ha
By area 130 m3/ha
Total M m�
of which is commercial %
Other wooded land
Area 000 ha
Total growing stock m3/ha


Biomass stock in forest and other wooded land
Forest
Above-ground biomass Million tonnes (M t)
Below-ground biomass M t
Dead wood M t
Total M t
Other wooded land
Above-ground biomass (M t)
Below-ground biomass M t
Dead wood M t
Total M t


Carbon stock in forest and other wooded land
Forest
Carbon in above-ground biomass M t
Carbon in below-ground biomass M t
Carbon in dead wood M t
Carbon in litter M t
Soil carbon M t
Other wooded land
Carbon in above-ground biomass M t
Carbon in below-ground biomass M t
Carbon in dead wood M t
Carbon in litter M t
Soil carbon M t


Change in growing stock
Growing stock
Annual change rate
1990-2000 1000 m/yr
2000-2005 1000 m/yr
Growing stock per hectare
Annual change rate
1990-2000 1000 m/yr
2000-2005 1000 m/yr


Disturbances of forest and other wooded land
Forest
Area annually affected by
Total area 23 837 000 ha
Fire 000 ha
Insects 000 ha
Diseases 000 ha
Other 000 ha
Other wooded land
Area annually affected by
Total area 000 ha
Fire 000 ha
Insects 000 ha
Diseases 000 ha
Other 000 ha


Composition of growing stock and diversity of tree species




Growing stock composition
3 most common species % of total growing stock
10 most common species % of total growing stock
Number of native tree species species
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically endangered species
Endangered species
Vulnerable species


Removal of wood products
Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood 1000 m o.b.
Wood fuel 1000 m o.b.
Total wood removal
1990 1000 m o.b.
2000 1000 m o.b.
2005 1000 m o.b.
2005 % of growing stock


Removal of non-wood forest product
Plant products
Food (t) tonnes (t)
Fodder (t) tonnes (t)
Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) tonnes (t)
Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) tonnes (t)
Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) tonnes (t)
Ornamental plants (t) tonnes (t)
Exudates (t) tonnes (t)
Other plant products (t) tonnes (t)
Animal products
Living animals (units) units
Hides, skins and trophies (units) units
Wild honey and bee-wax (t) tonnes (t)
Bush meat (t) tonnes (t)
Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) tonnes (t)
Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) tonnes (t)
Other edible animal products (t) tonnes (t)
Other non-edible animal products (t) tonnes (t)


Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal
Industrial roundwood $ 000 (USD)
Wood fuel $ 000 (USD)
NWFP [Non-wood forest products] $ 000 (USD)
Total $ 000 (USD)
Total $ 000/hectare


Employment in forestry
1990
Total 000 person-years
2000
Total 000 person-years
Production 000 person-years
Provision of services 000 person-years
Unspecified


KEY: "-" represents "0". For example, "- 000 ha" represents "0 hectares". In many cases "-" is used when FAO does not have current data.
"n.s." represents "not significant"

All figures are dervied from THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS' Forest Resources Assessment 2005.

FAO figures for Central America from the State of the World's Forests 2005

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