STATISTICS: Bulgaria


Bulgaria

32.8% —or about 3,625,000 hectares—of Bulgaria is forested.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Bulgaria gained an average of 4,800 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual reforestation rate of 0.14%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change increased by 926.9% to 1.48% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Bulgaria gained 9.0% of its forest cover, or around 298,000 hectares. Measuring the total rate of habitat conversion (defined as change in forest area plus change in woodland area minus net plantation expansion) for the 1990-2005 interval, Bulgaria gained 6.9% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Bulgaria has some 535 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 0.2% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 4.7% are threatened. Bulgaria is home to at least 3572 species of vascular plants, of which 9.0% are endemic. 5.4% of Bulgaria is protected under IUCN categories I-V.






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Bulgaria: Forest Cover, 2005
Total Land Area (ha)11,063,000
Total Forest Area (ha)3,625,000
Percent Forest Cover32.77%
Primary Forest Cover (ha)-
Primary Forest, % total forest-
Primary Forest, % total land-
Other wooded land (ha)27,000


Bulgaria : Forest types
Tropical (% forest area)0%
Subtropical (% forest area)6%
Temperate (% forest area)94%
Boreal/polar (% forest area)0%


Bulgaria: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
Primary forest (ha | %)--
Modified natural (ha | %)--
Semi-natural (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)--


Bulgaria: Change in Forest Cover
TOTAL FOREST COVER
Forest 1990 (ha)3,327,000
Forest 2000 (ha)3,375,000
Forest 2005 (ha)3,625,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)4,8000.14%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)50,0001.48%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)298,0008.96%
Change in rate (%)926.85%
PRIMARY FOREST COVER
Primary 1990 (ha)267,000
Primary 2000 (ha)396,000
Primary 2005 (ha)-
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)12,9004.83%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)--
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)--
Change in rate (%)-
OTHER WOODED LAND
Other 1990 (ha)130,000
Other 2000 (ha)105,000
Other 2005 (ha)27,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(2,500)-1.92%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(15,600)-14.86%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(103,000)-79.23%
Change in rate (%)672.57%
PLANTATIONS
Other 1990 (ha)40,000
Other 2000 (ha)48,000
Other 2005 (ha)-
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)8002.00%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)--
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)--
Change in rate (%)-
TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations
Other 1990 (ha)3,417,000
Other 2000 (ha)3,432,000
Other 2005 (ha)3,652,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)1,5000.04%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)44,0001.28%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)235,0006.88%
Change in rate (%)2820.51%


Bulgaria: Primary
Primary or "old-growth" vegetation
Primary Forest 2005 (ha)-
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)0
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)0
Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area)0.00%


Bulgaria: Forest designation
Ownership of forest land, 2000
Public (%)91.6%
Private (%)8.4%
Other (%)0.0%
Ownership of other wooded land, 2000
Public (%)94.3%
Private (%)4.8%
Other (%)0.0%
Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005
Production (%)-
Protection (%)-
Conservation (%)-
Social Services (%)-
Multiple Services (%)-
None of Unknown (%)-


Bulgaria: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
Forest Area annually affected by
Fire (%)0.41%
Insects (ha)5.51%
Diseases (ha)1.07%
Other (ha)0.68%


Bulgaria: Protected areas
16
Protected areas
Biosphere reserves, 2005
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 200510
World Heritage sites, 20049
Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land5.4%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land0.68%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 20044.67%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 20044.72%


Bulgaria: Biodiversity - Wildlife
Amphibians
total species17
endemic species0
threatened species0
Birds
total species379
endemic species1
threatened species11
Mammals
total species106
endemic species0
threatened species12
Reptiles
total species33
endemic species0
threatened species2
Wildlife diversity
total species535
endemic species1
threatened species25


Bulgaria: Biodiversity - Plants
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
61.10%
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
93.40%
Number of Native tree species
Native tree species128
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically Endangered0
Endangered0
Vulnerable0
Vascular Plant Species, 2004
Total3572
Number endemic320
Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004
Species threatened0


Bulgaria: Value of forests
Biomass stock in forest, 2005
Above-ground biomass (M t)395
Below-ground biomass (M t)132
Dead wood (M t)-
Total (M t)-
Carbon stock in forest, 2005
Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t)197
Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t)66
Carbon in dead wood (M t)-
Carbon in litter (M t)-
Soil carbon (M t)-
Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr)
1990-200012,100
2000-20058,400
Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr)
1990-20003.41
2000-20050.17
Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m)3,075
Wood fuel (1000 cubic m)1,125
Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m)4,200
Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock)1
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$)$44,637,000
Wood fuel (US$)$10,887,000
Non-wood forest products (US$)-
Total value (US$)$55,524,000
Total value ($USD/ha)$15
Employment in forestry 2000
Total people employed69,000


Bulgaria : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production2,187
Imports0
Exports29
Consumption2,158
Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production2,646
Imports71
Exports195
Consumption2,522
Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production332
Imports7
Exports273
Consumption66
Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production533
Imports137
Exports280
Consumption390
Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production102
Imports13
Exports60
Consumption55
Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production171
Imports160
Exports52
Consumption279
Bulgaria: Environment
Environment - current issuesair pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Natural hazardsearthquakes, landslides


Bulgaria: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)arable land: 40.02%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.06% (2001)
Natural resourcesbauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land


Bulgaria: Economy
Economy - overview:Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. As a result, the government became committed to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. Minerals, including coal, copper, and zinc play an important role in industry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark and the negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady progress on structural reforms improved the business environment; Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.
GDP - per capita$9,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)5.4% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - productsvegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets
GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 10.1%, industry: 30.2%, services: 59.7% (2005 est.)
Industries electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel
Economic aid - recipient$300 million (2000 est.)
Debt - external$15.46 billion (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)13.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture 11%, industry 32.7%, services 56.3% (3rd quarter 2004 est.)


Bulgaria: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005)7,450,349
Population growth rate (%) (2005)-0.89%
Population density (people/sq km) (2005)67.4
Percent rural (2003)30.2%
Median age (years)total: 40.66 years
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)1.38 (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups (%)Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)


Largest Cities in Bulgaria

Cities and urban areas in Bulgaria with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.

CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
SofiaBulgaria10926001187200
PlovdivBulgaria339500339500
VarnaBulgaria313400313400
BurgasBulgaria192600192600
RuseBulgaria161600161600
Stara ZagoraBulgaria143500143500
PlevenBulgaria121700121700
SlivenBulgaria100300100300
DobricBulgaria100000100000




 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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