STATISTICS: Estonia


Estonia

53.9% —or about 2,284,000 hectares—of Estonia is forested. Of this, 6.2% —or roughly 142,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Estonia gained an average of 8,000 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual reforestation rate of 0.37%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 1.2% to 0.37% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Estonia gained 5.6% of its forest cover, or around 121,000 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, Estonia gained 9.3% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Estonia has some 351 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 2.0% are threatened. Estonia is home to at least 1630 species of vascular plants. 7.6% of Estonia is protected under IUCN categories I-V.






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Estonia: Forest Cover, 2005
Total Land Area (ha)4,239,000
Total Forest Area (ha)2,284,000
Percent Forest Cover53.88%
Primary Forest Cover (ha)142,000
Primary Forest, % total forest6.22%
Primary Forest, % total land3.35%
Other wooded land (ha)82,000


Estonia : Forest types
Tropical (% forest area)0%
Subtropical (% forest area)0%
Temperate (% forest area)100%
Boreal/polar (% forest area)0%


Estonia: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
Primary forest (ha | %)142,0006.2%
Modified natural (ha | %)1,390,00060.9%
Semi-natural (ha | %)751,00032.9%
Production plantation (ha | %)1,0000.0%
Production plantation (ha | %)-0.0%


Estonia: Change in Forest Cover
TOTAL FOREST COVER
Forest 1990 (ha)2,163,000
Forest 2000 (ha)2,243,000
Forest 2005 (ha)2,284,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)8,0000.37%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)8,2000.37%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)121,0005.59%
Change in rate (%)-1.16%
PRIMARY FOREST COVER
Primary 1990 (ha)-
Primary 2000 (ha)137,000
Primary 2005 (ha)142,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)--
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)1,0000.73%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)--
Change in rate (%)-
OTHER WOODED LAND
Other 1990 (ha)-
Other 2000 (ha)94,000
Other 2005 (ha)82,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)--
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(2,400)-2.55%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)--
Change in rate (%)-
PLANTATIONS
Other 1990 (ha)-
Other 2000 (ha)1,000
Other 2005 (ha)1,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)--
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)--
Change in rate (%)-
TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations
Other 1990 (ha)2,163,000
Other 2000 (ha)2,336,000
Other 2005 (ha)2,365,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)17,3000.80%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)5,8000.25%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)202,0009.34%
Change in rate (%)-68.96%


Estonia: Primary
Primary or "old-growth" vegetation
Primary Forest 2005 (ha)142,000
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)0
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)142,000
Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area)3.35%


Estonia: Forest designation
Ownership of forest land, 2000
Public (%)37.5%
Private (%)22.4%
Other (%)40.0%
Ownership of other wooded land, 2000
Public (%)8.5%
Private (%)37.2%
Other (%)54.3%
Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005
Production (%)71.8%
Protection (%)22.0%
Conservation (%)6.2%
Social Services (%)0.0%
Multiple Services (%)0.0%
None of Unknown (%)0.0%


Estonia: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
Forest Area annually affected by
Fire (%)0.04%
Insects (ha)0.04%
Diseases (ha)0.13%
Other (ha)0.58%


Estonia: Protected areas
1
Protected areas
Biosphere reserves, 2005
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 200511
World Heritage sites, 20041
Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land7.6%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land4.10%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 20043.65%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 200412.08%


Estonia: Biodiversity - Wildlife
Amphibians
total species11
endemic species0
threatened species0
Birds
total species267
endemic species0
threatened species3
Mammals
total species67
endemic species0
threatened species4
Reptiles
total species6
endemic species0
threatened species0
Wildlife diversity
total species351
endemic species0
threatened species7


Estonia: Biodiversity - Plants
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
75.20%
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
99.20%
Number of Native tree species
Native tree species27
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically Endangered0
Endangered0
Vulnerable0
Vascular Plant Species, 2004
Total1630
Number endemic0
Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004
Species threatened0


Estonia: Value of forests
Biomass stock in forest, 2005
Above-ground biomass (M t)259
Below-ground biomass (M t)75
Dead wood (M t)16
Total (M t)351
Carbon stock in forest, 2005
Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t)130
Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t)38
Carbon in dead wood (M t)8
Carbon in litter (M t)-
Soil carbon (M t)356
Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr)
1990-2000-
2000-2005-2,120
Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr)
1990-2000-
2000-2005-1.66
Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m)7,502
Wood fuel (1000 cubic m)2,100
Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m)9,602
Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock)2
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)2,000
Exudates (t)-
Other plant products (t)-
Animal products 2005
Living animals (units)-
Hides, skins and trophies (units)37,500
Wild honey and bee-wax (t)-
Bush meat (t)913
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$)$268,576,000
Wood fuel (US$)$19,601,000
Non-wood forest products (US$)$4,802,000
Total value (US$)$292,979,000
Total value ($USD/ha)$128
Employment in forestry 2000
Total people employed9,000


Estonia : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production1,930
Imports0
Exports227
Consumption1,703
Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production8,570
Imports639
Exports3,132
Consumption6,077
Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production1,900
Imports236
Exports1,248
Consumption888
Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production480
Imports134
Exports384
Consumption230
Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production60
Imports0
Exports0
Consumption60
Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production81
Imports87
Exports68
Consumption100
Estonia: Environment
Environment - current issuesair polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Natural hazardssometimes flooding occurs in the spring


Estonia: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)arable land: 16.04%
permanent crops: 0.45%
other: 83.51% (2001)
Natural resourcesoil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud


Estonia: Economy
Economy - overview:Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization and the European Union, has transitioned effectively to a modern market economy with strong ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The current account deficit remains high; however, the state budget is essentially in balance, and public debt is low.
GDP - per capita$16,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)7.1% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - productspotatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 4.1%, industry: 29.1%, services: 66.8% (2005 est.)
Industries engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile; information technology, telecommunications
Economic aid - recipient$108 million (2000)
Debt - external$10.09 billion (30 June 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)NA (2000)
Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture 11%, industry 20%, services 69% (1999 est.)


Estonia: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005)1,332,893
Population growth rate (%) (2005)-0.65%
Population density (people/sq km) (2005)30.8
Percent rural (2003)30.6%
Median age (years)total: 39.06 years
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)1.39 (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups (%)Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)


Largest Cities in Estonia

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

CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
TallinnEstonia386100386100
TartuEstonia100500100500




 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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