STATISTICS: Seychelles


Seychelles

88.9% —or about 40,000 hectares—of Seychelles is forested. Of this, 5.0% —or roughly 2,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Seychelles had no significant change or no reported in forest cover.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Seychelles has some 313 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 16.3% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 8.0% are threatened. Seychelles is home to at least 250 species of vascular plants, of which 72.8% are endemic. 12.0% of Seychelles is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

Seychelles Environmental profile






Books

Seychelles: Forest Cover, 2005
Total Land Area (ha)45,000
Total Forest Area (ha)40,000
Percent Forest Cover88.89%
Primary Forest Cover (ha)2,000
Primary Forest, % total forest5.00%
Primary Forest, % total land4.44%
Other wooded land (ha)-


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


Seychelles: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
Primary forest (ha | %)2,0005.0%
Modified natural (ha | %)33,00082.5%
Semi-natural (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)5,00012.5%
Production plantation (ha | %)--


Seychelles: Change in Forest Cover
TOTAL FOREST COVER
Forest 1990 (ha)40,000
Forest 2000 (ha)40,000
Forest 2005 (ha)40,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)-0.00%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Change in rate (%)#DIV/0!
PRIMARY FOREST COVER
Primary 1990 (ha)2,000
Primary 2000 (ha)2,000
Primary 2005 (ha)2,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)-0.00%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Change in rate (%)#DIV/0!
OTHER WOODED LAND
Other 1990 (ha)-
Other 2000 (ha)-
Other 2005 (ha)-
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)--
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)--
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)--
Change in rate (%)-
PLANTATIONS
Other 1990 (ha)5,000
Other 2000 (ha)5,000
Other 2005 (ha)5,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)-0.00%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Change in rate (%)#DIV/0!
TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations
Other 1990 (ha)35,000
Other 2000 (ha)35,000
Other 2005 (ha)35,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)-0.00%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Change in rate (%)#DIV/0!


Seychelles: Primary
Primary or "old-growth" vegetation
Primary Forest 2005 (ha)2,000
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)-
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)2,000
Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area)4.44%


Seychelles: Forest designation
Ownership of forest land, 2000
Public (%)77.5%
Private (%)22.5%
Other (%)-
Ownership of other wooded land, 2000
Public (%)-
Private (%)-
Other (%)-
Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005
Production (%)2.5%
Protection (%)15.0%
Conservation (%)5.0%
Social Services (%)20.0%
Multiple Services (%)15.0%
None of Unknown (%)42.5%


Seychelles: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
Forest Area annually affected by
Fire (%)0.00%
Insects (ha)0.00%
Diseases (ha)0.00%
Other (ha)-


Seychelles: Protected areas
Protected areas
Biosphere reserves, 2005
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 20051
World Heritage sites, 20042
Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land12.0%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land8.22%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 20040.00%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 20040.00%


Seychelles: Biodiversity - Wildlife
Amphibians
total species12
endemic species11
threatened species6
Birds
total species238
endemic species22
threatened species13
Mammals
total species25
endemic species2
threatened species3
Reptiles
total species38
endemic species16
threatened species3
Wildlife diversity
total species313
endemic species51
threatened species25


Seychelles: Biodiversity - Plants
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
-
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
-
Number of Native tree species
Native tree species93
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically Endangered7
Endangered4
Vulnerable23
Vascular Plant Species, 2004
Total250
Number endemic182
Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004
Species threatened45


Seychelles: Value of forests
Biomass stock in forest, 2005
Above-ground biomass (M t)6
Below-ground biomass (M t)1
Dead wood (M t)-
Total (M t)-
Carbon stock in forest, 2005
Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t)3
Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t)1
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)
1990-20000
2000-20050
Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr)
1990-20000
2000-20050
Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m)10
Wood fuel (1000 cubic m)3
Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m)13
Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock)n.s.
Plant products 2005
Food (t)-
Fodder (t)-
Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t)-
Raw material for colorants and dyes (t)444
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$)-
Wood fuel (US$)-
Non-wood forest products (US$)-
Total value (US$)-
Total value ($USD/ha)$-
Employment in forestry 2000
Total people employed-


Seychelles : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production-
Imports-
Exports-
Consumption0
Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production-
Imports0
Exports0
Consumption0
Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production-
Imports0
Exports1
Consumption0
Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production-
Imports1
Exports-
Consumption1
Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production-
Imports-
Exports-
Consumption0
Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production-
Imports0
Exports0
Consumption0
Seychelles: Environment
Environment - current issueswater supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Natural hazardslies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible


Seychelles: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)arable land: 2.22%
permanent crops: 13.33%
other: 84.45% (2001)
Natural resourcesfish, copra, cinnamon trees


Seychelles: Economy
Economy - overview:Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. A sharp drop illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war, and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2004, erasing a persistent budget deficit. Growth turned negative again in 2005. Tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector may remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP - per capita$7,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)-3% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - productscoconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 3.2%, industry: 30.4%, services: 66.4% (2005 est.)
Industries fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Economic aid - recipient$16.4 million (1995)
Debt - external$276.8 million (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)NA
Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture 10%, industry 19%, services 71% (1989)


Seychelles: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005)81,188
Population growth rate (%) (2005)0.43%
Population density (people/sq km) (2005)178.4
Percent rural (2003)50.1%
Median age (years)total: 27.7 years
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)1.75 (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups (%)mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab


[an error occurred while processing this directive] Seychelles: Infrastructure
Telephones - main lines in use21,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular54,500 (2003)
Roadways (km)total: 373 km
paved: 315 km
unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.)


Seychelles: Health
Life expectancy at birth (years)total population: 71.82 years
male: 66.41 years
female: 77.4 years (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate15.53 deaths/1,000 live births
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)NA

Seychelles : 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) 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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