Turkey

13.2% —or about 10,175,000 hectares—of Turkey is forested. Of this, 9.6% —or roughly 975,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Turkey gained an average of 37,200 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual reforestation rate of 0.38%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 36.3% to 0.24% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Turkey gained 5.1% of its forest cover, or around 495,000 hectares. Turkey lost 236,000 hectares—0—of its primary forest cover during that time. Deforestation rates of primary cover have increased 31.9% since the close of the 1990s. 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, Turkey lost 2.2% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Turkey has some 737 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 3.5% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 6.2% are threatened. Turkey is home to at least 8650 species of vascular plants, of which 30.9% are endemic. 0.7% of Turkey is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Forest types | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Primary forest | Forest designation | Disturbances affecting forest land | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Value of forests | Production, trade and consumption of forest products | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books

Books

Turkey: Forest Cover, 2005 Total Land Area (ha) 76,963,000 Total Forest Area (ha) 10,175,000 Percent Forest Cover 13.22% Primary Forest Cover (ha) 975,000 Primary Forest, % total forest 9.58% Primary Forest, % total land 1.27% Other wooded land (ha) 10,689,000 Turkey : Forest types Tropical (% forest area) 0% Subtropical (% forest area) 92% Temperate (% forest area) 8% Boreal/polar (% forest area) 0% Turkey: Breakdown of forest types, 2005 Primary forest (ha | %) 975,000 9.6% Modified natural (ha | %) 5,925,000 58.2% Semi-natural (ha | %) 738,000 7.3% Production plantation (ha | %) 1,916,000 18.8% Production plantation (ha | %) 621,000 6.1% Turkey: Change in Forest Cover TOTAL FOREST COVER Forest 1990 (ha) 9,680,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 10,052,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 10,175,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 37,200 0.38% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 24,600 0.24% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 495,000 5.11% Change in rate (%) -36.32% PRIMARY FOREST COVER Primary 1990 (ha) 739,000 Primary 2000 (ha) 897,000 Primary 2005 (ha) 975,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 15,800 2.14% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 15,600 1.74% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 236,000 31.94% Change in rate (%) -18.66% OTHER WOODED LAND Other 1990 (ha) 10,905,000 Other 2000 (ha) 10,728,000 Other 2005 (ha) 10,689,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (17,700) -0.16% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (7,800) -0.07% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (216,000) -1.98% Change in rate (%) -55.21% PLANTATIONS Other 1990 (ha) 1,839,000 Other 2000 (ha) 2,304,000 Other 2005 (ha) 2,537,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 46,500 2.53% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 46,600 2.02% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 698,000 37.96% Change in rate (%) -20.01% TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations Other 1990 (ha) 18,746,000 Other 2000 (ha) 18,476,000 Other 2005 (ha) 18,327,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (27,000) -0.14% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (29,800) -0.16% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (419,000) -2.24% Change in rate (%) 11.98% Turkey: Primary Primary or "old-growth" vegetation Primary Forest 2005 (ha) 975,000 Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) 359,000 Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) 1,334,000 Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) 1.73% Turkey: Forest designation Ownership of forest land, 2000 Public (%) 99.9% Private (%) 0.1% Other (%) 0.0% Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 Public (%) 100.0% Private (%) 0.0% Other (%) 0.0% Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 Production (%) 78.3% Protection (%) 13.9% Conservation (%) 7.6% Social Services (%) 0.2% Multiple Services (%) 0.0% None of Unknown (%) 0.0% Turkey: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000 Forest Area annually affected by Fire (%) 0.08% Insects (ha) - Diseases (ha) - Other (ha) - Turkey: Protected areas Protected areas Biosphere reserves, 2005 Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 9 World Heritage sites, 2004 9 Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land 0.7% Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land 0.49% Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 0.25% Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 0.00% Turkey: Biodiversity - Wildlife Amphibians total species 23 endemic species 2 threatened species 5 Birds total species 436 endemic species 3 threatened species 14 Mammals total species 145 endemic species 4 threatened species 15 Reptiles total species 133 endemic species 17 threatened species 12 Wildlife diversity total species 737 endemic species 26 threatened species 46 Turkey: Biodiversity - Plants Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 79.70% Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 97.30% Number of Native tree species Native tree species 116 Number of tree species in IUCN red list Critically Endangered 0 Endangered 0 Vulnerable 2 Vascular Plant Species, 2004 Total 8650 Number endemic 2675 Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 Species threatened 3 Turkey: Value of forests Biomass stock in forest, 2005 Above-ground biomass (M t) 1,400 Below-ground biomass (M t) 233 Dead wood (M t) - Total (M t) - Carbon stock in forest, 2005 Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) 700 Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) 117 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) 1990-2000 9,890 2000-2005 5,679 Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) 1990-2000 0.5 2000-2005 0.23 Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) 11,836 Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) 18,147 Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) 29,983 Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) 2 Plant products 2005 Food (t) 9,979 Fodder (t) - Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) 9,599 Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) 7 Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) 0 Ornamental plants (t) 152 Exudates (t) 205 Other plant products (t) 7,402 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$) $421,651,000 Wood fuel (US$) $326,443,000 Non-wood forest products (US$) $550,000 Total value (US$) $748,644,000 Total value ($USD/ha) $74 Employment in forestry 2000 Total people employed 343,000 Turkey : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002 Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 7,160 Imports 242 Exports 0 Consumption 7,402 Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 11,305 Imports 808 Exports 9 Consumption 12,104 Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 5,732 Imports 196 Exports 158 Consumption 5,770 Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 2,656 Imports 333 Exports 230 Consumption 2,759 Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 278 Imports 368 Exports 2 Consumption 644 Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 1,643 Imports 1,020 Exports 175 Consumption 2,488 Turkey: Environment Environment - current issues water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification Natural hazards very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van Turkey: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 30.93% permanent crops: 3.31% other: 65.76% (2001) Natural resources coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower Turkey: Economy Economy - overview: Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that in 2004 still accounted for more than 34% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The largest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, which accounts for one-third of industrial employment; it faces stiff competition in international markets with the end of the global quota system. However, other sectors, notably the automotive and electronics industries, are rising in importance within Turkey's export mix. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. The economy is turning around with the implementation of economic reforms, and 2004 GDP growth reached 9%. Inflation fell to 7.7% in 2005 - a 30-year low. Despite these strong economic gains in 2002-05, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still burdened by a high current account deficit and high debt. The public sector fiscal deficit exceeds 6% of GDP - due in large part to high interest payments, which accounted for about 37% of central government spending in 2004. Prior to 2005, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey averaged less than $1 billion annually, but further economic and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost FDI. Privatization sales are currently approaching $21 billion. GDP - per capita $7,900 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 5.1% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 11.7%, industry: 29.8%, services: 58.5% (2005 est.) Industries textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper Economic aid - recipient ODA, $635.8 million (2002) Debt - external $161.8 billion (30 June 2005 est.) Population below poverty line (%) 20% (2002) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 35.9%, industry 22.8%, services 41.2% (3rd quarter, 2004) Turkey: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 69,660,559 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 1.09% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 90.4 Percent rural (2003) 33.7% Median age (years) total: 27.7 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 1.94 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated) Largest Cities in Turkey Cities and urban areas in Turkey with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Istanbul Turkey 9216400 9640500 Ankara Turkey 3329400 3436400 Izmir Turkey 2322500 2378700 Bursa Turkey 1190000 1190000 Adana Turkey 1162000 1162000 Gaziantep Turkey 795300 795300 Konya Turkey 695500 695500 Antalya Turkey 571300 571300 Diyarbakir Turkey 570900 570900 Mersin Turkey 559400 559400 Kayseri Turkey 555900 555900 Eskisehir Turkey 507100 507100 Urfa Turkey 458300 458300 Malatya Turkey 446600 446600 Samsun Turkey 377500 377500 Kahramanmaras Turkey 338700 338700 Erzurum Turkey 333300 333300 Elazig Turkey 279500 279500 Denizli Turkey 260700 260700 Sivas Turkey 259200 259200 Van Turkey 253200 253200 Batman Turkey 237300 237300 Adiyaman Turkey 237100 237100 Kirrikkale Turkey 227000 227000 Manisa Turkey 224600 224600 Izmit Turkey 221100 221100 Tarsus Turkey 212200 212200 Balikesir Turkey 212000 212000 Adapazari Turkey 204500 204500 Trabzon Turkey 203700 203700 Kutahya Turkey 181100 181100 Iskenderun Turkey 180400 180400 Osmaniye Turkey 179500 179500 Corum Turkey 164100 164100 Antakya Turkey 155100 155100 Isparta Turkey 149800 149800 Aydin Turkey 149200 149200 Usak Turkey 138700 138700 Corlu Turkey 137500 137500 Ordu Turkey 131300 131300 Alanya Turkey 130900 130900 Edirne Turkey 128400 128400 Afyonkarahisar Turkey 126600 126600 Kiziltepe Turkey 125000 125000 Siirt Turkey 119500 119500 Viransehir Turkey 118700 118700 Zonguldak Turkey 118500 118500 Karaman Turkey 116200 116200 Karab�k Turkey 115800 115800 Erzincan Turkey 114100 114100 Bismil Turkey 113100 113100 Aksaray Turkey 112900 112900 Tekirdag Turkey 112200 112200 Nazilli Turkey 111500 111500 Tokat Turkey 111000 111000 Kars Turkey 103800 103800 Ceyhan Turkey 101600 101600 Inegol Turkey 101000 101000 Bandirma Turkey 100700 100700  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