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Total loss of primary forest, 1990-2005



Statistics from 17 tropical countries for which the United Nations has somewhat reliable figures for primary forest cover. Total deforestation statistics typically fail to distinguish between general deforestation, reforestation through plantations, and the loss of biologically important primary forests (also called old-growth forests). Looking at primary forest loss figures for these countries reveals an alarming increase in deforestation of these endangered ecosystems.




Since the close of the 1990s, rates of primary forest loss have increased in the tropics. Between 2000 and 2005, deforestation rates of primary forest rose 25.6% (from 0.67% per year to 0.84% annually) for these 17 countries in the table below.

Primary forest cover. Sorted by total loss of primary forest, 1990-2005, expressed as a percentage of 1990 forest cover. You can sort by other criteria by clicking on column header links.

RegionTotal landTotal forest coverPrimary forest cover
AreaArea, 2005Area, 2005Annual change
1990-2005
Total change
1990-2005
Annual Change
1990-2000
Annual Change
2000-2005
Area, 2005Area, 2005Annual change
1990-2005
Total change
1990-2005
Annual Change
1990-2000
Annual Change
2000-2005
Rate of Change
1990-2000
vs
2000-2005
Country(1000 ha)(1000 ha)%ha%%%(1000 ha)%ha%%%%
Nigeria 92,377 11,089 12.2 -409667 -35.7 -2.38 -3.12 326 0.4 -82000 -79.0 -5.27 -11.14 111.41
Viet Nam 33,169 12,931 39.7 237867 38.1 2.52 2.06 85 0.3 -19933 -77.9 -5.13 -10.91 112.64
Cambodia 18,104 10,447 59.2 -166600 -19.3 -1.09 -1.90 322 1.8 -29600 -58.0 -4.05 -5.88 45.22
Sri Lanka 6,561 1,933 29.9 -27800 -17.7 -1.14 -1.43 167 2.5 -6000 -35.0 -2.33 -3.05 30.46
Indonesia 190,457 88,495 48.8 -1871467 -24.1 -1.61 -1.91 48,702 25.6 -1447800 -30.8 -2.06 -2.59 25.88
Panama 7,552 4,294 57.7 -5467 -1.9 -0.16 -0.06 3,023 40.0 -45533 -18.4 -1.26 -1.33 5.84
Guatemala 10,889 3,938 36.3 -54000 -17.1 -1.14 -1.28 1,957 18.0 -26800 -17.0 -1.14 -1.28 12.82
Papua New Guinea 46,284 29,437 65 -139067 -6.6 -0.44 -0.46 25,211 54.5 -266600 -13.7 -0.94 -0.95 0.50
Brunei 577 278 52.8 -2333 -11.2 -0.80 -0.69 278 48.2 -2333 -11.2 -0.80 -0.69 -13.06
Brazil 851,488 477,698 57.2 -2821933 -8.1 -0.52 -0.63 415,890 48.8 -2974867 -9.7 -0.59 -0.80 34.99
Senegal 19,672 8,673 45 -45000 -7.2 -0.48 -0.51 1,598 8.1 -10733 -9.2 -0.60 -0.67 10.43
Bolivia 109,858 58,740 54.2 -270333 -6.5 -0.43 -0.45 29,360 26.7 -135200 -6.5 -0.43 -0.45 4.50
Peru 128,522 68,742 53.7 -94267 -2.0 -0.13 -0.14 61,065 47.5 -123000 -2.9 -0.11 -0.36 214.69
French Guiana 9,000 8,063 91.8 -1867 -0.3 -0.03 0.00 7,701 85.6 -13867 -2.6 -0.19 -0.15 -17.37
Colombia 113,891 60,728 58.5 -47400 -1.2 -0.08 -0.08 53,062 46.6 -52800 -1.5 -0.09 -0.11 11.03
Madagascar 58,704 12,838 22.1 -56933 -6.2 -0.49 -0.28 10,347 17.6 -10400 -1.5 -0.12 -0.07 -43.61
Congo 34,200 22,471 65.8 -17000 -1.1 -0.07 -0.08 7,464 21.8 -5600 -1.1 -0.07 -0.07 0.75
Total 1,731,305 880,795 43.5 -5793267 -8.3 -0.57 -0.62 666558 38.5 -5253067 -10.6 -0.67 -0.84 25.6

These figures are derived from data provided in "Forest Resources Assessment 2005" by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

A negative number for "Annual change" and/or "total change" reflects deforestation. A positive number in these columns suggests that forest is regrowing or, more likely, plantations are being established. "n/a" means data is not available.

More detailed figures for specific countries can be found at Country by Country Deforestation Rates




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