PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY original source documents. This provides BOX 1 transparency in the FRA 2000 calculations. FAO global ecol OBAL FOREST RESOURCES N2000 FRA 2000 provides a wide range of information the status and trends of forest resources. The Tropical rain forest Tropical moist deciduous forest text below focuses on the findings of FRA 2000 Tropical dry forest on forest area and change in forest area over the Tropical shrubland past decade. Information on other forest Tropical desert parameters(e.g. forest condition, forest fires and Tropical mountain system non-wood forest products) may be found on the Subtropical humid forest FAO Forestry Department Web site Subtropical dry forest (www.fao.org/forestry/fo/fra/indexjsp),inthe Subtropical ste report of the assessment for temperate and Subtropical desert boreal forests in industrialized countries UN Subtropical mountain system ECE/FAO, 2000b)and in the full report of FRA Temperate oceanic forest 2000, which is due to be published by the end Temperate continental forest Temperate steppe Total forest area, 2000 Temperate desert Temperate mountain system The world has about 3 870 million ha of forests Boreal coniferous forest of which 95 percent are natural forests and Boreal tundra woodland 5 percent are forest plantations(see Table 2 in Boreal mountain system Annex 2). This global forest cover figure is higher than the forest cover estimates made by the previous two forest resources assessments (FRA 1990 and the interim 1995 assessment this does not however, indicate a real increase in forest area worldwide. rather it reflects a change in the definition of forest (ie. the Disseminating the results application of a uniform definition of forest for All of the country forest information, the the first time)and the incorporation of new remote sensing survey results and the reports ntory data(see Box 13 for further om the special studies of FRA 2000 explanation). FRA 2000 revised the 1990 forest archived in the Forestry Information System cover figures, using the same definitions and (FORIS), which links multiple references from methodologies used for calculating the 2000 each country to databases containing statistics, figures, in order to make comparison betweer terms and definitions, contact information and 1990 and 2000 possible. This set a new baseline other data. FORIS is accessible and easy to for forest cover in 1990 update, and a real-time link to the FAO Web Table 2 provides Fra 2000 data on the site makes it possible to provide the latest distribution of forests by region. Europe statistics to the public as soon as they have ncluding the Russian Federation) and South been entered, analysed and cleared by countries and FAO. In addition to the findings, the background material used to calculate the Included in natural forests are semi-natural forests, the fra data is made available on the web site dominant forest type in many areas, particularly temperate and oreal forests in industrialized countries (see UN-ECE/FAO king it possible to trace the estimates to 2000b)
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 33 Disseminating the results All of the country forest information, the remote sensing survey results and the reports from the special studies of FRA 2000 are archived in the Forestry Information System (FORIS), which links multiple references from each country to databases containing statistics, terms and definitions, contact information and other data. FORIS is accessible and easy to update, and a real-time link to the FAO Web site makes it possible to provide the latest statistics to the public as soon as they have been entered, analysed and cleared by countries and FAO. In addition to the findings, the background material used to calculate the FRA data is made available on the Web site, making it possible to trace the estimates to original source documents. This provides transparency in the FRA 2000 calculations. GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES IN 2000 FRA 2000 provides a wide range of information on the status and trends of forest resources. The text below focuses on the findings of FRA 2000 on forest area and change in forest area over the past decade. Information on other forest parameters (e.g. forest condition, forest fires and non-wood forest products) may be found on the FAO Forestry Department Web site (www.fao.org/forestry/fo/fra/index.jsp), in the report of the assessment for temperate and boreal forests in industrialized countries (UNECE/FAO, 2000b) and in the full report of FRA 2000, which is due to be published by the end of 2001. Total forest area, 2000 The world has about 3 870 million ha of forests, of which 95 percent are natural forests6 and 5 percent are forest plantations (see Table 2 in Annex 2). This global forest cover figure is higher than the forest cover estimates made by the previous two forest resources assessments (FRA 1990 and the interim 1995 assessment); this does not, however, indicate a real increase in forest area worldwide. Rather, it reflects a change in the definition of forest (i.e. the application of a uniform definition of forest for the first time) and the incorporation of new inventory data (see Box 13 for further explanation). FRA 2000 revised the 1990 forest cover figures, using the same definitions and methodologies used for calculating the 2000 figures, in order to make comparison between 1990 and 2000 possible. This set a new baseline for forest cover in 1990. Table 2 provides FRA 2000 data on the distribution of forests by region. Europe (including the Russian Federation) and South Tropical rain forest Tropical moist deciduous forest Tropical dry forest Tropical shrubland Tropical desert Tropical mountain system Subtropical humid forest Subtropical dry forest Subtropical steppe Subtropical desert Subtropical mountain system Temperate oceanic forest Temperate continental forest Temperate steppe Temperate desert Temperate mountain system Boreal coniferous forest Boreal tundra woodland Boreal mountain system Polar BOX 12 FAO global ecological zoning 6 Included in natural forests are semi-natural forests, the dominant forest type in many areas, particularly temperate and boreal forests in industrialized countries (see UN-ECE/FAO, 2000b)
34 STATE OF THE WORLD'S FORESTS 20001 FIGURE 2 Global forests in 2000 GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2000 ten years. The latest survey. incudes new parameters on ecological aspects of forests, rotected forests and non-wood goods and services, as well as a FRA 2000 is coordinated by FAO and carried out in ations Economic Environment Programme, UN member countries and sm from the United States utputs of FRA 2000, which authorized agents around the world GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL ZONES
34 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 FIGURE 2 Global forest map 34 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2000 Since 1947, at the request of its member countries and the world community, FAO has regularly reported on the status, changes and condition of the world’s forests about every ten years. The latest survey, the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000), provides crucial information describing the state and condition of forest resources for the year 2000, including changes undergone in the last 20 years. FRA 2000 also includes new parameters on ecological aspects of forests, protected forests and non-wood goods and services, as well as a set of global maps. FRA 2000 is coordinated by FAO and carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the United Nations Environment Programme, UN member countries and external partners, including the EROS Data Center in the United States, the Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Center in Costa Rica and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre in the United Kingdom. Funding from the Governments of Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom was instrumental in supporting the development of this global forest map, as were in-kind contributions from the United States Geological Survey and the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. Countries and regional cooperators were also involved in the mapping exercise. This global forest map is one of the many outputs of FRA 2000, which has also produced several volumes of text and statistical information, available on the FAO Web site (www.fao.org/forestry) and in a series of printed volumes that may be obtained from authorized agents around the world. TAr Tropical rain forest TAwa Tropical moist deciduous forest TAwb Tropical dry forest TBSh Tropical shrubland TBWh Tropical desert TM Tropical mountain system SCf Subtropical humid forest SCs Subtropical dry forest SBSh Subtropical steppe SBWh Subtropical desert SM Subtropical mountain system TeDo Temperate oceanic forest TeDc Temperate continental forest TeBSk Temperate steppe TeBWk Temperate desert TeM Temperate mountain system Ba Boreal coniferous forest Bb Boreal tundra woodland BM Boreal mountain system P Polar Water Water n.d. No data GLOBAL ECOLOGICAL ZONES MOUNTAIN FORESTS Mountains and highlands are often covered with unique forest vegetation that is different in structure and species composition from surrounding lowland vegetation. The high mountains in the tropics, for instance the Andes and Himalayas, have a range of forest types that are determined by altitude and exposure. Their upper limit is typically about 3 000 m. In dry regions, such as the Near East, natural forests are often confined to the mountains. Overall, mountain forests sustain a great diversity of habitats and are essential for watershed protection and soil conservation. MANGROVES Mangrove forests are a common sight on mudflats and banks of tropical and subtropical coasts. Some of the largest areas of mangroves are found in Indonesia, Brazil and the Sundarbans of India and Bangladesh. Mangroves are highly productive ecosystems and are important for the spawning, nursery and feeding of many marine fish and shellfish. Local people use mangrove wood for building materials, fish traps, fuelwood and charcoal, and they gather a variety of non-wood forest products from the mangroves. Over the past decades, a significant proportion of the world's mangroves have been cleared for agriculture, salt ponds or aquaculture. TEMPERATE BROADLEAF DECIDUOUS FORESTS The temperate deciduous forest is the natural vegetation of eastern North America, western Europe, eastern Asia and parts of Patagonia. This forest type is associated with a humid climate and includes such species as oak, beech, birch, hickory, walnut, maple, elm and ash. Forests vary in structure and composition according to local climate, soils, altitude and frequency of fires. Many of the hardwood species are highly valued for their wood qualities, and most remaining forests are intensively managed. Temperate broadleaf forests are also extensively used for recreation, as many of them are located near densely populated industrialized regions. TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS Tropical rain forests are mainly found in the Amazon basin of South America, the Congo basin of Central Africa and insular Southeast Asia where the climate is hot and humid throughout the year. They constitute the world’s most diverse terrestrial ecosystem, with many rare, endemic and endangered plant and animal species. The vegetation is rich, with tall, closely set trees that often form a continuous multilayered canopy and emergent trees reaching a height of 50 to 60 m. Tropical rain forests contain many resources for local subsistence and of commercial importance, such as timber, rattan, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants and rubber. These forests are also home to a large number of indigenous peoples. BOREAL CONIFEROUS FORESTS Boreal coniferous forests are found at high latitudes, mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, where the climate is cold. These forests are the world’s major source of commercial softwood. Spruce and fir dominate the forests of North America, northern Europe and western Siberia, while larch is common in the forests of central and eastern Siberia. The forest canopy cover is often low, and an understorey of shrubs, herbaceous vegetation, mosses or lichens is common. The Siberian taiga constitutes the earth’s largest continuous forest. In this type of forest, biological diversity is low but the level of endemism is high. Wetlands fill an important ecological function, for example, as breeding habitat for many species of waterfowl and shorebirds. 1 000 0 1 000 Robinson Project Center 0˚N , 0˚W 2 FIGURE 2 Global forests in 2000
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 35 his map was produced from the Global Land Cover et at 1 km resolution, derived from Advanced very r (AVHRR) satellite ages. Details on GLCC data characteristics may be tion 1 (December 1994)o the Enviro This map was produced by the od and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations espy cuw ef tre FORESTS BY MAJOR ECOLOGICAL DOMAINS
PART PARTII K II EY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 3535 This map was produced from the Global Land Cover Characteristics (GLCC) Database, a land cover data set at 1 km resolution, derived from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite images. Details on GLCC data characteristics may be found at: edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/landdaac/glcc/globdoc1_2.html The land cover classes were derived by aggregating GLCC classes with additional criteria drawn from other data sets. Coastlines, country boundaries, streams and lakes were derived from ArcWorld Edition 1 (December 1994) of the Environmental Systems Research Institute. CLOSED FOREST Land covered by trees with a canopy cover greater than 40 percent and a height exceeding 5 m. It includes natural forests and forest plantations. OPEN AND FRAGMENTED FOREST Land covered by trees with a canopy cover of between 10 and 40 percent and a height exceeding 5 m (open forest), or mosaics of forest and nonforest land (fragmented forest). It includes natural forests and forest plantations OTHER WOODED LAND Land with a 5 to 10 percent canopy cover of trees exceeding 5 m in height, or with a shrub or bush cover of more than 10 percent and a height of less than 5 m. OTHER LAND COVER All other land, including grassland, agricultural land, barren land, urban areas, etc. Tropical closed forest Tropical open and fragmented forest Tropical other wooded land Subtropical closed forest Subtropical open and fragmented forest Subtropical other wooded land Temperate closed forest Temperate open and fragmented forest Temperate other wooded land Boreal closed forest Boreal open and fragmented forest Boreal other wooded land Boreal without forest cover information Polar closed forest Polar open and fragmented forest Polar other wooded land Polar without forest cover information Other land cover in any ecological domain Water FORESTS BY MAJOR ECOLOGICAL DOMAINS TROPICAL DRY FORESTS AND WOODLANDS Tropical dry forests and woodlands occur in tropical regions with pronounced dry seasons. They are most extensive in eastern and southern Africa, where woodlands stretch over large areas. The vegetation is relatively open and is typically made up of deciduous trees 10 to 20 m tall with a grass understorey. As a result of frequent fires and tree felling, many of these woodlands have been converted to savannah, where grass and shrubs dominate. In Africa, in particular, woodlands and savannah are major habitats for wildlife and also provide local people with valuable products and services such as fuelwood, honey, timber, bushmeat, medicines and grazing ground for cattle. SUBTROPICAL DRY FORESTS The subtropical dry forest, or dry sclerophyll forest, is the natural vegetation of the Mediterranean climate type (mild humid winters, dry summers), found in various regions around the world. The typical tree species have small, leathery evergreen leaves and the vegetation ranges from tall, open forest to sparse woodland and shrubs. A large proportion of the historical Mediterranean forest has been cleared and is now dominated by shrubs, whereas many Australian eucalypt tracts and parts of Chile have been converted to plantations. The Cape Region of South Africa harbours a particularly rich flora, including many endemic species. Important non-wood forest products of commercial value include cork, honey and olives. FOREST PLANTATIONS Forest plantations are an increasingly important source of industrial wood, and thus are a potential means of reducing timber harvesting in natural forests. Forest plantations and woodlots also provide fuelwood and building materials for local consumption. Planted forests are often established for environmental purposes such as soil conservation. The area of forest plantations in the world is increasing, and this trend is expected to continue. The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This map was produced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United States Geological Survey EROS Data Center ion W 000 3 000 4 000 km
STATE OF THE WORLD's FORESTs 2001 BOX 13 Global forest area figure for 2000 FRA 2000 was the first global forest assessment to use a land. The estimate for the Russian Federation is 850 common definition for all forests worldwide. Previous as- million ha in 2000, compared with 764 million ha in 1995 sessments used a canopy cover threshold of 10 percent for In addition forest inventories conducted after 1990 con developing countries and 20 percent for industrialized tain higher figures for some countries( e.g. Mozambique) countries to define forests. In FRA 2000 the uniform ap- than were previously reported, and the inclusion of these plication of the 10 percent threshold for all countries has results has also contributed to the higher estimate for 2000 had a significant impact on the global forest area figure. In other countries, such as Kenya, a more detailed break The change in definition was the main reason why the es- down of forest classes in national inventory reports has timated global forest area for 2000 is 400 million ha higher facilitated an improved reclassification of national results than the estimate for 1995 made by the interim 1995 into the FRA 2000 forest classes; thus the new estimates assessment(FAO, 1997d). The effect is most significant for include as forests some areas previously classified as other Australia and the russian federation the estimate for wooded lands Australias forest area in 2000 is 155 million ha, compared with 41 million ha in 1995, in part because the 2000 estimate includes large expanses of sparsely stocked for- ests that previously had been classified as other wooded America have the largest percentage of the other hand, lives in countries with less than world,s forests(27 and 23 percent, respectively) ha per capita, including most of the densely and Oceania has the least(5 percent). A map populated countries in Asia and Europe showing the location of forests by region is About 30 percent of the world,s land area is provided in Figure 3 under forest, as already seen in Table 2. The Two-thirds of the world,s forests are located proportion of total land area under forest varies in only ten countries: the Russian Federation, significantly by region and country. About half Brazil, Canada, the United States, China the land area of South America and Europe is Australia, the Democratic Republic of the covered by forest, but only one-sixth of Asias Congo, Indonesia, Angola and Peru (Figure 4; land is forested. Africa, North and Central fall in between, each The world average of forest area per person with about one-fourth of its land covered by is 0.6 ha. There are, however, large differences forest. Fifty countries and two"areas"(e.g among countries. Asia has very little forest per territories, protectorates) are reported to have capita, whereas Oceania and South America less than 10 percent of their land covered by have a substantial area per person(see Figure 5). Only 22 countries have more than 3 ha of more than 60 percent of their land under forest forest per capita, and only about 5 percent of(Figure 6) the world,s population lives in these countries Worldwide forest cover according to ecological mostly in Brazil and the Russian Federation. zones was determined by using the FRA 2000 Three-quarters of the world's population, on global forest cover map and global ecological
36 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 America have the largest percentage of the world’s forests (27 and 23 percent, respectively), and Oceania has the least (5 percent). A map showing the location of forests by region is provided in Figure 3. Two-thirds of the world’s forests are located in only ten countries: the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States, China, Australia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Angola and Peru (Figure 4; see also Table 2 in Annex 2). The world average of forest area per person is 0.6 ha. There are, however, large differences among countries. Asia has very little forest per capita, whereas Oceania and South America have a substantial area per person (see Figure 5). Only 22 countries have more than 3 ha of forest per capita, and only about 5 percent of the world’s population lives in these countries – mostly in Brazil and the Russian Federation. Three-quarters of the world’s population, on the other hand, lives in countries with less than 0.5 ha per capita, including most of the densely populated countries in Asia and Europe. About 30 percent of the world’s land area is under forest, as already seen in Table 2. The proportion of total land area under forest varies significantly by region and country. About half the land area of South America and Europe is covered by forest, but only one-sixth of Asia’s land is forested. Africa, North and Central America and Oceania fall in between, each with about one-fourth of its land covered by forest. Fifty countries and two “areas” (e.g. territories, protectorates) are reported to have less than 10 percent of their land covered by forest. Twenty countries and two areas have more than 60 percent of their land under forest (Figure 6). Worldwide forest cover according to ecological zones was determined by using the FRA 2000 global forest cover map and global ecological FRA 2000 was the first global forest assessment to use a common definition for all forests worldwide. Previous assessments used a canopy cover threshold of 10 percent for developing countries and 20 percent for industrialized countries to define forests. In FRA 2000 the uniform application of the 10 percent threshold for all countries has had a significant impact on the global forest area figure. The change in definition was the main reason why the estimated global forest area for 2000 is 400 million ha higher than the estimate for 1995 made by the interim 1995 assessment (FAO, 1997d). The effect is most significant for Australia and the Russian Federation. The estimate for Australia’s forest area in 2000 is 155 million ha, compared with 41 million ha in 1995, in part because the 2000 estimate includes large expanses of sparsely stocked forests that previously had been classified as other wooded BOX 13 Global forest area figure for 2000 land. The estimate for the Russian Federation is 850 million ha in 2000, compared with 764 million ha in 1995. In addition, forest inventories conducted after 1990 contain higher figures for some countries (e.g. Mozambique) than were previously reported, and the inclusion of these results has also contributed to the higher estimate for 2000. In other countries, such as Kenya, a more detailed breakdown of forest classes in national inventory reports has facilitated an improved reclassification of national results into the FRA 2000 forest classes; thus the new estimates include as forests some areas previously classified as other wooded lands
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY TABLE 2 Forest area by region, 2000 Natural forest Forest plantation (natural forests and forest plantations) %o oflan of world's forests (million ha) Africa 2978 642 2260 1007 North and Central America 2137 World total 3682 187 FIGURE 3 cation of forests, by region Africa ■ Europe North and Central America ■ South america
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 37 Region TABLE 2 Forest area by region, 2000 FIGURE 3 Location of forests, by region Land area (million ha) Total forest (natural forests and forest plantations) Area % of land area % of world’s forests (million ha) Natural forest (million ha) Forest plantation (million ha) Africa 2 978 650 22 17 642 8 Asia 3 085 548 18 14 432 116 Europe 2 260 1 039 46 27 1 007 32 North and Central America 2 137 549 26 14 532 18 Oceania 849 198 23 5 194 3 South America 1 755 886 51 23 875 10 World total 13 064 3 869 30 100 3 682 187 Africa Asia Oceania Europe North and Central America South America