STATE OF THE WORLD's FORESTs 2001 FIGURE 4 Countries with the largest percentage of the world's fores of total area Brazil Canada United China other Federation ource. FRA 2000 zoning map. The largest proportion of the found mainly in Europe(40 percent) and North world's forests is in the tropical zone(47 percent ), and Central America(34 percent) followed by the boreal (33 percent), temperate (11 percent) and subtropical(9 percent) zones. Forest plantation area, 2000 Figure 7 shows the location of forests in these FRa 2000 provides a picture of the status of four broad ecological zones. The distribution of forest plantations worldwide. It is the first forests according to the more detailed ecological global assessment to have estimated forest zoning classifications and by region is indicated plantation areas using a uniform definition and in Table 3. Tropical and subtropical dry forests including data from all countries. Owing to are concentrated in Africa(containing 36 percent changes in both definitions and methodologies of the world total), South America(30 percent) used, the 2000 global and national plantation and Asia(21 percent). The majority of tropical data cannot be directly compared with those of rain forests are located in South america previous plantation assessments (e.g. FAO, (58 percent), but a large proportion(24 percent) 1995b). For example, rubberwood plantations is also found in Africa; most of the rest is in were considered forest plantations in FRA 2000, Asia(17 percent). Nearly all temperate and whereas in previous assessments they were not boreal forests are located in Europe and North The area of plantations in many industrialized and central america. mountain forests are countries, particularly in Europe, is less well
38 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 zoning map. The largest proportion of the world’s forests is in the tropical zone (47 percent), followed by the boreal (33 percent), temperate (11 percent) and subtropical (9 percent) zones. Figure 7 shows the location of forests in these four broad ecological zones. The distribution of forests according to the more detailed ecological zoning classifications and by region is indicated in Table 3. Tropical and subtropical dry forests are concentrated in Africa (containing 36 percent of the world total), South America (30 percent) and Asia (21 percent). The majority of tropical rain forests are located in South America (58 percent), but a large proportion (24 percent) is also found in Africa; most of the rest is in Asia (17 percent). Nearly all temperate and boreal forests are located in Europe and North and Central America. Mountain forests are found mainly in Europe (40 percent) and North and Central America (34 percent). Forest plantation area, 2000 FRA 2000 provides a picture of the status of forest plantations worldwide. It is the first global assessment to have estimated forest plantation areas using a uniform definition and including data from all countries. Owing to changes in both definitions and methodologies used, the 2000 global and national plantation data cannot be directly compared with those of previous plantation assessments (e.g. FAO, 1995b). For example, rubberwood plantations were considered forest plantations in FRA 2000, whereas in previous assessments they were not. The area of plantations in many industrialized countries, particularly in Europe, is less well Source: FRA 2000. FIGURE 4 Countries with the largest percentage of the world’s forests Russian Federation Brazil Canada United States China Australia Democratic Republic of the Congo Indonesia Angola Peru Other 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 % of total area Source: FRA 2000
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY defined than in developing countries Many European countries make no stinction between planted and natural forests in their inventories and the Forest area per capita, by region T difference between the two is often not readily discernible in practice. In Europe, naturally occurring species are commonly Forest area per capita(ha) planted, so that planted stands may have 7.0 species compositions that are similar or 6.5 identical to those of natural stands in addition, planted stands generally have 5.0 long rotation periods (in some cases more 4.5 than 100 years), so they may become, over time, difficult to distinguish from 3.0 natural forests According to FRA 2000 dat 0 n estimated 187 million ha of plantations worldwide, representing 5 percent of the 0.5 global forest area. Data on forest 0 Africa plantation area by region is indicated in sia Europe North and Oceania Table 4. Asia has by far the largest forest Source FRA 2000 plantation estate of any region, accounting figure 6 Forest area as percentage of country land are ■0-10 ■1020 4060 ■60+
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 39 defined than in developing countries. Many European countries make no distinction between planted and natural forests in their inventories, and the difference between the two is often not readily discernible in practice. In Europe, naturally occurring species are commonly planted, so that planted stands may have species compositions that are similar or identical to those of natural stands; in addition, planted stands generally have long rotation periods (in some cases more than 100 years), so they may become, over time, difficult to distinguish from natural forests. According to FRA 2000 data, there are an estimated 187 million ha of plantations worldwide, representing 5 percent of the global forest area. Data on forest plantation area by region is indicated in Table 4. Asia has by far the largest forest plantation estate of any region, accounting FIGURE 6 Forest area as percentage of country land area FIGURE 5 Forest area per capita, by region Source: FRA 2000. Africa Asia North and Central America Europe South America Oceania Total 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 Forest area per capita (ha) 0-10 10-20 20-40 40-60 60+
40 STATE OF THE WORLD's FORESTs 2001 GURE 7 Distribution of the world's forests by major ecological Zo Temperate ■ Tropical for 62 percent of the worlds forest plantations. fuelwood, soil and water conservation and wind in Asia. The ten countries with the largest reported are unspecified. The countries with mal ercent Plantations account for over one-fifth of all forests protection)account for 26 percent, and 26 1 eas of forest plantation together account for 80 industrial plantation areas are China percent of the global forest plantation area(Figure (37 million ha), the United States(16 million ha) 8). About 60 percent of forest plantations are and India(12 million ha). These three countries located in only four countries: China, India, the accounted for 73 percent of all industrial forest Russian Federation and the united states. plantations globally in 2000. The countries with Species in the genera Pinus and Eucalyptus a significant proportion of non-industrial continue to be the most commonly planted trees plantation areas are India(21 million ha) in forest plantations, accounting for 20 percent China(8 million ha), Indonesia and Thailand and 10 percent, respectively, of forest plantation (4 million ha each), together accounting for area worldwide. However, comparison with the 75 percent of all non-industrial forest plantations findings of the interim 1995 assessment suggests in the world that the overall diversity of species planted is Plantation ownership is of interest in light of Incre various countries' efforts to privatize some of Industrial plantations (ie those supplying raw their forest plantations. The ownership of material for industry)account for 48 percent of industrial plantations, where specified in the ten the global forest plantation estate, while countries with the largest plantation estates, is 33 non-industrial plantations(e.g. those grown for percent public, 26 percent private and 4l percent
40 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 for 62 percent of the world’s forest plantations. Plantations account for over one-fifth of all forests in Asia. The ten countries with the largest reported areas of forest plantation together account for 80 percent of the global forest plantation area (Figure 8). About 60 percent of forest plantations are located in only four countries: China, India, the Russian Federation and the United States. Species in the genera Pinus and Eucalyptus continue to be the most commonly planted trees in forest plantations, accounting for 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of forest plantation area worldwide. However, comparison with the findings of the interim 1995 assessment suggests that the overall diversity of species planted is increasing. Industrial plantations (i.e. those supplying raw material for industry) account for 48 percent of the global forest plantation estate, while non-industrial plantations (e.g. those grown for FIGURE 7 Distribution of the world’s forests by major ecological zone fuelwood, soil and water conservation and wind protection) account for 26 percent, and 26 percent are unspecified. The countries with major industrial plantation areas are China (37 million ha), the United States (16 million ha) and India (12 million ha). These three countries accounted for 73 percent of all industrial forest plantations globally in 2000. The countries with a significant proportion of non-industrial plantation areas are India (21 million ha), China (8 million ha), Indonesia and Thailand (4 million ha each), together accounting for 75 percent of all non-industrial forest plantations in the world. Plantation ownership is of interest in light of various countries’ efforts to privatize some of their forest plantations. The ownership of industrial plantations, where specified in the ten countries with the largest plantation estates, is 33 percent public, 26 percent private and 41 percent Boreal Temperate Subtropical Tropical
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY L. TABLE 3 Distribution of forests by ecological zone, 2000 South America (%) Americ (%) Tropical rain forest 11 otal tropical forests Subtropical humid forest Subtropical dry forest otal subtropical forests Temperate continental forest operate mount Boreal tundra woodland 094935 otal boreal forests 93130 17 5 enrages does not exactly tally with other area statistics because of distortions in the sensing classification of forests in the global forest cover TAble 4 Forest plantation area by regi otal forest area Natural forest area oftotal million ha) plantation area million ha) otal forest 1039 North and Central America 198 World total 3869 3682 100
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 41 Region Total forest area Natural forest area Forest plantation Plantations as % % of total (million ha) (million ha) area of the region’s plantation area (million ha) total forest Africa 650 642 8 1 4 Asia 548 432 116 21 62 Europe 1 039 1 007 32 3 17 North and Central America 549 532 18 3 9 Oceania 198 194 3 2 2 South America 886 875 10 1 6 World total 3 869 3 682 187 5 100 TABLE 4 Forest plantation area by region, 2000 TABLE 3 Distribution of forests by ecological zone, 2000 Ecological zone Total forest Africa Asia Europe North and Central Oceania South America (%) (%) (%) (%) America (%) (%) (%) Tropical rain forest 28 24 17 - 1 - 58 Tropical moist deciduous 11 40 14 - 9 6 31 Tropical dry 5 39 23 - 6 - 33 Tropical mountain 4 11 29 - 30 - 30 Total tropical forests 47 28 18 - 5 1 47 Subtropical humid forest 4 52 - 34 8 6 Subtropical dry forest 1 16 11 30 6 22 14 Subtropical mountain 3 1 47 13 38 - 1 Total subtropical forests 9 2 42 7 37 7 5 Temperate oceanic forest 1 - - 33 9 33 25 Temperate continental forest 7 - 13 40 46 - - Temperate mountain 3 - 26 40 29 5 - Total temperate forests 11 - 17 39 39 4 2 Boreal coniferous forest 19 - 2 74 24 - - Boreal tundra woodland 3 - - 19 81 - - Boreal mountain 11 - 1 63 36 - - Total boreal forests 33 - 2 65 34 - - Total forests 100 17 14 27 14 5 23 Notes: Distribution of percentages does not exactly tally with other area statistics because of distortions in the remote sensing classification of forests in the global forest cover map. Only zones with forests are included
42 STATE OF THE WORLD's FORESTs 2001 FIGURE 8 Countries with the largest proportion of the world's forest plantations, 2000 9 of total global plantation are China India Russian United Japan Indonesia Brazil Thailand Ukrair Source fra 2000 other or unspecified. Of the non-industrial calculated from the information supplied by plantations, 39 percent are public, 39 percent are countries, and the findings of the pan-tropical private and 22 percent are other or unspecified. remote sensing survey. The pan-tropical remote Forest area trends 1990-2000 information on changes in tropical forests at the Perhaps the most sought-after result of a global pan-tropical and regional levels over the 1980 forest resources assessment is the rate of change in 1990 and 1990-2000 periods, and yielde forest area globally and by country. FAOs information on the patterns of forest cover and contributions to the world's understanding of the country information represented a worldwide set status of forest resources and patterns of tropical of national assessments, which were harmonized deforestation. They have also stimulated discussion according to global definitions and subjected to in the international community concerning exact time series analysis to yield the FRA 2000 results. rates of change, methods used to capture the The definitions of the forest change processes information, and the terms and definitions used to -reforestation, deforestation and afforestation describe forests and forest changes are central to the assessment of forest cover FRA 2000 used two independent means to change Box 14 provides an explanation of these assess forest area change in the 1990s: data processes and the relationships among them
42 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 calculated from the information supplied by countries, and the findings of the pan-tropical remote sensing survey. The pan-tropical remote sensing survey provided directly comparable information on changes in tropical forests at the pan-tropical and regional levels over the 1980- 1990 and 1990-2000 periods, and yielded information on the patterns of forest cover and related land use changes in the tropics. The country information represented a worldwide set of national assessments, which were harmonized according to global definitions and subjected to time series analysis to yield the FRA 2000 results. The definitions of the forest change processes – reforestation, deforestation and afforestation – are central to the assessment of forest cover change. Box 14 provides an explanation of these processes and the relationships among them. other or unspecified. Of the non-industrial plantations, 39 percent are public, 39 percent are private and 22 percent are other or unspecified. Forest area trends, 1990-2000 Perhaps the most sought-after result of a global forest resources assessment is the rate of change in forest area globally and by country. FAO’s previous assessments have made major contributions to the world’s understanding of the status of forest resources and patterns of tropical deforestation. They have also stimulated discussion in the international community concerning exact rates of change, methods used to capture the information, and the terms and definitions used to describe forests and forest changes. FRA 2000 used two independent means to assess forest area change in the 1990s: data Source: FRA 2000. FIGURE 8 Countries with the largest proportion of the world’s forest plantations, 2000 China India Russian Federation United States Japan Indonesia Brazil Thailand Ukraine Islamic Republic of Iran Other 0 5 10 15 20 25 % of total global plantation area Source: FRA 2000