TABLE OF CONTENTS
(4-A) - FORESTED LANDS GENERALLY
[1] Global, [2] Northern/Central Asia, [3] Europe, [4] Africa, [5] Canada, [6] U.S., [7] Latin America, [8] Australia and Oceania, [9] Southeast Asia, [10] Asian Sub-Continent, [11] Developing World, [12] Far East, [13] Central America

(4-B) - CLASSES OF FORESTED LANDS
[1] Plantations, [2] Boreal, [3] Tropical, [4] Temperate Rainforest, [5] Conversions to Non-Forest Uses

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(4-A) - FORESTED LANDS GENERALLY
[1] Global, [2] Northern/Central Asia, [3] Europe, [4] Africa, [5] Canada, [6] U.S., [7] Latin America, [8] Australia and Oceania, [9] Southeast Asia, [10] Asian Sub-Continent, [11] Developing World, [12] Far East, [13] Central America

National, Regional and Global Forest-Land Use (Summary of WRI Table) (la)
Col.2-6 - Land area units -- 1000 km²
Col.7,8 - Production Units -- 1000 m³/ year
Col. 3 and Col. 6 = Forest Land Area (in units of 1000 km² )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Land |Forest|Closed|Open |Forest| ~Fuel | Wood
Region~ ~ ~| Area |Land~ |Forest|For. |Land~ | ~Prod.| Prod.
Africa~ ~ ~| 28545| 6708 | 2198 | 4646| 6845 | 396167| ~53299
Cent. Amer.| ~2622| ~667 | ~684 | ~ 26| ~709 | ~47210| ~11073
N. America~| 18388| 6172 | 4737 | 2587| 7324 | 112379| 552918
S. America~| 17435| 8973 | 6536 | 2045| 8581 | 221038| ~92492
S. Asia ~ ~| 26777| 5364 | 4095 | ~822| 4916 | 750004| 248913
N. Asia ~ ~| 22272| 9427 | 7916 | 1370| 9286 | ~86800| 288057
Europe~ ~ ~| ~4727| 1571 | 1370 | ~219| 1589 | ~57568| 295845
Oceana/Aust| ~8386| 1552 | ~863 | ~714| 1577 | ~ 8708| ~29295
Totals~ ~ ~|129152|40434 |28399 |12428|40827 |1679874|1571892

National, Regional and Global Forestland Use (la)
Note: A breakdown by nation is available in the tables of the references cited. This national data is useful for gaining perspective for understanding much of the other national data given in this document.
Col.3- Forest land data (1985-7) from Table 17.1 of World Resources 1990-91, World Resources Inst., Oxford U. Press (1990) (df90W1). Some data (S. Asia) are grossly in error, so data were obtained from World Development Report 1991, Oxford University Press (1991). Belize data from 1994 Information Please Almanac, World Resources Institute (1994).
(Col.4/5- Closed- and Open-forest land data from Table 19.1 of Ref. (df90W1).
Col.6= Col.4+ Col.5 (1980s data)
Production data (1985-87) are from Table 19.2 of Ref. (df90W1).
Col.7- Production of fuel wood and charcoal -- 1000 m³/ year.
Col.8- Production of industrial roundwood -- 1000 m³/ year.
Land area units -- 1000 km².
Nation~ ~ ~ | Land|Forest|~ ~ ~ |Forest|~ ~ ~| ~Fuel |Wood
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | Area| Land |Closed| Open |Total| ~Prod.|Prod.
Africa~ ~ ~ |28545| 6708 | 2198 |4646~ |6845 | 396167| 53299
Africa~ ~ ~ |29636| 6893 | 2198 |4646~ |6844 | 396196| 53307
Cent. Amer. | 2622| ~667 | ~684 | ~26~ | 709 | ~47210| 11073
Canada~ ~ ~ | 9221| 3520 | 2641 |1723~ |4364 | ~ 6623|172913
US~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 9167| 2652 | 2096 | 864~ |2960 | 105756|380005
N. America~ |18388| 6172 | 4737 |2587~ |7324 | 112379|552918
N./C.America|21378| 6845 | 5410 |2613~ |8023 | 159739|564141
S. America~ |17435| 8973 | 6536 |2045~ |8581 | 221038| 92492
S. America~ |17535| 9046 | 6536 |2045~ |8581 | 221104| 92679
South Asia~ |26777| 5364 | 4095 | 822~ |4916 | 750004|248913
South Asia~ |26787| 5399 | 4094 | 822~ |4916 | 750331|251081
USSR~ ~ ~ ~ |22272| 9426 | 7916 |1370~ |9286 | ~86800|288057
North Asia~ |22272| 9427 | 7916 |1370~ |9286 | ~86800|288057
North Asia~ |22272| 9427 | 7916 |1370~ |9286 | ~86800|288057
Europe~ ~ ~ | 4727| 1572 | 1370 | 219~ |1589 | ~57568|295845
Europe~ ~ ~ | 4730| 1572 | 1370 | 219~ |1589 | ~57568|295847
Oceania/Aust| 8386| 1552 | ~863 | 714~ |1577 | ~ 8708| 29295
Oceania/Aust| 7887| 1563 | ~863 | 714~ |1577 | ~ 8802| 29387
Totals~ ~ ~ 129152| 40434| 28399| 12428|40827|1679874|1571892
Totals~ ~ ~ 130225| 40744| 28388| 12428|40815|1680540|1574499
Totals~ ~ ~ 130765| 40744| 28388| 12428|40816|1680540|1574499

Inventory*# of Frontier-, Non-Frontier- and Cleared Forests (df98B1) (la)
(Col.2 and 5 - Areas in millions of km²)
Region~ ~|Frontier|Non-Frontier|Cleared|Totals 
Russia/Europe|~3.6| ~ 6.2~ ~ ~ | 6.9 ~ |16.7
Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~|~0.7| ~ 3.8~ ~ ~ |11.0 ~ |15.5
N./Cent.Amer.|~4.0| ~ 6.0~ ~ ~ | 3.1 ~ |13.1
South America|~4.6| ~ 2.3~ ~ ~ | 3.2 ~ |10.1
Africa~ ~ ~ ~|~0.6| ~ 2.1~ ~ ~ | 4.3 ~ | 7.0
Oceania ~ ~ ~|~0.5| ~ 0.5~ ~ ~ | 0.5 ~ | 1.5
Totals~ ~ ~ ~|14.0| ~20.9~ ~ ~ |29.0 ~ |63.9
*# Numbers were taken from a chart, so minor differences may exist between original data and these numbers.
Comments: "Frontier" apparently means virgin (never cut).

Ref. (df81B1) notes that the most recent and best global estimate (its Ref. 2) says the world has 26 million km² of closed forest + 12 million km² of open woodlands and savannas. Reports (1950 data) give 45 million km² + 23 million km² respectively (df81B1). Ref. (df81B1) also tabulates forest resources/capita by geographic regions in the mid-1970s. (la)

Just over 50% of the world's forests are in developing countries (p. 107 of (df90W1)). (la)

Natural forests are estimated to constitute about 95% of global forests, while plantation forests constitute around 5% (df03M1). (la)

Tropical and subtropical forests comprise 48% of the world's forests (df03M1)
Temperate and boreal forests account for 52% of the world's forests (df03M1). (la)

The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000; see (df01F1)) estimates the global forest area in 2000 at 38.7 million km² or about 30% of global land area (df03M1). (la) Comments: This figure probably includes open forest area.

Globally, there are 20.6 million km² of closed forest, with 60% in hardwoods. Over 50% of these closed forests are in temperate climates that accounts for 40% of the world's forest harvest (Ref. 126 of (df91M1)). Comments: A table elsewhere in this document indicates 28.4 million km² of closed forests (df90W1). (la)

The "closed forest" area of the world is estimated at 38 million km². But other values of society (parklands etc.) limit the availability for fuel and fiber supply. Hagler has estimated that 21 million km² (55% of all "closed" forests) are available to meet the world's demand for fuel and fibers (df96N1). This estimate is broken down in a table elsewhere in this document. (la)

In 1990 "forests" covered 34 million km² and "other wooded land" covered 17 million km². "Other wooded land" includes natural open woodlands, natural closed forests, and tree plantations (df97S1). (la)

Hagler estimates that the world's "available" forests covers 20.7 million km² (Hagler, 1995, in (df96N1)). Comments: Hagler's estimate of the "closed forest" area of the world is 38 million km². (la)

Using the IGBP definition of forest ecosystem and satellite image data, the PAGE study calculated the total forest area in 1993 as 29 million km² (22% of the world's ice-free land area). Using the FAO definition of forest ecosystem gives the 1995 global forest area of 34.5 million km² ((df97F1), p. 185). Comments: Other estimates that are higher -- 40+ -- probably also include open woodlands and shrublands. (la)

25% of earth's land surface (including ice-covered land) is forested (se51S1) (FAO data) (0.25 * 149 = 37.2 million km² ). Comments: This obviously includes both open and closed forestland.

FAO's 1986 tabulation (se90B1) of global land-use gives 27.1% forest [including open forests and savannas]. (la)
(se78B3), p. 109, gives 40 million km² as the world's forested area. Comments: This must include both open and closed forests. (la)

Global forested area [1985-87] = 40.74 million km² (se90W1), p. 268 (la) Comments: This area must include both open forestland (roughly 10 million km² ) and closed forestland. (la)

The world's forest cover in 2000 was 38.6 million km² compared to the FAO's previous estimate of 34.5 million in 1995. However, the two estimates are not directly comparable due to changes in definitions and the information base (df01F1).

Global Biomass Inventory Around 1950 (la)
(Ref. 23 of (df78W1)) (Ref. 7 of (df77B1)) ((df90W1), p. 123)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |Plant
Ecosystem ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | Area (million km²)|carbon
Type~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |mass
Trop. Rainforest ~ ~ ~| 17.0 (10.0)*(12.@)|344.Gt.
Trop. Seasonal Forest~| ~7.5 ( 4.5) ( 6.0)|117.
Temp. Evergreen Forest| ~5.0 ( 6.0) ( 8.2)| 79.
Temp. Deciduous Forest| ~7.0 (in above)~ ~| 95.
Boreal Forest ~ ~ ~ ~ | 12.0 ( 9.0) (11.7)|108.
Woodland and Shrubland| ~8.5 ( 4.5) (12.8)| 22.
Forest Land Total ~ ~ | 57.0 (34.0) (50.7)|765.
All Land Ecosystems*# |149.0(147.5)(151.0)|827.
Marine~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |361.0~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~1.7
Totals~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |510. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |828.
Cols. 2 and 5 are from R. H. Whitaker and G. Likens (df75W1) (1950 Data)
*Col. 3 is from G. L. Atjay, P. Ketner and P. Duvigneaud (df79A1)
*# from Chapter 3
@Col. 4 is from J. S. Olson, J. A. Watts, L. J. Allison (df83O1)

Forest Cover by Continents and Regions (Areas are in units of 1000 km²) (df98A2) (la)
Region~ ~ -Original|Remaining Closed Forest
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|Forest |(frontier/non-frontier)
Africa~ ~ ~| 6,799 | 2,302
Asia~ ~ ~ ~|15,132 | 4,275
N. America~|10,877 | 8,483
Cent. Amer.| 1,779 | ~ 970
S. America~| 9,736 | 6,800
Europe~ ~ ~| 4,690 | 1,521
Russia~ ~ ~|11,759 | 8,083
Oceania ~ ~| 1,431 | ~ 929
World ~ ~ ~|62,203 |33,363
Comments: Open forest inventory data can be found elsewhere in this review document.
Comments: Open forest inventory (global) is something on the order of 10 million km².

Deforestation of Forest Cover in Developing Nations during 1980-90. (la)
(Source: FAO (1995b) in (df96N1).) (Inventory is in millions of km²)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|~ Inventory~ |Losses
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 1980 | 1990 |1000 km²/
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|~ ~ ~ |~ ~ ~ |year(%/ year)
Tropical Africa ~ ~ ~| 5.686| 5.276| 41.0(0.7)
Tropical Asia ~ ~ ~ ~| 3.496| 3.106| 39.0(1.2)
Tropical Latin Amer.~| 9.922| 9.181| 74.1(0.8)
Non-Tropical Africa ~| 0.143| 0.130| 01.3(0.9)
Non-Tropical Asia ~ ~| 1.302| 1.257| 04.4(0.4)
Non-Trop. Latin Amer.| 0.443| 0.416| 02.7(0.6)
Total Developing~ ~ ~|20.992|19.365|162.7(0.8)

Forest Inventory Data* (df00W1) (la)
(See Ref. (df00W1) Table FG.1 for a breakdown by country)
Col. 2-8 - Areas in units of 1000 km²
(Land Area [ice-free] [Col. 2] is from Table FG.2)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Land|Total| in: |Nat. Forest|Plantations
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Area| 1990| 1995| 1990| 1995|1990|1995
Asia (excl.Mideast)|24068| 5040| 4903| 3949| 3756| 558| 528
Mideast/N. Africa ~|12536| ~204| ~194| ~ 97| ~ 87| ~16| ~19
Africa(sub-Saharan)|23631| 5320| 5136| 5286| 5100| ~32| ~50
Cent.Amer./Caribb.~| 2647| ~846| ~794| ~841| ~789| ~ 5| ~ 8
South America ~ ~ ~|17517| 8945| 8706| 8872| 8633| ~73| ~92
Oceania ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 8489| ~911| ~907| ~425| ~418| ---| ~13
North America ~ ~ ~|18380| 4533| 4571| ----| ----| ---| ---
Europe~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|22634| 9307| 9333| ----| ----| ---| ---
Developed World ~ ~|41014|14931|15018| ----| ----| ---| ---
Developing World~ ~|88888|20175|19526|19397|18712| 675| 684
Global Totals ~ ~ |130484|35108|34544| --- | --- | -- | ---
* Forest areas in developed countries are defined as land where tree crowns cover 20% of the area, including: open forests, forest roads and fire breaks, temporarily cleared areas, young stands expected to achieve at least 20% crown-cover upon maturity. Forest areas in developed countries are not broken down into subcategories of natural forests and plantations due to difficulty in distinguishing the two in many countries.

Data on Original Forest, Current Forest and Frontier Forest ((df00W1), Table FG.2) (la)
See Ref. (df00W1) for a breakdown by nation.
Col. 2- Land areas in units of 1000 km².
Col. 3- Original Closed Forest: % of land area (8000 years ago)
Col. 4- Current@ Forest (1996): % of original forest
Col. 5- Frontier* Forest (1996): % of original forest
Col. 6- Tropical# Forest (between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn)
Col. 7- Non-tropical Forest (all other forests)
Col. 8- Sparse trees/parkland (tree canopy = 10-30%, e.g. savanna, steppe)
Note: Col. 6, 7, 8 are data from the 1990s.
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | Area~ |Orig|Curr|Fron| Trop| NonT|Spar.
Asia(excl.mideast)| 24,068| ~ ~| ~ ~| ~ ~| 2107| 1321| 424
Europe~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 22,634|72.7|58.4|21.3| ~ ~0| 9913| 104
Mideast/N.Africa~ | 12,536| ~ ~| ~ ~| ~ ~| ~ ~1| ~180| ~ 1
Sub-Saharan Africa| 23,631| ~ ~| ~ ~| ~ ~| 4481| ~ ~1| 697
Canada~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~9,221|65.8|91.2|56.5| ~ ~0| 4043|1436
US~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~9,159|53.5|60.2| 6.3| ~ ~4| 2794| ~53
Cent.Amer./Caribb.| 26,471|67.2|54.5| 9.7| ~708| ~213| ~ 0
S.America ~ ~ ~ ~ | 17,517|55.6|69.1|45.6| 6205| ~392|1682
Oceania ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~8,489|16.9|64.9|22.3| ~536| ~271|1021
Totals~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |130,484|47.7|53.4|21.7|14076|18238|5416
Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 30,854|49.1|28.2| 5.3| 2107| 1451| 424
Africa~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 29,636|22.9|33.9| 7.8| 4482| ~ 82| 697
* Large, relatively intact ecosystems
@ Woodlands and shrubland are not included
# Montane temperate forests between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are counted as tropical forests.

Countries with the Most Remaining Frontier Forests (df98B1) (la)
(Col. 2 - Areas are in units of 1000 km² ) (Col. 3 Areas as a % of all forests )
Nation~ ~|Col.2|Col.3 |
Russia~ ~ |3448| (26%)|
Canada~ ~ |3429| (25%)|
Brazil~ ~ |2284| (17%)|
Peru~ ~ ~ | 540| ( 4%)|
Indonesia | 530| ( 4%)|
Venezuela | 391| ( 3%)|
Colombia ~| 348| ( 3%)|
U.S. ~ ~ ~| 307| ( 2%)|
Zaire~ ~ ~| 292| ( 2%)|
Bolivia~ ~| 255| ( 2%)|
Papua N.G.| 172| ( 1%)|
Chile~ ~ ~| 162| ( 1%)|
Comments: "Frontier" forests are largely virgin forests.

Classification of the Earth's Remaining Frontier Forests (df98B1) (la)
Boreal:~ ~|48%|Tropical:|44%|Both boreal and temperate~ |4%
Temperate:| 3%|~ ~ ~ ~ ~|~ ~|Both temperate and tropical|1%

Forest Areas (millions of km²) and volumes (billions of m³) in various Continents and Regions (df77E1) (la)
(Source: Reidar Persson, World Forest Resources (1974))
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Land |Forest Area~ | Forest Volumes |
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Area |Total/Closed@|Conif.|Broadleaf|All#
Africa~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 30.3 | 8.0 / 1.9 ~ | ~0.1 | ~ 5.1 ~ | 39
Asia w/o USSR ~ ~| 27.5 | 5.3 / 4.0 ~ | ~5.5 | ~28.5 ~ | 40
Cent. America ~ ~| ~2.7 | 0.7 / 0.6 ~ | ~0.7 | ~ 1.5 ~ | ~6
South America ~ ~| 17.8 | 7.3 / 5.3 ~ | ~0.5 | ~59.5 ~ | 96
Aust./Oceania ~ ~| ~8.5 | 1.9 / 0.8 ~ | ~0.3 | ~ 1.0 ~ | ~9
Europe (w/o USSR)| ~4.9 | 1.7 / 1.4 ~ | ~8.0 | ~ 4.0 ~ | 13
N. America~ ~ ~ ~| 21.5 | 6.3 / 6.3 ~ | 26.5 | ~ 9.5 ~ | 59
USSR~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 22.4 | 9.2 / 7.7 ~ | 61.3 | ~12.0 ~ | 79
World Totals~ ~ ~|135.6*|40.3 /28.0 ~ |102.9 | 121.1 ~ |341
@ Crowns of trees cover more than 20% of the area.
# Volume in all forestland, including open, as well as closed, forest.
* World's ice-free land area is 130-133 million km².

Forest Cover Inventories in Various Countries and Regions -- Original and Current (df91P1)
(Col. 2, 3, 5, 6 - Areas are in millions of km²) (la)
Country~ |Orig.|Current| Country/Region~ |Orig. |Current
USSR~ ~ ~| n.a.| 9.44~ | Colombia~ ~ ~ ~ | 0.70 | 0.28
Canada~ ~| 5.30| 4.53~ | Papua New Guinea| 0.43 | 0.36
Brazil~ ~| 2.86| 2.20~ | Australia ~ ~ ~ | 2.44 | 1.51
Zaire ~ ~| 1.25| 1.00~ | China ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 4.76 | 1.17
US~ ~ ~ ~| 4.38| 2.96~ | New Zealand ~ ~ | 0.22 | 0.07
Indonesia| 1.22| 0.86~ | Europe~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | n.a. | 1.57
Peru~ ~ ~| 0.70| 0.52~ | Other ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | n.a. |15.63
Venezuela| 0.42| 0.35~ | World Totals~ ~ |62.00 |42.44
Comments: Data include open- and closed forests, but might not include forest fallow and shrubland.
Comments: Data include boreal forests.

Forest Inventories in Various Regions (FAO data) (df84P1) (Areas are in millions of km²) (la)
(Data include boreal forests -- 11.7 million km²).
F.F. and S (Col. 4) - Forest Fallow and Shrubland
Region~ ~ ~ ~|Closed|Open |F.F. |Totals
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|Forest|Woods|and S| ~ ~.
Trop. America| 6.79 | 2.17| 3.16|12.12
Trop. Africa | 2.17 | 4.86| 6.09|13.12
USSR~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 7.85 | 1.15| 0.15| 9.15
Trop. Asia~ ~| 3.05 | 0.31| 1.09| 4.45
N. America~ ~| 4.70 | 1.76| ----| 6.46
Europe~ ~ ~ ~| 1.40 | 0.29| 0.01| 1.70
Pacific ~ ~ ~| 0.80 | 1.05| 0.05| 1.90
Totals~ ~ ~ ~|26.76 |11.59|10.55|48.96

Forest Resources in Various Continents and Regions, circa 1980 (UN FAO data) (df88P1) (la)
(Col. 2-6 Areas are in units of millions of km²)
F.F. and S (Col. 5) = Forest Fallow and Shrubland
Region~ ~ ~ ~ |Closed| Open| Total|F.F. |Total
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |Forest|Woods|Forest|and S| ~ -.
Africa~ ~ ~ ~ | 2.36 | 5.08| 7.44 | 6.08|13.52
Latin America | 7.39 | 2.48| 9.87 | 3.13|13.00
Soviet Union~ | 7.92 | 1.37| 9.29 | ----| 9.29
Asia w/o China| 2.37 | 0.61| 2.98 | 0.62| 3.60
China ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1.22 | 0.15| 1.37 | ----| 1.37
North America | 4.59 | 2.75| 7.34 | ----| 7.34
Europe~ ~ ~ ~ | 1.37 | 0.22| 1.59 | ----| 1.59
Oceania ~ ~ ~ | 2.23 | 0.76| 2.99 | 0.47| 3.46
Totals~ ~ ~ ~ |29.45 |13.42|42.87 |10.30|53.17

Forest Inventories in Various Continents and Regions (mid-1970s) (df81B2) (Areas are in millions of km²) (la)
Latin America| 6.80 
USSR~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 6.80 
N.America ~ ~| 4.70 
Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 4.10 
Africa~ ~ ~ ~| 1.90 
Europe~ ~ ~ ~| 1.38 
Oceania ~ ~ ~| 0.89 
Total ~ ~ ~ ~|26.57 
Comments: These numbers apparently refer to closed forests only -- See FAO Table data (df84P1) elsewhere in this section.

Global Forest Status by Region (df97B2) (la)
(Areas (Col. 2 and Col. 4) are in units of 1000 km²)
(Changes in area (Col. 3 and Col. 5) are in 1000 km²/ year.)
Region~ ~ ~ ~|All Countries |Developing Countries
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 1995 |1991-95| 1995 ~ | 1991-95
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Area |Change | Area*~ | Change
Tropical
Africa~ ~ ~ ~| 5049 | -36.9 | 5027.4 | -37.0
Asia/Oceania~| 3217 | -32.1 | 2975.0 | -35.1
Latin Amer. ~| 9500 | -56.9 | 9013.4 | -56.9
Total Trop. ~|17766 |-125.9 |17015.9 |-129.0
Non-Tropical
Africa~ ~ ~ ~| ~153 | ~ 0.5 | ~127.1 | ~ 0.5
Asia/Oceania~| 2432 | ~ 2.1 | 1231.6 | ~ 6.6
Latin Amer. ~| ~427 | ~ 1.2 | ~409.3 | ~ 1.2
Europe~ ~ ~ ~| 1460 | + 3.9 | ------ | ~ ---
USSR (former)| 8162 | + 5.6 | ------ | ~ ---
N. America~ ~| 4571 | + 7.6 | ------ | ~ ---
Tot.Non-Trop.|17204 | +13.2 | 1768.0 | ~ 8.3
Totals~ ~ ~ ~|34544 |-112.7 |18783.9 |-137.3
* Natural Forest area -- excluding forest plantations.

Estimated Production Forest by World Region in 1995 (million km²) (la)
Source: Hagler (1995) in Ref. (df96N1)
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~|Conif~ |Non- ~ |Forest
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|erous~ |Conif. | Total
North America ~| 2.686 | 1.702 | 4.388
Latin America ~| 0.089 | 6.601 | 6.690
Western Europe~| 0.659 | 0.323 | 0.982
Russia/E.Europe| 3.242 | 1.318 | 4.560
S. East Asia~ ~| 0.987 | 2.285 | 3.272
Rest of World ~| 0.071 | 0.743 | 0.814
World Totals~ ~| 7.734 |12.972 |20.706
Rest of World includes Africa, Australia, Oceania
Comments: Forests where timber harvesting is not allowed, or where the land is inaccessible are not included in this tally.

Global Forest Tally by Continent in 2000 (Table 6.1 of (df03M1)) (la) (Areas are in millions of km²)
(Annual over changes are in thousands of km² and in %)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~|Total forest| ~~ ~|Annual cover
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | Area |% of| Area |Plant-|change | -
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~|land| per- |ation |1990-00| -
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~|area|capita| Area | ~ ~ ~ | -
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~| %~ | ~ha~ | ~ ~ ~| ~ ~ ~ | -
Africa~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 6.499|21.8| 0.85 | .080 |-52.62 |-0.78%
Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 5.478|17.8| 0.15 |1.158 | -3.64 |-0.07
Oceania ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1.976|23.3| 6.58 | .028 | -3.65 |-0.18
N./Central Amer.| 5.493|25.7| 1.15 | .175 | -5.70 |-0.10
S. America~ ~ ~ | 8.856|50.5| 2.60 | .105 |-37.11 |-0.41
Europe~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |10.393|46.0| 1.43 | .320 | ~8.81 |+0.08
World ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |38.695|29.6| 0.65 |1.867 |-93.91 |-0.22
Source: FAO (df01F1).

Forest data by Continent and Region (df01F1) (la)
Col. 2 Total Land Area in units of 1000 km²
Col. 3 Total Forest Area in 2000 in units of 1000 km²
Col. 4 Total Forest Area in 2000 in %
Col. 5 Total Forest Area in 2000 in area/ capita
Col. 6 Forest Area Change during 1990-2000 in units of 1000 km²
Col. 7 Forest Area Change during 1990-2000 in %/ year
Column 1~ ~ ~ | 2~ ~ | 3 ~ | 4~ | 5 | 6 ~ | 7
Africa~ ~ ~ ~ | 30084| 6499|21.6|0.9|-5264|-0.8
Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 31667| 5421|17.1|0.2| -371|-0.1
Oceania ~ ~ ~ | ~8486| 2012|23.7|6.7| ~-83| 0.0
Europe~ ~ ~ ~ | 22762|10395|45.7|1.4| ~871| 0.1
Canada~ ~ ~ ~ | ~9215| 2446|26.5|7.9| ~ ~0| 0.0
U.S.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~9159| 2260|24.7|0.8| ~388| 0.2
N./Cent.Amer. | 20989| 5493|26.2|1.2| -570|-0.1
South America | 17837| 8742|49.0|2.6|-3628|-0.4
Total-World ~ |131825|38562|29.3|0.7|-9045|-0.2

Regional forest cover and forest cover change (df01F1) (la)
Col.2 - Land Area: Col. 3 and 4 -Total Forest in 2000
Col. 5 and 6 - Change during 1990-2000
Col. 7 - Forest Area in 1995²:
Col. 8 -- Change during 1990-95²
Areas are in millions of km² (Rates are in thousands of km² / year)
Column~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 2~ ~ | 3 ~ | 4 | 5 ~ | 6 ~ |7~ ~ | 8
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | Area |Area | % |Area | %/~ |Area | Area
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~| ~ ~ | ~ |/Year|Year | ~ ~ |/Year
Africa~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 30.08| 6.50| 17| -53 | -0.8| 5.20| -37
Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 31.67| 5.42| 14| -04 | -0.1| 5.03| -29
Oceania ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~8.49| 2.01| ~5| - 1 |n.s.¹| 0.91| ~-1
Europe~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 22.76|10.40| 27| ~ 9 | ~0.1| 9.33| ~ 5
N./Cent. America| 20.99| 5.39| 14| ~-6 | -0.1| 5.37| ~-3
S. America~ ~ ~ | 17.84| 8.74| 23| -36 | -0.4| 8.71| -48
World Total ~ ~ |131.83|38.56|100| -90 | -0.2|34.54|-113
1) n. s. means not significant. 2) According to (df97F1), included for comparison with present estimates.

Total forest area by ecological zone and distribution between regions, according to FRA 2000 global ecological zoning and global forest cover map (df01F1) (la)
Col.2 - Total forest area in millions of km²: Col.3 - Africa: Col.4 - Asia: Col.5 - Oceania:
Col.6 - Europe: Col.7 - North/ Cent. America: Col. 8 -- South America: Col.9 - Totals
Columns 3-9 are in percent.
Column~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~2~ | 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9
Ecological Zone ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |Area | %| %| %| %| %| %| %
Tropical rainforest ~ ~ ~ ~ |10.90|24|17| -| -| 1|58|100
Tropical moist deciduous~ ~ | 4.10|40|14| 6| -| 9|31|100
Tropical dry~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1.80|39|23| -| -| 6|33|100
Tropical mountain ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1.50|11|29| -| -|30|30|100
Subtropical humid forest~ ~ | 1.70| -|52| 8| -|34| 6|100
Subtropical dry forest~ ~ ~ | 0.30|16|11|22|30| 6|14|100
Subtropical mountain~ ~ ~ ~ | 1.30| 1|47| -|13|38| 1|100
Temperate oceanic forest~ ~ | 0.30| -| -|33|33| 9|25|100
Temperate continental forest| 2.70| -|13| -|40|46| -|100
Temperate mountains ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1.30| -|26| 5|40|29| -|100
Boreal coniferous forest~ ~ | 7.30| -| 2| -|74|24| -|100
Boreal tundra woodland~ ~ ~ | 1.30| -| -| -|19|81| -|100
Boreal mountain ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 4.10| -| 1| -|63|36| -|100
Totals~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |38.62|17|14| 5|27|14|23|100

Forest Land Categories of Major Global Regions (in millions of km²) (se63U1) (la)
-~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | Forest ~ | Forest ~ | Total
Region ~ ~ ~ | Land** ~ | Land ~ ~ | Area
N. America ~ | 7.50(40%)| 7.10(38%)| 18.75
Cent. America| 0.76(28%)| 0.71(26%)| ~2.72
S. America ~ | 8.90(51%)| 8.30(47%)| 17.60
Africa ~ ~ ~ | 7.10(24%)| 7.00(24%)| 29.70
Europe ~ ~ ~ | 1.44(31%)| 1.38(29%)| ~4.71
USSR ~ ~ ~ ~ | 9.10(42%)| 7.38(34%)| 21.44
rest of Asia | 5.50(20%)| 5.00(19%)| 27.00
Pacific *#*~ | 0.96(11%)| 0.92(11%)| ~8.42
World~ ~ ~ ~ |41.26(29%)|37.79(26%)|130.34
** Col. 2 includes "unstocked" forestland (land with no trees on it), Col. 3 does not include unstocked forestland.
*#* "Pacific" includes Australia.
Percentages given are percent of total ice-free land area (Col. 4).

Boreal forests of fir, spruce and larch ("taiga") cover 6 million km² of Russia. More than 50% has never been cut (df92S1). (la)

The largest single forest tract is in Siberia, 5.5 million km² in the early 1990s, or nearly twice as much as in Brazilian Amazonia. (df96M2). (la)

Siberian forest cover 6.0 million km² and represent 57% of the world's coniferous forest volume and 25% of the world's total inventoried wood volume (Ref. 2 of (df92R5)). (la)

The Russian Federation contains the largest forest area of any nation in the world -- 7.50-7.71 million km² (df92K2) (df94P3) (df95F2) (df95A2). (la)

Forest-Related Land Categories (millions of km²) and Growing Stock (10⁹ m³) in Russia over time (Table 1 of (df03S3)) (la)
Year~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1966 | 1978 | 1988 | 1998
Forest Area ~ ~ |11.62 |11.86 |11.83 |11.79
Non-Forest Land | 3.11 | 3.14 | 2.98 | 2.97
Forest Land ~ ~ | 8.51 | 8.72 | 8.84 | 8.82
Forest Area ~ ~ | 7.07 | 7.50 | 7.71 | 7.74
Unforested Area | 1.45 | 1.23 | 1.13 | 1.08
Forest Area **~ | 7.84 | 8.20 | 8.43 | 8.51
Growing Stock ~ |76.96 |80.67 |81.64 |81.86
** Based on the FAO definition of forest
Note: Forest Area = Non-Forest Land + Forest Land
Note: Forest Land = Forest Area + Unforested Area 

Areas of forestland - forested (FA) and non-forested (UFA) by bioclimatic zones of Russia (1993) (Table 8 of (df03S4))
Zone~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |Area|(1000 km²)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | FA | UFA
Arctic desert ~ ~ | ~ 0| ~ 0
Tundra~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~38| ~35
Forest tundra & ~ |1412| 558
~ ~ Northern taiga|
Middle taiga~ ~ ~ |4550| 345
Southern taiga~ ~ |1265| 218
Temperate Forest~ | 265| ~57
Steppe~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~93| ~16
Semi-desert/desert| ~13| ~ 1
Totals~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |7635|1230

Return to the Table of Contents of this Chapter 4 - Go to Table of Contents of this Document 

The Resource Assessment Commission estimated that forest and woodlands once covered 520,000 km² or two-thirds of New South Wales. Of these 520,000 km², 210,000 remain (df96U1). (la)

Nearly all the forest covering 15% of Scotland are plantations of non-native conifers (df98A2). (la) (See Section (4-B)[1] )

Scotland's original Caledonia Forest once covered 15,000 km² and grew continuously since the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Today Caledonia Forest consists of 38 scattered remnants totaling 120 km² (df93W3). It was cut in the 17th and 18th centuries for timber, and in the 19th century for sheep grazing (df93W3). (la)

Non-exploitable closed forest in Europe occupies about 140,000 km² (7% of the total closed forest and other wooded land) (df92K1). (la)

Forest Damage in Europe, 1988* (df90F4) (areas in km²)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|Forest|Damaged|Country ~ ~|Forest|Damaged 
Country ~ ~ ~ | Area|~ Area |~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|~ Area|~ Area
Czechoslovakia|45780| 32500 |Luxembourg | ~ 880|~ ~370
Greece~ ~ ~ ~ |20340| 13020 |Finland~ ~ |200590| 78230
UK~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |22000| 14080 |Sweden ~ ~ |237000| 92430
Estonia ~ ~ ~ |17950| ~9330 |Wallonia(B)| ~2480|~ ~870
W.Germany ~ ~ |73600| 38270 |Yugoslavia | 48890| 15640
Tuscany, Italy| 1500| ~~770 |Spain~ ~ ~ |117920| 36560
Liechtenstein | ~ 80| ~ ~40 |Ireland~ ~ | ~3340| ~1000
Norway~ ~ ~ ~ |59250| 29630 |Austria~ ~ | 37540| 10890
Denmark ~ ~ ~ | 4660| ~2280 |France ~ ~ |144400| 33210
Poland~ ~ ~ ~ |86540| 42400 |Hungary~ ~ | 16370| ~3600
Netherlands ~ | 3110| ~1490 |Lithuania~ | 18100| ~3800
Flanders Belg.| 1150| ~ 530 |Bolzano, It|~ 3070|~ ~610
E.Germany ~ ~ |29550| 13000 |Portugal ~ | 30600| ~1220
Bulgaria~ ~ ~ |36270| 15600 |Other~ ~ ~ |134740| ~n.a.
Switzerland ~ |11860| ~5100 |Totals ~ ~|1409560|496470
* Ref. (df88B1) gives 1986 data.
Comments: Damage is largely attributed to acid rain.

Africa's land area = 29.7 million km² (se87L1). In early 1980s, 6.96 million km² were forest (se87L1). (la)

Forests of sub-Saharan Africa cover 1.7 million km² in 14 countries (df94C2). (la)

Nearly 4 million km² of Africa now qualify as "forest/ cropland mosaics" where cropland accounts for 30-40% of the vegetation cover ((df00W1), p. 90). (la)

6% (1.8 million km²) of Africa's land area is in closed forest (df88B1). (la) Comments: A recent FAO definition of "closed" forest may cause this number to increase. (See definitions in forest degradation review document.)

Humid Tropical Forest Areas in Africa in 1980, and rates of deforestation for 1976-80 and 1981-85 (km² and km²/ year) (df91D1). (la)
Country ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ Area~ | Deforestation
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ (km²) |1976-80| 1981-85
Angola~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 29,000| ~400~ | ~440
Benin ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~ ~470| ~ 15~ | ~ 12
Cameroon~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~179,200| ~800~ | ~800
Cent. Afr. Repub.| ~ 35,900| ~ 50~ | ~ 50
Congo ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~213,400| ~220~ | ~220
Ivory Coast ~ ~ ~| ~ 44,580| 3100~ | 2900
Equatorial Guinea| ~ 12,950| ~ 25~ | ~ 30
Gabon ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~205,000| ~150~ | ~150
Ghana ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 17,180| ~270~ | ~220
Guinea~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 20,500| ~360~ | ~360
Guinea Bissau ~ ~| ~ ~6,600| ~150~ | ~170
Kenya ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~6,900| ~110~ | ~110
Liberia ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 20,000| ~510~ | ~460
Madagascar~ ~ ~ ~| ~103,000| 1650~ | 1500
Nigeria ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 59,500| 2850~ | 3000
Reunion ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~1,000| ----~ | ----
Senegal ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~2,200| ----~ | ----
Sierra Leone~ ~ ~| ~ ~7,400| ~ 58~ | ~ 60
Tanzania~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 14,400| ~100~ | ~100
Togo~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~3,040| ~ 20~ | ~ 21
Uganda~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~7,500| ~100~ | ~100
Zaire ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|1,056,500| 1650~ | 1800
Totals~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|2,046,220|12690~ |12500

2.98 million km² of the US is forestland, down by 1.24 million km² from 1600 (df94P2).

1.98 million km² is US timberland -- forestland capable of producing more than 20 ft³/ acre/ year (140 m³/ km²/ year) and not withdrawn from timber production (df94P2). (la)

Pinyon pine and juniper cover 304,000 km² of the semi-arid and western US. Since the 1800s they have taken over about 81,000 km² of grass/ shrub lands (df91J1). Comments: Over-grazing promotes the spread of pinyon-juniper because cattle don't eat pinyon-juniper, and pinyon juniper competes with grass. (la)

100 million acres (405,000 km²) of Alaska are forested, but only 15 million acres (61,000 km²) are considered "commercial" (available and capable of producing industrial volumes of wood) (Forest Watch, 7/91). (la) Comments: Most of Alaska's forest lands are inaccessible and/ or of very low quality.

Total Area of Land, Forest, Range, Water, etc. in the US by State and Region (Table 2.1, (df80H1)) (la)
(includes Alaska, Hawaii) Areas (Col.2) are in billions of acres (Col. 3 is in millions of km²)
Total land and water~ | 2.361 ~|(9.599)
Total land~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 2.255 ~|(9.130)
Total forest and range| 1.557 ~|(6.304)
Total forest~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 0.737 ~|(2.984)
Total range ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 0.820 ~|(3.320)
Other land~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 0.6982 |(2.827)
Total water area~ ~ ~ | 0.1067 |(0.432)

History of Forest Cover (million km²) in the Contiguous US (df88P1) (df97B2) (la)
Year | 1630| 1920| 1963| 1982| 1990 | 1995
Cover| 3.85| 2.49| 2.56| 2.33| 2.096| 2.125
Comments: These numbers probably pertain to commercial timberlands.

Change in vegetation since Tasmania's settlement (Areas in Col. 2, 3, and 4 are in km²) (df96U1) (la)
VEGETATION TYPE ~ |Pre-European|Present| Decrease
Native Vegetation ~ ~ ~| 48,780|31,094 |17,686 km²
Rainforest~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 10,000| 7,543 | 2,457
Wet Eucalypt Forest ~ ~| 12,728|10,182 | 2,456
Dry Eucalypt Forest ~ ~| 28,533|14,399 |14,134
Blackwood Swamp Forest | ~ ~170| ~ ~10 | ~ 160
Grassland ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~594| ~N.D. | ~N.D.
Coastal Heathland ~ ~ ~| ~4,258| 2,258 | 2,000
Alpine~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~1,150| 1,135 | ~ ~15
Salt marsh~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~ 40| ~ ~33 | ~ ~ 7
N.D. means No Data

Forest inventory of Central America: 709,000 km² (df90W1). (la)

Forest cover in Central America: 60% in 1960; 40% in 1980 (df88P1). Comments: Cover in 2000 is far smaller due to clearing for grazing. (la)

Before Cortez, southern Mexico had 223,000 km² of lowland jungle and mountain forest. In the mid-1980s, 24,000 km² remain (df88R1). (la)

In 1970, Mexico's Lacandon Rainforest contained 12,200 km² of rainforest. In 1988, about 6,100 km² remained (df88R1). (la)

Around 1985, 2% of Haiti was forested (df88M2). (la)
In 1923, Haiti's forest-cover was 63% (df88M2). (la)

Originally Puerto Rico (8897 km² ) was 100% forested, 3700 km² of Puerto Rico's forest remain (df80U1). 1/3 of the original forest was rainforest (df80U1). (la)

Central America's Forest- and Pasture Areas (df91D1) (og91D1) (1000 km²) (See plot in Ref. (df91D1)) (la)
Year~ ~|1965|1970|1975|1980|1985|1988
Forest | 280| 240| 220| 200| 185| 180
Pasture| ~90| 110| 120| 125| 135| 140
Totals~| 370| 350| 340| 325| 320| 320
See Section (4-B) [5] (Conversions to other uses)

Forest-Land-Grazing-Land Trade-offs in Central America (df84P1) (km²) (la)
Country ~ | ~Grazing Land ~ | Forestland
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1961| 1978 |ch. | 1961 | 1978 |change
Costa Rica| 9690| 17640|+82%| 28480| 19300| -32%
ElSalvador| 6060| ~6900|+14 | ~2300|~ ~ ~0| 100
Guatemala |10390| 19760|+90 | 84000| 44000| -48
Honduras~ |20060| ~2370|+18 | 71000| 39000| -45
Nicaragua |17100| 28200|+65 | 64320| 44000| -32
Panama~ ~ | 8990| 14300|+59 | 41000| 32000| -22
Totals~ ~ |72290|110500|+53%|291100|178300| -39%
Comments: Clearly only about 40,000 km² of the 110,000 km² loss in forest cover is explained by growth in grazing lands. Most of the remainder is probably explained by growth in croplands, particularly shifting cultivation, with urbanization explaining most of the remainder.

[1A] Plantations - Global
The FAO estimates (in "State of the World's Forests 1997") of global plantation cover: 900,000 km² in 1980; 1.8 million km² in 1995 (df98M1). As much as 1 million km² is for industrial use; about 3/4 of that is planted in slow-growing species (e.g. teak and slower-growing pines); and 25% is in fast-growing species, mostly eucalyptus and the faster-growing pines. These are used mainly for pulpwood, fiberboard and other reconstituted-wood products (df98M1). (la)

Reductions in net deforestation (or gains in forest area) in developing and industrialized countries were mainly due to significant increases in forest plantations and the succession of forests on abandoned agricultural lands. The current rate of plantation establishment is 45,000 km²/ year worldwide. For the 1990's as a whole, however, it was estimated that about 30,000 km²/ year of plantations were successfully established, half of which constitute reforestation of previously forested lands. There were no significant transitions from plantations into natural forests, or conversions into agricultural lands (df01F1). (la)

Industrial roundwood plantations account for 3% of world's total forest area -- about 1 million km². However they provide about 22% of the world's industrial roundwood supply (df99B1). (la)

Wood plantations, globally, covered 400,000 km² in 1993 (df98M1). (la)

Of the estimated 1.87 million km² of plantations worldwide in 2000, Asia had by far, the largest areas in forest plantation development (df01F1). (la)

Between 1980-90 the (global) area under forest plantations increased from 0.18 to nearly 0.44 million km². By 2000 it had increased to 1.87 million km² (df03M1). (la)

For the 1990's as a whole, it was estimated that about 30,000 km²/ year of new forest plantations were successfully established globally (df01F1). (la)

A table of areas of industrial forest plantations, circa 1985, is in Ref. (df88P1). Total area (15 countries + W. Europe + "other") = 917,030 km². Ref. (df88P1) also tabulates global forest resources circa 1980 (region; closed forest area; open woodlands area; forest fallow- and shrubland area, etc.). (la)

Total plantation area in tropics (12/90): 438,000 km², including 156,000 km² of high-yielding industrial forest plantations (df96N1). (la)

Tree plantations occupy 1.8 million km², split about equally between developed and developing nations. Over 50% of the area is devoted to producing wood fiber, wood panels and sawlogs. The remainder is for conserving soil and water on degraded land or for local benefit (fuelwood, forage etc.) (df98A2). (la)

Worldwide, 1.8+ million km² of natural forests have been converted to forest plantations (df98A1). (la)

Forest Inventory Data* (df00W1) (la)
(See Ref. (df00W1) Table FG.1 for a breakdown by country)
Col. 2-8 - Areas in units of 1000 km²
(Land Area [ice-free] [Col. 2] is from Table FG.2)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Land|Total| in: |Nat. Forest|Plantations
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| Area| 1990| 1995| 1990| 1995|1990|1995
Asia (excl.Mideast)|24068| 5040| 4903| 3949| 3756| 558| 528
Mideast/N. Africa ~|12536| ~204| ~194| ~ 97| ~ 87| ~16| ~19
Africa(sub-Saharan)|23631| 5320| 5136| 5286| 5100| ~32| ~50
Cent.Amer./Caribb.~| 2647| ~846| ~794| ~841| ~789| ~ 5| ~ 8
South America ~ ~ ~|17517| 8945| 8706| 8872| 8633| ~73| ~92
Oceania ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 8489| ~911| ~907| ~425| ~418| ---| ~13
North America ~ ~ ~|18380| 4533| 4571| ----| ----| ---| ---
Europe~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|22634| 9307| 9333| ----| ----| ---| ---
Developed World ~ ~|41014|14931|15018| ----| ----| ---| ---
Developing World~ ~|88888|20175|19526|19397|18712| 675| 684
Global Totals ~ ~ |130484|35108|34544| --- | --- | -- | ---
* Forest areas in developed countries are defined as land where tree crowns cover 20% of the area, including: open forests, forest roads and fire breaks, temporarily cleared areas, young stands expected to achieve at least 20% crown-cover upon maturity. Forest areas in developed countries are not broken down into subcategories of natural forests and plantations due to difficulty in distinguishing the two in many countries.

870,000 km² of tropical Montane watersheds (relatively cool, moist upland areas) had been deforested by the mid-1980s -- 33% of the original (df88P1). (la)

Original area covered by tropical montane forest (cool, moist upland areas) was 2.61 million km². Inventory around the mid-1980s was 2/3 of that (df88P1). (la)

Tropical Forest Cover in 1980 (million km²) (df88P1) (la)
Tropical America|12.12
Tropical Africa |13.12
Tropical Asia ~ | 4.45
Total ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |29.69
Comments: These numbers apparently include both open and closed forests (possibly even forest fallow and shrubland).

A few centuries ago, the world's rainforests covered 21.2 million km². Rainforests now cover 9.07 million km² (df91J1) (11.95 million km² according to Ref. (df84B4). (la) Comments: Does this include both temperate and tropical rainforests?

In 1982, tropical rainforests occupied 11,610,350 km² between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn in 76 countries (df84G1). (la)

FAO estimates a global inventory of 16 million km² of closed rainforests around 1900 (The FAO estimate for 1975: 9.4 million km²). (la)

Areas of Open Tropical Forests from a 1981 FAO Reports (df84B4) (la) (Areas are in units of 1000 km² )
Region ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|Productive|Unprod.|Totals
Tropical America ~ ~ ~| ~ 1428.9 | 741.1 |2170.0
Tropical Africa~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 1692.2 |3172.3 |4864.5
Tropical Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ ~ 85.3 | 224.2 | 309.5
Total Tropics~ ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 3206.4 |4137.6 |7344.0
Comments: National parks and preserves account for 13% of the "Unproductive" category. Total biomass = stemwood volume x 3.0 for open forests.

Biomass of Closed Tropical Forests based on Areas and Volumes from a 1981 FAO Reports (df84B4) (la)
- - - - - - - - - - - - Broadleafed/ Conifer
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |Undisturbed~|~ Logged~ ~|Unprod-~ ~ |
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ |Productive~ |~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|uctive ~ ~ | Totals
Tropical America
Area (1000 km² )|4529.8/15.3 | 535./136.4|1474.5/95.6|6786.6
Tropical Africa
Area (1000 km² )|1181.8/ 2.7 |435.7/ 3.1 | 526.6/5.4 |2155.3
Tropical Asia
Area (1000 km² )| 972.6/17.7 |946.2/38.3 |1000.8/28.0|3003.6
Total Tropics
Area (1000 km² )|6684.2/35.7 1916.9/177.8|3001.9/129.|11945.5
Comments: "Logged" means logged selectively one or more times in the past 60-80 years. National parks and preserves account for 13% of the "Unproductive" category. Total biomass = stemwood biomass x 1.6 for closed forests.

Tropical Forest Inventory by Continent, 1980 (df89D2) (million km²) (la)
Region~ ~ ~ ~|Original| 1980
Latin America| 8.03 ~ | 6.11 (probably includes
Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 4.35 ~ | 2.64 only closed forests)
Africa~ ~ ~ ~| 3.62 ~ | 2.03
Totals~ ~ ~ ~|16.00 ~ |10.78 

Climax Area of Tropical Moist Forest and Deforestation by Continent (Sommer, 1976) (df86B1) (la)
(Areas (Col.2 and 3) are in units of millions of km².)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|Ever~ |Total~ | -
Region~ ~ ~|green |Moist~ |Deforested Area (%)
Africa~ ~ ~| 2.6~ | 3.62~ |52 (probably includes
Asia~ ~ ~ ~| 2.97 | 4.35~ |42 only closed forests)
Cent. Amer.| 0.27 | 0.53~ |37
S. America~| 6.0~ | 7.50~ |36
Totals~ ~ ~|11.84*|16.00**|42
* part of Total Moist: ** Original inventory

Major Closed Tropical Forest Areas in the mid-1970s (1000 km²) (df80U1) (la)
Brazil~ ~|3,000 |Burma ~ ~ ~ ~360|Gabon ~|~ 200
Peru~ ~ ~|~ 650 |Papua New G. 400|Zaire ~|1,000
Colombia~|~ 360 |Indonesia ~ ~800|Other ~| -
Bolivia ~|~ 360 |Other Asian and |African|~ 900
Venezuela|~ 350 |Australian 1,560|TOTAL =|9,940
Open Latin American Forests ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 2,300
Open Asian and Australian Forests ~ ~ | ~ 600
Open African Forests~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 5,240
Total Open Tropical Forest~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | 8,140 

World's tropical moist forests occupy 8.9 million km² (df84B3) (probably closed forest only). (la)

Tropical moist forests comprise 55% of the world's forests (df80M2). (la)

FAO estimate of tropical forest inventory: 17,500,000 km² (df93U5). (la)

A mid-1970s inventory found 11.5 million km² of closed tropical forests (df80U1). Comments: obsolete data (la)

The global area of tropical forest is reported to be 15.4 million km² (4.1 million wet, 5.3 million moist, 2.4 million dry and 3.6 million very dry) (se82P2).

Tropical Forest Inventory and Deforestation Rate (df93M1) (FAO data) (la)
- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~|1990 Forest| Deforestation (1981-90)
Region~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| area (km²)|(km²/ year)|(%/ year)
E. Sahel Africa ~ ~| ~ 654,500 | ~5,950~ ~ | 0.9
West Africa ~ ~ ~ ~| ~ 556,070 | ~5,910~ ~ | 1.0
Cent. Africa~ ~ ~ ~| 2,041,120 | 11,390~ ~ | 0.5
Trop. Southern~ ~ ~| 1,458,868 | 13,450~ ~ | 0.9
--- Africa~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 5,272,860 | 41,000~ ~ | 0.7
Continental SE.Asia| ~ 752,400 | 13,140~ ~ | 1.6
Insular S.E. Asia ~| 1,354,260 | 19,260~ ~ | 1.3
--- Asia~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~| 3,105,970 | 39,040~ ~ | 1.2
Cent. Amer./ Mexico| ~ 680,960 | 11,120~ ~ | 1.5
Trop. S. America~ ~| 8,029,040 | 61,730~ ~ | 0.7
--- Latin Amer. ~ ~| 9,181,150 | 74,070~ ~ | 0.8
--- Tropical Totals|17,562,970 |154,110~ ~ | 0.8

Tropical Forest Areas (km²) (Ref. 3 of (df93S1)) (df84G1) (FAO data) (la)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | Undist~ | Unpro- ~ | Logged/
Nation~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ Total ~ | -urbed~ | ductive~ | Managed
Brazil~ ~ ~ ~ | 3,562,800 |2,886,300| ~556,500 | ~120,000
Indonesia ~ ~ | 1,135,750 | ~389,150| ~400,000 | ~346,600
Zaire ~ ~ ~ ~ | 1,056,500 | ~797,400| ~255,300 | ~ ~3,800
Peru~ ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ 693,100 | ~373,200| ~259,900 | ~ 60,000
Colombia~ ~ ~ | ~ 464,000 | ~386,000| ~ 69,000 | ~ ~9,000
India ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ 460,440 | ~ 48,850| ~ 76,860 | ~334,730
Bolivia ~ ~ ~ | ~ 440,100 | ~177,600| ~141,600 | ~120,900
Papua, New Gn.| ~ 337,100 | ~138,150| ~196,750 | ~ ~2,200
Venezuela ~ ~ | ~ 318,700 | ~ 76,000| ~126,600 | ~116,100
Burma ~ ~ ~ ~ | ~ 311,930 | ~141,070| ~ 80,770 | ~ 90,090
63 Others ~ ~ | 2,829,930 |1,270,430| ~838,550 | ~720,350
Totals~ ~ ~ ~ |11,610,350=|6,684,150+3,001,830+|1,923,770
Comments: This inventory includes only closed tropical forest, since global closed forest inventory is about 27 million km². This inventory appears to include both moist- and dry closed tropical forest, since tropical moist closed forest occupies only 8.9 million km² (df84B3). Comments: Col. 2 is very similar to World Resources Institute 1990-91 table for closed forestland (df90W1).