STATE OF THE WORLD'S FORESTS 2001 PART KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY
28 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY The status of forests. the global forest resources Assessment 2000 D as grown for a broad range began in 1996. In that year, FAO convened an formation on forests at the national and expert consultation in Kotka, Finland, where international levels. Reliable information on the e of the world's leading forest inventory status and trends of forest resources helps give specialists provided technical advice on the scope decision-makers the perspective necessary for and implementation of FRA 2000 as well as on a orienting forestry policies and programmes. Such core set of forest-related definitions to be used in information is useful for monitoring progress the assessment. In 1997. the Fao committee on towards sustainable forest management and for Forestry, FAOs highest-level forest policy forum framing international discussions and agreements for its member countries, and the fourth session on such vital issues as deforestation, biological of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests(IPF) diversity, desertification, global climate change, approved the consultations finding wood supply and sustainable devele endorsed FAO,s leadership of the assessment. FAO has carried out periodic global forest FRA 2000 was a five-year effort, consisting of a assessments since 1947. at intervals of number of activities a forest assessment based on approximately ten years. This chapter country information; a remote sensing survey of summarizes the methodology and key findings forest cover change at the pan-tropical level on forest area and forest management of FAOs mapping of global forest cover and ecologic most recent and comprehensive forest zones; and the establishment of a forestry assessment, the global Forest Resources information system. FRA 2000 provided basic Assessment 2000(FRA 2000 ). The text also refers assessment information on forest area in 2000 to the two previous assessments: FRA 1990, change in forest area between 1990 and 2000, and which reported on forest cover in 1990 and forest wood volume and biomass. Moreover, in keeping cover change between 1980 and 1990(FAO with recommendations made at Kotka, it 1995a, 1995b), and the interim 1995 assessment, included a number of other parameters to which reported on forest cover in 1995 and provide a more holistic picture of forest resources change from 1990 to 1995(FAO, 1997d). FRA worldwide. The new subjects included, among 2000 forest resource data at country level are other things, forest area under protection status, provided in Annex 2. Detailed country profiles, trees outside forests, forest fires, non-wood forest including baseline data, and material on all products, timber removals and information on parameters covered by the assessment, are available on the FAO Forestry Department Web Great effort was made to ensure that the Fra site. The full report of FRA 2000 is due to be process was both participatory and transparent. published by the end of 2001 National forestry agencies from nearly every THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS The global forest resources assessment 2000 I The FAO Forestry Department Web site is the most up-to-date source of information on all aspects of the assessment and was a joint endeavour carried out by FAO in containsinformationonallcountries(www.fao.org/forestry/fo/ fra/index jsp). The results of the assessment of temperate and cooperation with its member countries and many boreal forests in industrialized countries are also available in other partners. detailed planning for FRA 2000 UN-ECE/FAO(2000b)
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 29 Demand has grown for a broad range of information on forests at the national and international levels. Reliable information on the status and trends of forest resources helps give decision-makers the perspective necessary for orienting forestry policies and programmes. Such information is useful for monitoring progress towards sustainable forest management and for framing international discussions and agreements on such vital issues as deforestation, biological diversity, desertification, global climate change, wood supply and sustainable development. FAO has carried out periodic global forest assessments since 1947, at intervals of approximately ten years. This chapter summarizes the methodology and key findings on forest area and forest management of FAO’s most recent and comprehensive forest assessment, the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 (FRA 2000). The text also refers to the two previous assessments: FRA 1990, which reported on forest cover in 1990 and forest cover change between 1980 and 1990 (FAO, 1995a, 1995b), and the interim 1995 assessment, which reported on forest cover in 1995 and change from 1990 to 1995 (FAO, 1997d). FRA 2000 forest resource data at country level are provided in Annex 2. Detailed country profiles, including baseline data, and material on all parameters covered by the assessment, are available on the FAO Forestry Department Web site.1 The full report of FRA 2000 is due to be published by the end of 2001. THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 was a joint endeavour carried out by FAO in cooperation with its member countries and many other partners. Detailed planning for FRA 2000 The status of forests: the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2000 began in 1996. In that year, FAO convened an expert consultation in Kotka, Finland, where some of the world’s leading forest inventory specialists provided technical advice on the scope and implementation of FRA 2000 as well as on a core set of forest-related definitions to be used in the assessment. In 1997, the FAO Committee on Forestry, FAO’s highest-level forest policy forum for its member countries, and the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) approved the consultation’s findings and endorsed FAO’s leadership of the assessment. FRA 2000 was a five-year effort, consisting of a number of activities: a forest assessment based on country information; a remote sensing survey of forest cover change at the pan-tropical level; mapping of global forest cover and ecological zones; and the establishment of a forestry information system. FRA 2000 provided basic assessment information on forest area in 2000, change in forest area between 1990 and 2000, and wood volume and biomass. Moreover, in keeping with recommendations made at Kotka, it included a number of other parameters to provide a more holistic picture of forest resources worldwide. The new subjects included, among other things, forest area under protection status, trees outside forests, forest fires, non-wood forest products, timber removals and information on forest management. Great effort was made to ensure that the FRA process was both participatory and transparent. National forestry agencies from nearly every 1 The FAO Forestry Department Web site is the most up-to-date source of information on all aspects of the assessment and contains information on all countries (www.fao.org/forestry/fo/ fra/index.jsp). The results of the assessment of temperate and boreal forests in industrialized countries are also available in UN-ECE/FAO (2000b)
STATE OF THE WORLD's FORESTs 2001 country of the world, a large number of research and FAO staff and consultants visited countries centres and academic institutions and several and held workshops with concerned country international, regional and non-governmental representatives. FAO relied mainly on statistics organizations collaborated in the implementation from primary sources, rather than on quoted or secondary sources. In the countries where no data, FAO formally invited countries to review applicable national forest inventories existed, it the preliminary results of the assessment. was necessary to piece together information from Countries were given the opportunity to submit various partial inventories or to use secondary comments and supporting technical material that sources and reconnaissance surveys. In contrast, could improve the results compiled by FAO UN-ECE collected information on industrialized ckground information and analyses used in the countries from questionnaires filled out by national forest resource calculations have been made correspondents, who used mainly national forest available on the FAO Forestry Department Web inventory data All data provided to FAO and site(www.fao.org/forestry/fo/country/indexjsp),Un-eCewerecheckedandvalidatedwiththe naking it possible to trace the final results back national correspondents in an intense dialog to the original source data. over nearly two years. everal major challenges had to be met in order Forest assessment based on country to assemble country information and then information integrate it to form a global picture of the status of The central undertaking of FRa 2000 was the forest area in 2000 and change in forest area forest assessment based on country information. between 1990 and 2000. After FAO and its National-level data on forest resources were partners made a major effort to amass all relevant collected through an exhaustive survey of inventory and related information, the information inventory reports and other information from base for many countries was found to be limited. countries. National forestry experts and other For example, over half of the developing countries artners from around the world were involved in had only one forest inventory, and more than one this effort. A major partner was the UN fourth of them had never carried out an inventory Economic Commission for Europe(UN-ECE (see Table 1). Most of the country data used for UN-ECE coordinated the assessment of temperate FRA 2000 spanned a period of about ten years and tropical forests in the industrialized countries (although a few inventories were even older) and countries in transition: australia, the Only a handful of countries maintain continuous Commonwealth of Independent States( CIS), ational forest inventories with comparable time Europe, Japan, New Zealand and north series. As a result, it was difficult to calculate America. fao coordinated the assessment of precise estimates of forest change at both the developing countries, in which almost all tropical national and global levels. Projecting data and subtropical forests and some temperate forwards and backwards to the reference years forests are located, and was also responsible for 2000 and 1990 was a critical and difficult aspect of the integration of all the information into the the assessment. In the absence of comparable harmonized synthesis constituting the global multiple-date inventories, a trend line had to be derived for many countries by using a variation of To collect data for the developing countries, the"convergence of evidence"method, in which FAO formally requested country representatives to countries' survey results were complemented with supply the most recent forest inventory reports other information such as inventory statistics, economic information and policy studies. Finally, forest vegetation types and terminology varied The counties considered to be in the European region for the widely among countries, compounding the purposes of the assessment coordinated by the UN-ECE include those listed under Europe in Annex 2 except members of the problem of aggregating national data into CIS, plus Cyprus, Israel and Turkey
30 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 and FAO staff and consultants visited countries and held workshops with concerned country representatives. FAO relied mainly on statistics from primary sources, rather than on quoted or secondary sources. In the countries where no applicable national forest inventories existed, it was necessary to piece together information from various partial inventories or to use secondary sources and reconnaissance surveys. In contrast, UN-ECE collected information on industrialized countries from questionnaires filled out by national correspondents, who used mainly national forest inventory data. All data provided to FAO and UN-ECE were checked and validated with the national correspondents in an intense dialogue over nearly two years. Several major challenges had to be met in order to assemble country information and then integrate it to form a global picture of the status of forest area in 2000 and change in forest area between 1990 and 2000. After FAO and its partners made a major effort to amass all relevant inventory and related information, the information base for many countries was found to be limited. For example, over half of the developing countries had only one forest inventory, and more than onefourth of them had never carried out an inventory (see Table 1). Most of the country data used for FRA 2000 spanned a period of about ten years (although a few inventories were even older). Only a handful of countries maintain continuous national forest inventories with comparable time series. As a result, it was difficult to calculate precise estimates of forest change at both the national and global levels. Projecting data forwards and backwards to the reference years 2000 and 1990 was a critical and difficult aspect of the assessment. In the absence of comparable multiple-date inventories, a trend line had to be derived for many countries by using a variation of the “convergence of evidence” method, in which countries’ survey results were complemented with other information such as inventory statistics, economic information and policy studies. Finally, forest vegetation types and terminology varied widely among countries, compounding the problem of aggregating national data into harmonized global estimates. country of the world, a large number of research centres and academic institutions and several international, regional and non-governmental organizations collaborated in the implementation of FRA 2000. Before publishing the FRA 2000 data, FAO formally invited countries to review the preliminary results of the assessment. Countries were given the opportunity to submit comments and supporting technical material that could improve the results compiled by FAO. Background information and analyses used in the forest resource calculations have been made available on the FAO Forestry Department Web site (www.fao.org/forestry/fo/country/index.jsp), making it possible to trace the final results back to the original source data. Forest assessment based on country information The central undertaking of FRA 2000 was the forest assessment based on country information. National-level data on forest resources were collected through an exhaustive survey of inventory reports and other information from countries. National forestry experts and other partners from around the world were involved in this effort. A major partner was the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE). UN-ECE coordinated the assessment of temperate and tropical forests in the industrialized countries and countries in transition: Australia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Europe,2 Japan, New Zealand and North America. FAO coordinated the assessment of developing countries, in which almost all tropical and subtropical forests and some temperate forests are located, and was also responsible for the integration of all the information into the harmonized synthesis constituting the global assessment. To collect data for the developing countries, FAO formally requested country representatives to supply the most recent forest inventory reports, 2 The countries considered to be in the European region for the purposes of the assessment coordinated by the UN-ECE include all those listed under Europe in Annex 2 except members of the CIS, plus Cyprus, Israel and Turkey
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY To make the highly variable country ssessment to use it as the minimum cano information useful for global reporting, FAo cover to describe forests in industrialized developed a set of protocols and standards for countries as well. its harmonization. All country information had To make the comparison between forest area first to be classified according to a common set in 1990 and 2000 possible the 1990 national of terms and definitions. (See Annex 1 for some forest area figures derived by the interim 1995 definitions used. )This was a difficult task owing assessment were revised, using the same to the sheer magnitude and variability of the definitions, methodologies and new inventory information produced by countries and the wide data used for calculating the 2000 figures. This range of forest formations, ecological conditions established a new baseline for forest cover in and cover types that exist worldwide. For 1990. It should be noted that updating national example, FRA 2000 assembled more than 650 forest area figures from a previous forest definitions of forest from 132 developing resources assessment by incorporating new data countries. Reducing this information into a is a standard feature of alll fao forest (i.e. closed forest, open forest, and other wooded land)was a major task. For the definition of Pan-tropical remote sensing survey forest, FAO adopted the threshold of 10 percent An independent remote sensing survey was crown cover. recommended in the landmark conducted for FRA 2000 to complement the tudy on worldwide vegetation classifications survey based on country information. Controlled carried out by the United Nations Educational, mpling of tropical forests combined with a Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO, uniform data source -satellite imagery 1973), this threshold was used for developing provided a comparable set of statistics for 1980- countries in the Forest Resources Assessments of 1990 and 1990-2000, making possible a direct 1980 and 1990. but fra 2000 was the first comparison of forest area change over these two TABLET Forest inventories in developing countries as with a national with no forest vith a partial forest inventory. After 1990 Before 1990 Asia and oceania 3 Latin America Totals he term "repeated"is used to refer to continuous monitoring or comparable inventories carried out at fixed intervals. The term single shot"refers to countries that have carried out either one or multiple inventories that are not comparable with one another. The date(after or before 1990) refers to the most recent inver
PART II KEY ISSUES IN THE FOREST SECTOR TODAY 31 To make the highly variable country information useful for global reporting, FAO developed a set of protocols and standards for its harmonization. All country information had first to be classified according to a common set of terms and definitions. (See Annex 1 for some definitions used.) This was a difficult task owing to the sheer magnitude and variability of the information produced by countries and the wide range of forest formations, ecological conditions and cover types that exist worldwide. For example, FRA 2000 assembled more than 650 definitions of forest from 132 developing countries. Reducing this information into a highly compressed set of global forest classes (i.e. closed forest, open forest, and other wooded land) was a major task. For the definition of forest, FAO adopted the threshold of 10 percent crown cover. Recommended in the landmark study on worldwide vegetation classifications carried out by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 1973), this threshold was used for developing countries in the Forest Resources Assessments of 1980 and 1990, but FRA 2000 was the first assessment to use it as the minimum canopy cover to describe forests in industrialized countries as well. To make the comparison between forest area in 1990 and 2000 possible, the 1990 national forest area figures derived by the interim 1995 assessment were revised, using the same definitions, methodologies and new inventory data used for calculating the 2000 figures. This established a new baseline for forest cover in 1990. It should be noted that updating national forest area figures from a previous forest resources assessment by incorporating new data is a standard feature of all FAO forest assessments. Pan-tropical remote sensing survey An independent remote sensing survey was conducted for FRA 2000 to complement the survey based on country information. Controlled sampling of tropical forests combined with a uniform data source – satellite imagery – provided a comparable set of statistics for 1980- 1990 and 1990-2000, making possible a direct comparison of forest area change over these two Regions Number of Countries/areas Countries/areas Countries/areas with a national countries/areas with no forest with a partial forest inventory: inventory forest inventory Repeated1 Single shot2 After 1990 Before 1990 Africa 56 14 15 7 12 10 Near East 13 11 0 2 0 0 Asia and Oceania 22 2 2 3 13 3 Latin America 21 1 4 15 16 11 Caribbean 24 13 0 4 6 10 Totals 136 39 21 32 47 34 1 The term “repeated” is used to refer to continuous monitoring or comparable inventories carried out at fixed intervals. 2 The term “single shot” refers to countries that have carried out either one or multiple inventories that are not comparable with one another. The date (after or before 1990) refers to the most recent inventory. TABLE 1 Forest inventories in developing countries
STATE OF THE WORLD's FORESTs 2001 sessment periods. The survey relied on FaoForestryDepartmentWebsite(www.fao.org/ statistical sampling (10 percent) of 87 percent of forestry/fo/fra/index sp) the world's tropical forests through 117 sample The accuracy of the forest map is estimated at units to produce estimates of the status and about 80 percent for all forest classes. Accuracy change of tropical forest at regional, ecological for closed forests is somewhat higher and and pan-tropical levels (but not at the national accuracy for open/ fragmented forests level). The principal output of the remote somewhat lower Other wooded lands has the sensing survey was an area change matrix, which lowest accuracy of the three woody vegetatio illustrates and quantifies how the forest and other classes represented land use classes changed between 1980 and 2000. The global ecological zoning map provided a The forest and land cover classification scheme means of differentiating forests globally by used by the remote sensing survey was linked ecological zone. While most countries have closely to the Fra forest classes used for the appropriate means of compiling national country-based survey and for the low-resolution information on forests according to ecological global forest map, so that data from these three units, it was not possible to aggregate this information at the global level prior to the development of the ecological zoning map FRA 2000 global maps a major reason for this was the absence of an The production of global maps was a significant internationally accepted global standard and new undertaking for FRA 2000. For the first classification system that is geometrically correct ime, a global forest map now exists that shows and registered to a map base. In the past, few the location and distribution of forests according applications have required analysis and reporting to FRA classifications. FRA 2000 also produced according to ecological zone at the global scale, global maps on ecological zones and protected and until now, useful global maps have been areas. The FRA 2000 maps are useful visual aids slow to emerge. However, because certain for understanding the location and extent of the environmental functions have intemational major forest areas of the world. Each map is dimensions, global applications of ecological generated using computerized Geographic zoning are expected to become increasingly Information System(GIS) technology, which makes it possible to combine the maps with FAO identified the Koppen system other spatial and statistical data. modified by Trewartha in 1968, as the most The forest map has been printed at a scale of appropriate ecological zoning scheme for the Fra 1: 40000 000 and enlargements up to 1: 10000 000 2000 ecological zoning map. Slightly modifying are possible. a poster version of the forest map this scheme, FAO identified 20 global ecologica accompanies this publication (reproduced in zones, ranging from evergreen tropical rain forest Figure 2). Digital versions are available on the to boreal tundra (see box 12 ). These were then mapped. The worldwide forest cover according to ecological zone was determined by overlaying 3 The Kotka expert consultation (referred to as Kotka m) advised the Fra 2000 global forest cover map on the FAO to consider conducting the remote sensing survey at the global ecological zoning map in the GIS,and however, limited the work to the tropics, except for some pilot then extracting the statistics. FAO developed a network of cooperators who were instrumental in the development of the maps. Major collaborators involved in the effort induded eroS Data Center of the united s a small number of dassification schemes have been States, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, based in the eloped for use at the global level, including Bailey. United Kingdom: the Institute for Applied Research and Holdridge, Koppen and Thormwaite, but none of these is Analysis, in Austria, the Laboratory of Terrestrial Ecology of available digitally or is registered to a geometrically correct map France: the Canadian Center for Remote Sensing: the United base. Koppen's classification scheme has been the most tates Forest Service: and the Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences. widespread and longest used
32 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001 assessment periods. The survey relied on statistical sampling (10 percent) of 87 percent of the world’s tropical forests through 117 sample units to produce estimates of the status and change of tropical forest at regional, ecological and pan-tropical levels (but not at the national level).3 The principal output of the remote sensing survey was an area change matrix, which illustrates and quantifies how the forest and other land use classes changed between 1980 and 2000. The forest and land cover classification scheme used by the remote sensing survey was linked closely to the FRA forest classes used for the country-based survey and for the low-resolution global forest map, so that data from these three sources are complementary. FRA 2000 global maps The production of global maps was a significant new undertaking for FRA 2000.4 For the first time, a global forest map now exists that shows the location and distribution of forests according to FRA classifications. FRA 2000 also produced global maps on ecological zones and protected areas. The FRA 2000 maps are useful visual aids for understanding the location and extent of the major forest areas of the world. Each map is generated using computerized Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, which makes it possible to combine the maps with other spatial and statistical data. The forest map has been printed at a scale of 1:40 000 000 and enlargements up to 1:10 000 000 are possible. A poster version of the forest map accompanies this publication (reproduced in Figure 2). Digital versions are available on the FAO Forestry Department Web site (www.fao.org/ forestry/fo/fra/index.jsp). The accuracy of the forest map is estimated at about 80 percent for all forest classes. Accuracy for closed forests is somewhat higher and accuracy for open/fragmented forests is somewhat lower. Other wooded lands has the lowest accuracy of the three woody vegetation classes represented. The global ecological zoning map provided a means of differentiating forests globally by ecological zone. While most countries have appropriate means of compiling national information on forests according to ecological units, it was not possible to aggregate this information at the global level prior to the development of the ecological zoning map. A major reason for this was the absence of an internationally accepted global standard and classification system that is geometrically correct and registered to a map base.5 In the past, few applications have required analysis and reporting according to ecological zone at the global scale, and until now, useful global maps have been slow to emerge. However, because certain environmental functions have international dimensions, global applications of ecological zoning are expected to become increasingly important. FAO identified the Köppen system, as modified by Trewartha in 1968, as the most appropriate ecological zoning scheme for the FRA 2000 ecological zoning map. Slightly modifying this scheme, FAO identified 20 global ecological zones, ranging from evergreen tropical rain forest to boreal tundra (see Box 12). These were then mapped. The worldwide forest cover according to ecological zone was determined by overlaying the FRA 2000 global forest cover map on the global ecological zoning map in the GIS, and then extracting the statistics. 3 The Kotka expert consultation (referred to as Kotka III) advised FAO to consider conducting the remote sensing survey at the global level with about 350 sample units. Financial restrictions, however, limited the work to the tropics, except for some pilot activities. 4 FAO developed a network of cooperators who were instrumental in the development of the maps. Major collaborators involved in the effort included EROS Data Center of the United States; the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, based in the United Kingdom; the Institute for Applied Research and Analysis, in Austria; the Laboratory of Terrestrial Ecology of France; the Canadian Center for Remote Sensing; the United States Forest Service; and the Australian Bureau of Rural Sciences. 5 A small number of classification schemes have been developed for use at the global level, including Bailey, Holdridge, Köppen and Thornwaite, but none of these is available digitally or is registered to a geometrically correct map base. Köppen’s classification scheme has been the most widespread and longest used
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