Niger

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Niger Forest Figures Forest Cover Total forest area: 1,266,000 ha % of land area: 1% Primary forest cover: 220,000 ha % of land area: 0.2% % total forest area: 17.4% Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005 Annual change in forest cover: -12,400 ha Annual deforestation rate: -1.0% Change in defor. rate since '90s: -70.6% Total forest loss since 1990: -679,000 ha Total forest loss since 1990:-34.9% Primary or "Old-growth" forests Annual loss of primary forests: n/a Annual deforestation rate: n/a Change in deforestation rate since '90s: n/a Primary forest loss since 1990: n/a Primary forest loss since 1990:0.0% Forest Classification Public: 100% Private: 0% Other: 0% Use Production: n/a Protection: 0.2% Conservation: 17.4% Social services: n/a Multiple purpose: 82.4% None or unknown: n/a Forest Area Breakdown Total area: 1,266,000 ha Primary: 220,000 ha Modified natural: 936,000 ha Semi-natural: n/a Production plantation: n/a Production plantation: 110,000 ha Plantations Plantations, 2005: 110,000 ha % of total forest cover: 8.7% Annual change rate (00-05): 7,500,000 ha Carbon storage Above-ground biomass: 20 M t Below-ground biomass: 5 M t Area annually affected by Fire: n/a Insects: n/a Diseases: n/a Number of tree species in IUCN red list Number of native tree species: 227 Critically endangered: 0 Endangered: 0 Vulnerable: 2 Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood: 594,000 m3 o.b. Wood fuel: 11,879,000 m3 o.b. Value of forest products, 2005 Industrial roundwood: n/a Wood fuel: $92,334,000 Non-wood forest products (NWFPs): $5,295,000 Total Value: $97,629,000 More forest statistics for Niger

Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, has been especially hard hit by the collapse of the uranium market and is dependent on subsistence farming as the backbone of its economy. A high population growth rate puts pressure of the few remaining forest lands. Consequently, between 1990 and 2005, the country lost 679,000 hectares or 34.9 percent of its forest cover.

In Niger, formerly forested lands are plagued with soil loss and desertification. The Sahara desert, which already covers two-thirds of the country, is expanding at a rate of 200,000 hectares annually. In an effort to slow the Saraha's progress, the government planted more than 60 million trees between 1985 and 1997.

As of 2003, about 8 percent of Niger's land area was protected, but poaching and habitat loss are taking a heavy toll on the country's wildlife.

From a biodiversity standpoint, Niger has some 1,460 species of plants, 131 mammals, 493 birds, and 58 reptiles.




Unless otherwise specified, this article was written by Rhett A. Butler [Bibliographic citation for this page]

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Last updated: 4 Feb 2006