TOGO

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Togo Forest Figures

Forest Cover
Total forest area: 386,000 ha
% of land area: 7.1%

Primary forest cover: n/a
% of land area: 0.0%
% total forest area: n/a

Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005
Annual change in forest cover: -20,000 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -4.5%
Change in defor. rate since '90s: 41.7%
Total forest loss since 1990: -299,000 ha
Total forest loss since 1990:-43.6%

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:n/a

Forest Classification
Public: 27%
Private: 73%
Other: n/a
Use
Production: 68%
Protection: 16%
Conservation: 16%
Social services: n/a
Multiple purpose: n/a
None or unknown: n/a

Forest Area Breakdown
Total area: 386,000 ha
Primary: n/a
Modified natural: 348,000 ha
Semi-natural: n/a
Production plantation: 30,000 ha
Production plantation: 8,000 ha

Plantations
Plantations, 2005: 38,000 ha
% of total forest cover: 9.8%
Annual change rate (00-05): 800,000 ha

Carbon storage
Above-ground biomass: n/a M t
Below-ground biomass: n/a 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: 1,451
Critically endangered: 0
Endangered: 0
Vulnerable: 10

Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood: 3,320,000 m3 o.b.
Wood fuel: 3,012,000 m3 o.b.

Value of forest products, 2005
Industrial roundwood: n/a
Wood fuel: n/a
Non-wood forest products (NWFPs): n/a
Total Value: n/a


More forest statistics for Togo

Togo has very little rainforest cover, but what remains is highly degraded and fragmented—there is no primary rainforest left in Togo. Most of Togo's tropical forest areas are used for subsistence slash-and-burn agriculture and fuelwood cutting. The mining industry causes environmental degradation as well.

Because Togo extends through six distinct geographic regions, the country's climate varies from tropical to savanna. At one time this variation meant Togo possessed high biodiversity, including 3,085 species of plants, 565 birds, 196 mammals, and 117 reptiles, according to the World Resources Institute. On paper 11.3 percent of the country is protected.

Between 2000 and 2005 Togo had one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, and since 1990, 43.6 percent of its forests have been lost.

According to the CIA World Factbook, water and air pollution are an increasing problem in Togo.

Large numbers of reptiles are exported for the pet trade, while poaching is a problem throughout the country.

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

Other resources

Contact me if you have suggestions on other rainforest-related environmental sites and resources for this country.


Image copyright Google Earth, MDA EarthSet, DigitalGlobe 2005

CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile


Last updated: 4 Feb 2006