ZAMBIA

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Zambia Forest Figures

Forest Cover
Total forest area: 42,452,000 ha
% of land area: 57.1%

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

Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005
Annual change in forest cover: -444,800 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -1.0%
Change in defor. rate since '90s: 10.0%
Total forest loss since 1990: -6,672,000 ha
Total forest loss since 1990:-13.6%

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: 100%
Private: n/a
Other: n/a
Use
Production: 7.1%
Protection: 4.2%
Conservation: 15%
Social services: n/a
Multiple purpose: 73.7%
None or unknown: n/a

Forest Area Breakdown
Total area: 42,452,000 ha
Primary: n/a
Modified natural: 42,377,000 ha
Semi-natural: n/a
Production plantation: 75,000 ha
Production plantation: n/a

Plantations
Plantations, 2005: 75,000 ha
% of total forest cover: 0.2%
Annual change rate (00-05): n/a

Carbon storage
Above-ground biomass: 1,821 M t
Below-ground biomass: 492 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: 2,621
Critically endangered: 0
Endangered: 11
Vulnerable: 14

Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood: 1,053,000 m3 o.b.
Wood fuel: 8,798,000 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 Zambia

Despite numerous parks which protect more than 40 percent of the country, Zambia has serious problems with poaching—which has dramatically reduced elephant and rhino populations—and deforestation. Forest loss is mostly the by-product of widespread slash-and-burn agriculture, and primary tropical forests have disappeared from the country.

The hardwood forests of the Western grasslands are in much better shape, but logging is on the rise.

Zambia is home to nearly 4,800 species of plants, 770 birds, 233 mammals, 143 reptiles, and 57 amphibians.

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

Zambia Conservation
Zambia Forests
WCS Zambia
CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile World Resources PDF


Last updated: 4 Feb 2006