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Bhutan
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
69.1% or about 3,249,000 ha of Bhutan is forested, according to FAO. Of this 12.7% ( 413,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Bhutan had 3,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Bhutan lost an average of 10,700 ha or 0.35% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Bhutan gained 7.1% of its forest cover, or around 214,000 ha.
Bhutan's forests contain 336 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Bhutan has some 748 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 1.1% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.3% are threatened. Bhutan is home to at least 5468 species of vascular plants, of which 1.4% are endemic. 29.6% of Bhutan is protected under IUCN categories I-V.
2011 Update
In May 2011, Sassan Saatchi of Caltech's Jet Propulsion Lab and colleagues published a paper in PNAS with new carbon stock estimates for global tropical forests.
| Forest definition (canopy cover %) | 10% tree cover | 25% tree cover | 30% tree cover | | Forest Area (M ha) | 3 | 3 | 3 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 375 | 359 | 349 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 100 | 96 | 93 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 475 | 455 | 442 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 151 | 152 | 153 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
Bhutan Environmental profile | Bhutan pictures
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Bhutan
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Bhutan: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 4700 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 3249 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 69 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 413 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 13 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 613 |
| Percent other wooded land | 13 |
Bhutan: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 413 | 13 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 2833 | 87 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 3 | n.s. |
Bhutan: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 3035 | 3141 | 3195 | 3249 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 11 | 11 | 11 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.34 | |
Bhutan: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 3034 | 3139 | 3193 | 3246 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 11 | 11 | 11 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.3 | 0.35 | 0.34
| |
Bhutan: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 413 | 413 | 413 | 413 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Bhutan: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| n.s. | 0 | n.s. | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 7.18 | 0 | 8.45 | |
Bhutan: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 16 | 46 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
Bhutan: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 100 | n.s. | 0 |
| PRIVATE OWNERSHIP |
| Individuals | Business entities and institutions | Local, indigenous and tribal communities |
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
| HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS |
| Public administration | Individuals | Business
entities and Institutions | Communities | Other |
| 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bhutan: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 650 | 200 | 406 | 244 | 40 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| - | - | | | |
Bhutan: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 296 | 313 | 324 | 336 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 103 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
Bhutan: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005
| FOREST FIRE |
| 1000 ha | % wild fire (not managed burn) |
| 7 | 100 |
| EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE |
| Insects | Diseases | Other biotic agents | Abiotic factors | Total (excluding fire) | % of 2005 forest area |
| n.s. | n.s. | - | n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
Bhutan: Trends in removals of wood products 1990-2005
INDUSTRIAL ROUNDWOOD
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 170 | 195 | 216 | 100 |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 143 | 95 | 93 | 100 |
Bhutan: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 5 | n.s. | n.s. | 5 | n.s. |
Bhutan: Employment in forestry 1990-2005
TOTAL
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | - |
IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| 1 | 3 | 5 |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | - |
Bhutan: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (1974)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (2008) In implementation
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1995)
Sub-national forest law: No
Bhutan: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| 794 | 9 | 1195 | 13 | 1255 | 13 |
Bhutan: Forest revenue and public expenditure on forestry 2005
| Forest revenue | Public expenditure (1000 US$) |
| Domestic funding | External funding | Total |
| (1000 US$) | Operational expenditure | Transfer payments | Operational expenditure | Transfer payments | Operational expenditure | Transfer payments |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | -
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Bhutan: Status of ratification of international conventions and agreements as of 1 January 2010
CbD:
UNFCCC:
Kyoto Protocol:
UNCCD:
ITTA:
CITeS:
Ramsar:
World Heritage Convention:
NlbI:
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Bhutan: Environment
| Environment - current issues | soil erosion; limited access to potable water | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea | | Natural hazards | violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season |
Bhutan: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 3.09%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.48% (2001) | | Natural resources | timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate |
Bhutan: Economy
| Economy - overview: | The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. | | GDP - per capita | $1,400 (2003 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 5.3% (2003 est.) | | Agriculture - products | rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 45%, industry: 10%, services: 45% (2002 est.) | | Industries | cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide | | Economic aid - recipient | substantial aid from India and other nations | | Debt - external | $245 million (2000) | | Population below poverty line (%) | NA | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5% |
Bhutan: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 2,232,291 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.11% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 47.5 | | Percent rural (2003) | 91.5% | | Median age (years) | total: 20.27 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 4.81 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% |
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Bhutan: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 25,200 (2003) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 22,000 (2005) | | Roadways (km) | total: 8,050 km
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003) |
Bhutan: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 54.39 years
male: 54.65 years
female: 54.11 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 100.44 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
Bhutan
: References & Data Sources
 Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005 & 2010) and the State of the World's Forests (2009, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2001)
Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.
Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site
The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund
With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com
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