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Chile
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
21.7% or about 16,231,000 ha of Chile is forested, according to FAO. Of this 27.3% ( 4,439,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Chile had 2,384,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Chile lost an average of 48,400 ha or 0.32% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Chile gained 6.3% of its forest cover, or around 968,000 ha.
Chile's forests contain 1,349 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Chile has some 775 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 18.7% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 9.5% are threatened. Chile is home to at least 5284 species of vascular plants, of which 51.1% are endemic. 3.5% of Chile 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) | 26 | 23 | 21 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 1,028 | 909 | 857 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 311 | 274 | 258 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 1,339 | 1,184 | 1,115 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 51 | 52 | 54 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Chile
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Chile: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 74880 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 16231 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 22 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 4439 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 27 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 14658 |
| Percent other wooded land | 20 |
Chile: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 4439 | 27 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 9408 | 58 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 2384 | 15 |
Chile: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 15263 | 15834 | 16043 | 16231 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 57 | 42 | 38 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.37 | 0.26 | 0.23 | |
Chile: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 13556 | 13898 | 13980 | 13847 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 34 | 34 | -5 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.3 | 0.25 | -0.04
| |
Chile: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 4631 | 4536 | 4488 | 4439 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -10 | -10 | -10 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.21 | -0.21 | -0.22 | |
Chile: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 1707 | 1936 | 2063 | 2384 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 23 | 25 | 64 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 1.27 | 1.28 | 2.93 | |
Chile: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 46 | 29 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
Chile: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 25 | 75 | 0 |
| PRIVATE OWNERSHIP |
| Individuals | Business entities and institutions | Local, indigenous and tribal communities |
| - | - | - |
| HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS |
| Public administration | Individuals | Business
entities and Institutions | Communities | Other |
| 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chile: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 2997 | 185 | 334 | 2663 | 63 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| - | - | | | |
Chile: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 1294 | 1328 | 1338 | 1349 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 83 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 3 | 2 | 2 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
Chile: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005
| FOREST FIRE |
| 1000 ha | % wild fire (not managed burn) |
| 16 | 100 |
| EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE |
| Insects | Diseases | Other biotic agents | Abiotic factors | Total (excluding fire) | % of 2005 forest area |
| 310 | 110 | 15 | - | 435 | 3 |
Chile: 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 |
| 16455 | 28862 | 36032 | 100 |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 8744 | 13057 | 14240 | 100 |
Chile: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 1320 | 238 | 47 | 1606 | n.s. |
Chile: 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 |
| - | - | - |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | - |
Chile: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): No (-)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: No (-) -
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1974)
Sub-national forest law: No
Chile: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| - | - | 1600 | 25 | 1733 | 26 |
Chile: 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 |
| 4752 | 44922 | 49610 | - | - | 44922 | 49610
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Chile: 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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Chile: Environment
| Environment - current issues | widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | | Natural hazards | severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis |
Chile: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.42%
other: 96.93% (2001) | | Natural resources | copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower |
Chile: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth rebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1% in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation of the Argentine peso. Chile's economy began a slow recovery in 2003, growing 3.2%, and accelerated to 6.1% in 2004-05, while Chile maintained a low rate of inflation. GDP growth benefited from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreign direct investment. Unemployment, however, remains stubbornly high. Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004. Chile signed a free trade agreement with China in November 2005. Record-high copper prices strengthened the peso to a 5 �-year high, as of December 2005, and will boost GDP in 2006. | | GDP - per capita | $11,300 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 5.9% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 6.2%, industry: 46.5%, services: 47.3% (2005 est.) | | Industries | copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles | | Economic aid - recipient | ODA, $0 (2002) | | Debt - external | $44.8 billion (31 October 2005 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 20.6% (2000) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 13.6%, industry 23.4%, services 63% (2003) |
Chile: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 15,980,912 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 0.97% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 21.3 | | Percent rural (2003) | 13.0% | | Median age (years) | total: 30.07 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 2.02 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2% |
Largest Cities in Chile
Cities and urban areas in Chile with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Santiago | Chile | 5034500 | 5636800 |
| Puente Alto | Chile | 463800 | 463800 |
| Concepci�n | Chile | 404600 | 978100 |
| Vi�a del Mar | Chile | 358800 | 358800 |
| Temuco | Chile | 321000 | 321000 |
| Valpara�so | Chile | 301700 | 904500 |
| Talcahuano | Chile | 297900 | 297900 |
| Antofagasta | Chile | 277100 | 277100 |
| San Bernardo | Chile | 270100 | 270100 |
| Rancagua | Chile | 235400 | 235400 |
| Arica | Chile | 207000 | 207000 |
| Chill�n | Chile | 203700 | 203700 |
| Talca | Chile | 202700 | 202700 |
| Iquique | Chile | 199800 | 199800 |
| Los �ngeles | Chile | 177300 | 177300 |
| Puerto Montt | Chile | 170400 | 170400 |
| Osorno | Chile | 162100 | 162100 |
| Coquimbo | Chile | 160800 | 160800 |
| Calama | Chile | 153600 | 153600 |
| La Serena | Chile | 150900 | 150900 |
| Valdivia | Chile | 141400 | 141400 |
| Punta Arenas | Chile | 135000 | 135000 |
| Copiap� | Chile | 134700 | 134700 |
| Quilpu� | Chile | 127300 | 127300 |
| Curic� | Chile | 123800 | 123800 |
| Melipilla | Chile | 103300 | 103300 |
| Ovalle | Chile | 101100 | 101100 |
Chile: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 3.467 million (2002) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 6,445,700 (2002) | | Roadways (km) | total: 79,605 km
paved: 16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways)
unpaved: 63,525 km (2001) |
Chile: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 76.58 years
male: 73.3 years
female: 80.03 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 0.3% (2003 est.) |
Chile
: 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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