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Colombia
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
54.5% or about 60,499,000 ha of Colombia is forested, according to FAO. Of this 14.1% ( 8,543,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Colombia had 405,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Colombia lost an average of 101,000 ha or 0.16% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Colombia lost 3.2% of its forest cover, or around 2,020,000 ha.
Colombia's forests contain 6,805 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Colombia has some 3429 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 17.6% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 10.1% are threatened. Colombia is home to at least 51220 species of vascular plants, of which 29.3% are endemic. 8.6% of Colombia 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) | 84 | 67 | 64 | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 8,054 | 7,240 | 7,092 | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 2,210 | 1,960 | 1,914 | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 10,264 | 9,200 | 9,006 | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 122 | 138 | 141 | M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
Colombia Environmental profile
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Colombia
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Colombia: Forest Cover, 2010
Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 110950 |
Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 60499 |
Percent Forest Cover | 55 |
Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 8543 |
Primary Forest, % total forest | 14 |
Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 22727 |
Percent other wooded land | 20 |
Colombia: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 8543 | 14 |
Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 51551 | 85 |
Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 405 | 1 |
Colombia: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
62519 | 61509 | 61004 | 60499 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -101 | -101 | -101 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.16 | -0.16 | -0.17 | |
Colombia: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
62382 | 61254 | 60674 | 60094 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -113 | -113 | -116 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.2 | -0.18 | -0.19
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Colombia: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
8828 | 8685 | 8614 | 8543 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -14 | -14 | -14 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.16 | -0.16 | -0.17 | |
Colombia: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
137 | 255 | 330 | 405 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 12 | 15 | 15 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent) Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 6.41 | 5.29 | 4.18 | |
Colombia: Primary designated function (percent)
Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
13 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
Colombia: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
22 | 67 | 11 |
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP |
Individuals | Business entities and institutions | Local, indigenous and tribal communities |
0 | 0 | 100 |
HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS |
Public administration | Individuals | Business
entities and Institutions | Communities | Other |
100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Colombia: Growing stock in forest
GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
8982 | 148 | - | - | - |
GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
- | - | | | |
Colombia: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (million metric tons) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
7032 | 6918 | 6862 | 6805 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS (per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 112 |
ANNUAL CHANGE (1 000 t/yr) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| -11 | -11 | -11 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE (t/ha/yr) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
Colombia: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005
FOREST FIRE |
1000 ha | % wild fire (not managed burn) |
- | - |
EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE |
Insects | Diseases | Other biotic agents | Abiotic factors | Total (excluding fire) | % of 2005 forest area |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
Colombia: 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 |
4021 | 2541 | 2106 | - |
WOODFUEL Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
7798 | 10772 | 11225 | - |
Colombia: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals (million US$) | Value per ha forest (US$) |
Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
n.s. | - | 153 | - | - |
Colombia: 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 |
- | - | - |
Colombia: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (1996)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (2000) Under revision
National forest law (year): Incorporated in other law (1974)
Sub-national forest law: No
Colombia: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
# | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
- | - | - | - | - | - |
Colombia: 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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Colombia: 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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Colombia: Environment
Environment - current issues | deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions | Environment - international agreements | party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea | Natural hazards | highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts |
Colombia: Land use / Resources
Land use (%) | arable land: 2.42% permanent crops: 1.67% other: 95.91% (2001) | Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower |
Colombia: Economy
Economy - overview: | Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past two years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to improve thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, and an export-oriented growth focus. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. New exploration is needed to offset declining oil production. On the positive side, several international financial institutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE, succeeded in reducing the public-sector deficit below 1.5% of GDP. The government's economic policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business sector. Coffee prices have recovered from previous lows as the Colombian coffee industry pursues greater market shares in developed countries such as the United States. | GDP - per capita | $7,100 (2005 est.) | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 4.3% (2005 est.) | Agriculture - products | coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 12.5%, industry: 34.3%, services: 53.3% (2005 est.) | Industries | textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds | Economic aid - recipient | NA | Debt - external | $37.06 billion (30 June 2005 est.) | Population below poverty line (%) | 59% (2001 est.) | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 22.7%, industry 18.7%, services 58.5% (2000 est.) |
Colombia: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005) | 42,954,279 | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 1.49% | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 41.4 | Percent rural (2003) | 23.5% | Median age (years) | total: 26.04 years | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 2.56 (2005 est.) | Ethnic groups (%) | mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1% |
Largest Cities in Colombia
Cities and urban areas in Colombia with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
Bogota | Colombia | 6680500 | 7798000 |
Cali | Colombia | 2203800 | 2800600 |
Medellin | Colombia | 1932400 | 2994400 |
Barranquilla | Colombia | 1298400 | 1870700 |
Cartagena | Colombia | 853900 | 853900 |
Cucuta | Colombia | 657100 | 735000 |
Bucaramanga | Colombia | 542400 | 955500 |
Ibague | Colombia | 401400 | 401400 |
Pereira | Colombia | 386900 | 585800 |
Santa Marta | Colombia | 372200 | 372200 |
Bello | Colombia | 355000 | 355000 |
Pasto | Colombia | 354000 | 354000 |
Manizales | Colombia | 342900 | 342900 |
Neiva | Colombia | 318600 | 318600 |
Soledad | Colombia | 314200 | 314200 |
Armenia | Colombia | 300800 | 300800 |
Villavicencio | Colombia | 290400 | 290400 |
Soacha | Colombia | 284100 | 284100 |
Valledupar | Colombia | 279900 | 279900 |
Monteria | Colombia | 253900 | 253900 |
Itagui | Colombia | 244400 | 244400 |
Sincelejo | Colombia | 237000 | 237000 |
Palmira | Colombia | 233100 | 233100 |
Buenaventura | Colombia | 230700 | 230700 |
Floridablanca | Colombia | 229000 | 229000 |
Popayan | Colombia | 207000 | 207000 |
Barrancabermeja | Colombia | 185900 | 185900 |
Dos Quebradas | Colombia | 167400 | 167400 |
Tulua | Colombia | 159700 | 159700 |
Envigado | Colombia | 143500 | 143500 |
Cartago | Colombia | 132900 | 132900 |
Girardot | Colombia | 120100 | 120100 |
Maicao | Colombia | 117500 | 117500 |
Florencia | Colombia | 115400 | 115400 |
Buga | Colombia | 114300 | 114300 |
Sogamoso | Colombia | 113900 | 113900 |
Tunja | Colombia | 109500 | 109500 |
Colombia: Infrastructure
Telephones - main lines in use | 8,768,100 (2003) | Telephones - mobile cellular | 6,186,200 (2003) | Roadways (km) | total: 112,998 km paved: 26,000 km unpaved: 84,000 km (2000) |
Colombia: Health
Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 71.72 years male: 67.88 years female: 75.7 years (2005 est.) | Infant mortality rate | 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 0.7% (2003 est.) |
Colombia
: 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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