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Congo
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
65.6% or about 22,411,000 ha of Congo is forested, according to FAO. Of this 33.2% ( 7,436,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Congo had 75,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Congo lost an average of 15,750 ha or 0.07% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Congo lost 1.4% of its forest cover, or around 315,000 ha.
Congo's forests contain 3,438 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Congo has some 970 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 0.7% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 2.0% are threatened. Congo is home to at least 6000 species of vascular plants, of which 20.0% are endemic. 14.1% of Congo 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) | 28 | 24 | 23 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 3,223 | 3,015 | 2,982 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 868 | 802 | 793 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 4,091 | 3,817 | 3,775 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 144 | 160 | 162 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
Congo Environmental profile
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Congo
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Congo: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 34150 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 22411 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 66 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 7436 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 33 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 10513 |
| Percent other wooded land | 31 |
Congo: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 7436 | 33 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 14900 | 66 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 75 | n.s. |
Congo: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 22726 | 22556 | 22471 | 22411 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -17 | -17 | -12 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.08 | -0.08 | -0.05 | |
Congo: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 22675 | 22505 | 22420 | 22336 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -17 | -17 | -17 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.1 | -0.07 | -0.08
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Congo: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 7548 | 7492 | 7464 | 7436 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -6 | -6 | -6 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.07 | -0.07 | -0.08 | |
Congo: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 51 | 51 | 51 | 75 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 5 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 8.02 | |
Congo: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 88 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Congo: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 100 | 0 | 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 |
| 42 | 0 | 58 | 0 | 0 |
Congo: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 4539 | 203 | - | - | 30 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| 479 | 46 | | | |
Congo: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 3487 | 3461 | 3448 | 3438 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 153 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| -3 | -3 | -2 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
Congo: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Congo: 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 |
| 1117 | 1189 | 1450 | 100 |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 942 | 1235 | 1317 | 100 |
Congo: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 232 | 21 | - | - | - |
Congo: 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 |
| - | - | - |
Congo: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (2002)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (-) In formulation
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (2000)
Sub-national forest law: No
Congo: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Congo: 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 |
| 47396 | - | - | - | - | - | -
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Congo: 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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Congo: Environment
| Environment - current issues | air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea | | Natural hazards | seasonal flooding |
Congo: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 0.51%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.36% (2001) | | Natural resources | petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower |
Congo: Economy
| Economy - overview: | The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings through oil-backed loans that has contributed to a growing debt burden and chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. However, the reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. Economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and near term prospects. The Republic of Congo may be eligible for an IMF-World Bank heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative in early 2006, provided it meets the strict fiscal and monetary targets set out for it under a new three-year PRGF with the IMF. | | GDP - per capita | $800 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 5.5% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 6.7%, industry: 62.4%, services: 30.9% (2005 est.) | | Industries | petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes | | Economic aid - recipient | $159.1 million (1995) | | Debt - external | $5 billion (2000 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | NA |
Congo: Population / Demographics
| Percent rural (2003) | 46.5% |
Largest Cities in Congo
Cities and urban areas in Congo with population over 100,000
[For more population information including updated figures and a wider selection of cities please visit The World Gazetteer]
--> All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Brazzaville | Congo | 1133800 | 1133800 |
| Pointe Noire | Congo | 527700 | 789400 |
Congo: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 7,000 (2003) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 330,000 (2003) | | Roadways (km) | total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999) |
Congo: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 52.26 years
male: 51.17 years
female: 53.39 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 92.41 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 4.9% (2003 est.) | | Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004) |
Congo
: 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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