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Ecuador
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
35.6% or about 9,865,000 ha of Ecuador was forested in 2010, according to FAO. Of this 48.7% ( 4,805,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Ecuador had 167,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Ecuador lost an average of 197,600 ha or 1.43% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Ecuador lost 28.6% of its forest cover, or around 3,952,000 ha.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Ecuador has some 2703 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 14.2% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 10.2% are threatened. Ecuador is home to at least 19362 species of vascular plants, of which 20.7% are endemic. 9.3% of Ecuador 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) | 17 | 14 | 13 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 1,826 | 1,594 | 1,562 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 495 | 428 | 418 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 2,321 | 2,022 | 1,981 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 134 | 149 | 152 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
Ecuador Environmental profile | Ecuador pictures
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Ecuador
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Ecuador: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 27684 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 9865 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 36 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 4805 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 49 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 1519 |
| Percent other wooded land | 5 |
Ecuador: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 4805 | 49 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 4893 | 50 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 167 | 2 |
Ecuador: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 13817 | 11841 | 10853 | 9865 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -198 | -198 | -198 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -1.53 | -1.73 | -1.89 | |
Ecuador: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 13817 | 11680 | 10688 | 9698 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -214 | -214 | -198 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -1.5 | -1.55 | -1.7
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Ecuador: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | 4682 | 4743 | 4805 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| - | 12 | 12 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| - | 0.26 | 0.26 | |
Ecuador: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | 161 | 165 | 167 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| - | 1 | n.s. | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| - | 0.49 | 0.24 | |
Ecuador: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 2 | 24 | 49 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 4 |
Ecuador: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 15 | 2 | 83 |
| 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - |
Ecuador: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| - | - | | | |
Ecuador: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | - | - | - |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | - |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | - | - |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | - | - |
Ecuador: 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 |
| n.s. | - | - | - | n.s. | n.s. |
Ecuador: 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 |
| 3673 | 2200 | 1306 | - |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 3577 | 5844 | 5027 | - |
Ecuador: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 90 | 33 | - | - | - |
Ecuador: Employment in forestry 1990-2005
TOTAL
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | 23 | 23 |
IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | 23 | 23 |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | n.s. | n.s. |
Ecuador: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (2002)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (2002) In implementation
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1981)
Sub-national forest law: No
Ecuador: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| - | - | - | - | 389 | 26 |
Ecuador: 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 |
| - | 136 | - | 240 | - | 376 | -
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Ecuador: 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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Ecuador: Environment
| Environment - current issues | deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | | Natural hazards | frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts |
Ecuador: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 5.85%
permanent crops: 4.93%
other: 89.22% (2001) | | Natural resources | petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower |
Ecuador: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources, which have accounted for 40% of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of central government budget revenues in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. In the late 1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDP contracted by more than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. The currency depreciated by some 70% in 1999, and, on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD government announced it would dollarize the economy. A coup, however, ousted MAHAUD from office in January 2000, and after a short-lived junta failed to garner military support, Vice President Gustavo NOBOA took over the presidency. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided the framework for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and growth returned to its pre-crisis levels in the years that followed. Under the administration of Lucio GUTIERREZ - January 2003 to April 2005 - Ecuador benefited from higher world petroleum prices, and the new government under Alfredo PALACIO has proposed economic reforms to reduce Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises. High oil prices have kept the current account in surplus. PALACIO is committed to spending a part of the oil windfall on social projects. | | GDP - per capita | $3,900 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 3% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 7.4%, industry: 31.8%, services: 60.8% (2005 est.) | | Industries | petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals | | Economic aid - recipient | $216 million (2002) | | Debt - external | $17.01 billion (31 December 2004 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 45% (2001 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 8%, industry 24%, services 68% (2001) |
Ecuador: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 13,363,593 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 1.24% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 48.3 | | Percent rural (2003) | 38.2% | | Median age (years) | total: 23.27 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 2.72 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3% |
Largest Cities in Ecuador
Cities and urban areas in Ecuador with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Guayaquil | Ecuador | 2196800 | 2686000 |
| Quito | Ecuador | 1648100 | 1777900 |
| Cuenca | Ecuador | 277000 | 277000 |
| Machala | Ecuador | 216000 | 216000 |
| Santo Domingo | Ecuador | 194100 | 194100 |
| Portoviejo | Ecuador | 184000 | 184000 |
| Ambato | Ecuador | 173900 | 173900 |
| Manta | Ecuador | 172200 | 172200 |
| Milagro | Ecuador | 133700 | 133700 |
| Esmeraldas | Ecuador | 132800 | 132800 |
| Quevedo | Ecuador | 129600 | 129600 |
| Riobamba | Ecuador | 127500 | 127500 |
| Loja | Ecuador | 126300 | 126300 |
| Ibarra | Ecuador | 124600 | 124600 |
Ecuador: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 1.549 million (2003) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 2,394,400 (2003) | | Roadways (km) | total: 43,197 km
paved: 7,287 km
unpaved: 35,910 km (2003) |
Ecuador: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 76.21 years
male: 73.35 years
female: 79.22 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 23.66 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 0.3% (2003 est.) |
Ecuador
: 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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