|
Iraq
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
1.9% or about 825,000 ha of Iraq is forested, according to FAO. Iraq had 15,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Iraq lost an average of 1,050 ha or 0.13% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Iraq gained 2.6% of its forest cover, or around 21,000 ha.
Iraq's forests contain - million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Iraq has some 608 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 0.5% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 4.9% are threatened. 0.0% of Iraq is protected under IUCN categories I-V.
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Iraq
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
|
|
Iraq: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 43737 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 825 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 2 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 0 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 0 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 259 |
| Percent other wooded land | 1 |
Iraq: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 0 | 0 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 810 | 98 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 15 | 2 |
Iraq: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 804 | 818 | 825 | 825 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.17 | 0.17 | 0 | |
Iraq: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 789 | 803 | 810 | 810 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.2 | 0 | 0
| |
Iraq: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
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 |
| - | - | - | |
Iraq: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | |
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 | 0 | |
Iraq: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 0 | 80 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Iraq: 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 |
| 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Iraq: 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 |
| - | - | | | |
Iraq: 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 |
| - | - | - |
Iraq: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Iraq: 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 |
| - | - | - | - |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| - | - | - | - |
Iraq: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| - | - | - | - | - |
Iraq: 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 |
| - | - | - |
Iraq: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): - (-)
Sub-national forest policy: -
National forest program (year) - status: - (-) -
National forest law (year): - (-)
Sub-national forest law: -
Iraq: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Iraq: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | -
|
Iraq: 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:
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Iraq: Environment
| Environment - current issues | government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification | | Natural hazards | dust storms, sandstorms, floods |
Iraq: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 13.15%
permanent crops: 0.78%
other: 86.07% (2001) | | Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur |
Iraq: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999, the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living standards were still well below the pre-1991 level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure. Although a comparatively small amount of capital plant was damaged during the hostilities, looting, insurgent attacks, and sabotage have undermined efforts to rebuild the economy. Attacks on key economic facilities - especially oil pipelines and infrastructure - have prevented Iraq from reaching projected export volumes, but total government revenues have been higher than anticipated due to high oil prices. Despite political uncertainty, Iraq has established the institutions needed to implement economic policy, has successfully concluded a three-stage debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club, and is working toward a Standby Arrangement with the IMF. The Standby Arrangement would clear the way for continued debt relief from the Paris Club. | | GDP - per capita | $3,400 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 2.4% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 7.3%, industry: 66.6%, services: 26.1% (2004 est.) | | Industries | petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing | | Economic aid - recipient | more than $33 billion in foreign aid pledged for 2004-07 (2004) | | Debt - external | $82.1 billion (2005 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | NA | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA |
Iraq: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 26,074,906 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.70% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 60.3 | | Percent rural (2003) | 32.8% | | Median age (years) | total: 19.43 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 4.28 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% |
Largest Cities in Iraq
Cities and urban areas in Iraq with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Baghdad | Iraq | 4948300 | 6492200 |
| Mosul | Iraq | 1139200 | 1139200 |
| Irbil | Iraq | 1100400 | 1100400 |
| Basrah | Iraq | 1030900 | 1030900 |
| Suleymaniye | Iraq | 757300 | 757300 |
| Kirkuk | Iraq | 712900 | 712900 |
| al-Najaf | Iraq | 549800 | 549800 |
| Karbala | Iraq | 536400 | 536400 |
| Nasirah | Iraq | 519500 | 519500 |
| Hillah | Iraq | 510300 | 510300 |
| Rumadiya | Iraq | 407900 | 407900 |
| Diwaniyah | Iraq | 407400 | 407400 |
| al-Kut | Iraq | 369500 | 369500 |
| Amarah | Iraq | 333200 | 333200 |
| Samarra | Iraq | 321600 | 321600 |
| Baqubah | Iraq | 269000 | 269000 |
| Fallujah | Iraq | 232600 | 232600 |
| Zubayr | Iraq | 158600 | 158600 |
| Tilafar | Iraq | 146700 | 146700 |
| as-Samawah | Iraq | 121600 | 121600 |
Iraq: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 675,000; note - an unknown number of telephone lines were damaged or destroyed during the March-April 2003 war (2003) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 20,000 (2002) | | Roadways (km) | total: 45,550 km
paved: 38,399 km
unpaved: 7,151 km (1999) |
Iraq: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 68.7 years
male: 67.49 years
female: 69.97 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 50.25 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
Iraq
: 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
|
|
|
|
