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Rwanda
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
17.6% or about 435,000 ha of Rwanda is forested, according to FAO. Of this 1.6% ( 7,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Rwanda had 373,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Rwanda lost an average of 5,850 ha or 1.84% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Rwanda gained 36.8% of its forest cover, or around 117,000 ha.
Rwanda's forests contain 39 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Rwanda has some 999 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 0.4% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 3.0% are threatened. Rwanda is home to at least 2288 species of vascular plants, of which 1.1% are endemic. 7.7% of Rwanda 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) | 1 | 0.33 | 0.27 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 34 | 19 | 16 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 10 | 5 | 5 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 44 | 24 | 21 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 64 | 73 | 76 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
Rwanda Environmental profile
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Rwanda
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Rwanda: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 2467 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 435 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 18 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 7 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 2 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 61 |
| Percent other wooded land | 2 |
Rwanda: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 7 | 2 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 55 | 13 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 373 | 86 |
Rwanda: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 318 | 344 | 385 | 435 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 3 | 8 | 10 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.79 | 2.28 | 2.47 | |
Rwanda: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 70 | 62 | 62 | 62 | |
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 |
| -1.1 | -1.14 | 0
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Rwanda: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | |
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 | |
Rwanda: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 248 | 282 | 323 | 373 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 3 | 8 | 10 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 1.29 | 2.75 | 2.92 | |
Rwanda: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 74 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
Rwanda: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 79 | 21 | 0 |
| PRIVATE OWNERSHIP |
| Individuals | Business entities and institutions | Local, indigenous and tribal communities |
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
| HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS |
| Public administration | Individuals | Business
entities and Institutions | Communities | Other |
| 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rwanda: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 79 | 182 | - | - | 95 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| 2 | 30 | | | |
Rwanda: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 35 | 18 | 35 | 39 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 91 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| -2 | 3 | 1 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| -6.0 | 7.7 | n.s. |
Rwanda: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Rwanda: 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 |
| 133 | 472 | 569 | 40 |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 4823 | 6831 | 7801 | 90 |
Rwanda: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 3 | 27 | - | - | - |
Rwanda: Employment in forestry 1990-2005
TOTAL
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | 1 |
IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | n.s. |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | n.s. |
Rwanda: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (2004)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: - (-) -
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1988)
Sub-national forest law: No
Rwanda: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| - | - | - | - | 213 | 11 |
Rwanda: 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 |
| 359 | - | - | - | - | - | -
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Rwanda: 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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Rwanda: Environment
| Environment - current issues | deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea | | Natural hazards | periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo |
Rwanda: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 40.54%
permanent crops: 12.16%
other: 47.3% (2001) | | Natural resources | gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land |
Rwanda: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa and is landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and received IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005. Kigali's high defense expenditures have caused tension between the government and international donors and lending agencies. An energy shortage and instability in neighboring states may slow growth in 2006, while the lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continues to handicap export growth. | | GDP - per capita | $1,300 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 4.8% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 37.6%, industry: 22.8%, services: 39.6% (2005 est.) | | Industries | cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes | | Economic aid - recipient | $425 million (2003) | | Debt - external | $1.4 billion (2004 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 60% (2001 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 90% |
Rwanda: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 8,440,820 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.43% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 338.3 | | Percent rural (2003) | 81.7% | | Median age (years) | total: 18.48 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 5.49 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1% |
Largest Cities in Rwanda
Cities and urban areas in Rwanda with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Kigali | Rwanda | 365200 | 365200 |
Rwanda: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 23,200 (2002) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 134,000 | | Roadways (km) | total: 12,000 km
paved: 996 km
unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.) |
Rwanda: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 46.96 years
male: 45.92 years
female: 48.03 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 91.23 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 5.1% (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) |
Rwanda
: 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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