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Sierra Leone
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
38.1% or about 2,726,000 ha of Sierra Leone is forested, according to FAO. Of this 4.1% ( 113,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Sierra Leone had 15,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Sierra Leone lost an average of 19,600 ha or 0.63% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Sierra Leone lost 12.6% of its forest cover, or around 392,000 ha.
Sierra Leone's forests contain 216 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Sierra Leone has some 938 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 2.9% are threatened. Sierra Leone is home to at least 2090 species of vascular plants, of which 3.5% are endemic. 2.0% of Sierra Leone 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) | 7 | 5 | 4 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 396 | 299 | 267 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 114 | 86 | 76 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 510 | 385 | 343 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 77 | 83 | 87 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
Sierra Leone Environmental profile
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Sierra Leone
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Sierra Leone: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 7162 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 2726 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 38 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 113 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 4 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 189 |
| Percent other wooded land | 3 |
Sierra Leone: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 113 | 4 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 2599 | 95 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 15 | 1 |
Sierra Leone: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 3118 | 2922 | 2824 | 2726 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -20 | -20 | -20 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.65 | -0.68 | -0.70 | |
Sierra Leone: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 3111.00 | 2914.00 | 2813.00 | 2711.00 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -20 | -20.00 | -20.00 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.6 | -0.63 | -0.70
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Sierra Leone: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 224 | 157 | 133 | 113 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -7 | -5 | -4 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -3.49 | -3.26 | -3.21 | |
Sierra Leone: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| n.s. | 1 | 1 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 1.66 | 7.23 | 5.30 | |
Sierra Leone: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 84 |
Sierra Leone: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 14 | 86 | 0 |
| 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 |
Sierra Leone: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 109 | 40 | - | - | 25 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| 3 | 15 | | | |
Sierra Leone: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 247 | 232 | 224 | 216 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 79 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| -2 | -2 | -2 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
Sierra Leone: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005
| FOREST FIRE |
| 1000 ha | % wild fire (not managed burn) |
| - | 90 |
| EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE |
| Insects | Diseases | Other biotic agents | Abiotic factors | Total (excluding fire) | % of 2005 forest area |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Sierra Leone: 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 |
| 152 | 142 | 142 | 100 |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 5383 | 6070 | 6242 | 100 |
Sierra Leone: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| - | - | - | - | - |
Sierra Leone: Employment in forestry 1990-2005
TOTAL
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | n.s. | n.s. |
IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | n.s. | n.s. |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | n.s. | n.s. |
Sierra Leone: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (2004)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: No (-) -
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1988)
Sub-national forest law: No
Sierra Leone: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| 210 | 10 | 200 | 9 | 195 | 8 |
Sierra Leone: 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 |
| 648 | 623 | 0 | 467 | - | 1090 | -
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Sierra Leone: 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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Sierra Leone: Environment
| Environment - current issues | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification | | Natural hazards | dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms |
Sierra Leone: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 6.98%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.13% (2001) | | Natural resources | diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite |
Sierra Leone: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings, accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to a revival of economic activity, such as the rehabilitation of bauxite mining. | | GDP - per capita | $800 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 5.5% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 49%, industry: 31%, services: 21% (2001 est.) | | Industries | diamonds mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair | | Economic aid - recipient | $297.4 million (2003 est.) | | Debt - external | $1.61 billion (2003 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 68% (1989 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA |
Sierra Leone: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 6,017,643 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.22% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 84.0 | | Percent rural (2003) | 61.2% | | Median age (years) | total: 17.53 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 5.72 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians |
Largest Cities in Sierra Leone
Cities and urban areas in Sierra Leone with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Freetown | Sierra Leone | 1032100 | 1032100 |
| Koidu | Sierra Leone | 111800 | 111800 |
| Makeni | Sierra Leone | 105900 | 105900 |
Sierra Leone: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 24,000 (2002) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 67,000 (2002) | | Roadways (km) | total: 11,300 km
paved: 904 km
unpaved: 10,396 km (2002) |
Sierra Leone: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 39.87 years
male: 37.74 years
female: 42.06 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 143.64 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 7% (2001 est.) | | Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2004) |
Sierra Leone
: 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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