|
Somalia
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
10.8% or about 6,747,000 ha of Somalia is forested, according to FAO. Somalia had 3,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Somalia lost an average of 76,750 ha or 0.93% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Somalia lost 18.5% of its forest cover, or around 1,535,000 ha.
Somalia's forests contain 394 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Somalia has some 1078 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 6.1% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 2.8% are threatened. Somalia is home to at least 3028 species of vascular plants, of which 16.5% are endemic. 0.0% of Somalia 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) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 10 | 2 | 1 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 3 | 1 | 0 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 14 | 2 | 1 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 30 | 34 | 34 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
Somalia Environmental profile
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Somalia
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
|
|
Somalia: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 62734 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 6747 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 11 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 0 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 0 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 0 |
| Percent other wooded land | 0 |
Somalia: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 0 | 0 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 6744 | 100 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 3 | n.s. |
Somalia: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 8282 | 7515 | 7131 | 6747 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -77 | -77 | -77 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.97 | -1.04 | -1.10 | |
Somalia: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 8279 | 7512 | 7128 | 6744 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -77 | -77 | -77 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.9 | -1 | -1
| |
Somalia: 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 |
| - | - | - | |
Somalia: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
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 | |
Somalia: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| n.s. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
Somalia: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| - | - | - |
| 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - |
Somalia: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 169 | 25 | - | - | - |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| - | - | | | |
Somalia: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 482 | 439 | 415 | 394 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 58 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| -4 | -5 | -4 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
Somalia: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Somalia: 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 |
| - | - | 7922 | - |
Somalia: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| - | 156 | - | - | - |
Somalia: 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 |
| 2 | 2 | 3 |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | - |
Somalia: 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: -
Somalia: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Somalia: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | -
|
Somalia: 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]
Somalia: Environment
| Environment - current issues | famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection | | Natural hazards | recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season |
Somalia: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.29% (2001) | | Natural resources | uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves |
Somalia: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Somalia's economic fortunes are driven by its deep political divisions. The northwestern area has declared its independence as the "Republic of Somaliland"; the northeastern region of Puntland is a semi-autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion is riddled with the struggles of rival factions. Economic life continues, in part because much activity is local and relatively easily protected. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings, but Saudi Arabia's recent ban on Somali livestock, because of Rift Valley Fever concerns, has severely hampered the sector. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia's service sector has managed to survive and grow. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted throughout the country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security. The ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however, have interfered with any broad-based economic development and international aid arrangements. In 2004 and 2005 Somalia's overdue financial obligations to the IMF continued to grow. Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewed skeptically. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took an estimated 150 lives and caused destruction of properity in coastal areas. | | GDP - per capita | $600 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 2.4% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | cattle, sheep, goats; bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; fish | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 65%, industry: 10%, services: 25% (2000 est.) | | Industries | a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication | | Economic aid - recipient | $60 million (1999 est.) | | Debt - external | $3 billion (2001 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | NA | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29% |
Somalia: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 8,591,629 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 3.38% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 13.7 | | Percent rural (2003) | 65.2% | | Median age (years) | total: 17.59 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 6.84 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000) |
Largest Cities in Somalia
Cities and urban areas in Somalia with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Mogadishu | Somalia | 1183100 | 1183100 |
| Hargeysa | Somalia | 231000 | 231000 |
| Berbera | Somalia | 213400 | 213400 |
| Kisimayo | Somalia | 201600 | 201600 |
| Marka | Somalia | 173100 | 173100 |
Somalia: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 100,000 (2002 est.) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 35,000 (2002) | | Roadways (km) | total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (1999 est.) |
Somalia: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 48.09 years
male: 46.36 years
female: 49.87 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 116.7 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 1% (2001 est.) | | Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2004) |
Somalia
: 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
|
|
|
|
