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South Africa
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
7.6% or about 9,241,000 ha of South Africa is forested, according to FAO. Of this 10.2% ( 947,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. South Africa had 1,763,000 ha of planted forest. South Africa's forests contain 807 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: South Africa has some 1632 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 13.4% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 6.5% are threatened. South Africa is home to at least 23420 species of vascular plants. 5.3% of South Africa 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) | 19 | 10 | 7 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 383 | 217 | 152 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 125 | 70 | 49 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 507 | 288 | 202 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 27 | 28 | 29 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
The following contains data relating to forest cover in South Africa
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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South Africa: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 121447 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 9241 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 8 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 947 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 10 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 24558 |
| Percent other wooded land | 20 |
South Africa: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 947 | 10 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 6531 | 71 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 1763 | 19 |
South Africa: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 9241 | 9241 | 9241 | 9241 | |
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 | |
South Africa: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 7615 | 7517 | 7491 | 7478 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -10 | -10 | -4 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| -0.1 | -0.13 | -0.05
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South Africa: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 947 | 947 | 947 | 947 | |
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 | |
South Africa: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 1626 | 1724 | 1750 | 1763 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 10 | 5 | 3 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.59 | 0.30 | 0.15 | |
South Africa: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 19 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 71 | 0 | 0 |
South Africa: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 60 | 40 | 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 |
| 96 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
South Africa: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 670 | 73 | - | - | 36 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| 491 | 20 | | | |
South Africa: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 807 | 807 | 807 | 807 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 87 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Africa: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
South Africa: 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 |
| 15477 | 16746 | 21077 | 100 |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 13570 | 13800 | 13800 | 100 |
South Africa: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 763 | 167 | - | - | n.s. |
South Africa: 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 |
| - | 66 | 121 |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | - |
South Africa: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (1996)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (1997) Under revision
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1998)
Sub-national forest law: No
South Africa: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| 10000 | - | 3749 | - | 3095 | 45 |
South Africa: 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 |
| 7349 | 63392 | 2797 | - | - | - | -
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South Africa: 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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South Africa: Environment
| Environment - current issues | lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | | Natural hazards | prolonged droughts |
South Africa: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 12.08%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.13% (2001) | | Natural resources | gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas |
South Africa: Economy
| Economy - overview: | South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; a stock exchange that ranks among the 10 largest in the world; and a modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region. However, growth has not been strong enough to lower South Africa's high unemployment rate; and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. South African economic policy is fiscally conservative, but pragmatic, focusing on targeting inflation and liberalizing trade as means to increase job growth and household income. | | GDP - per capita | $11,900 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 4.5% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 3.4%, industry: 31.6%, services: 65.1% (2005 est.) | | Industries | mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair | | Economic aid - recipient | $487.5 million (2000) | | Debt - external | $44.33 billion (30 June 2005 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 50% (2000 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.) |
South Africa: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 44,344,136 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | -0.31% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 36.4 | | Percent rural (2003) | 43.1% | | Median age (years) | total: 23.98 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 2.24 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census) |
Largest Cities in South Africa
Cities and urban areas in South Africa with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Cape Town | South Africa | 2686000 | 3086600 |
| Durban | South Africa | 2354900 | 2354900 |
| Johannesburg | South Africa | 1646400 | 5014000 |
| Pretoria | South Africa | 1228200 | 1514800 |
| Soweto | South Africa | 1221100 | 1221100 |
| Port Elizabeth | South Africa | 833900 | 1047600 |
| Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 420500 | 420500 |
| Benoni | South Africa | 406400 | 406400 |
| Vereeniging | South Africa | 385600 | 774200 |
| Bloemfontein | South Africa | 371200 | 371200 |
| Newcastle | South Africa | 244300 | 244300 |
| East London | South Africa | 236100 | 549300 |
| Welkom | South Africa | 226100 | 226100 |
| Botshabelo | South Africa | 197900 | 197900 |
| Kimberley | South Africa | 189500 | 189500 |
| Witbank | South Africa | 185900 | 185900 |
| Carltonville | South Africa | 182800 | 182800 |
| Klerksdorp | South Africa | 152700 | 152700 |
| Rustenburg | South Africa | 116200 | 116200 |
| Potchefstroom | South Africa | 113100 | 113100 |
| Nelspruit | South Africa | 105300 | 105300 |
| George | South Africa | 104700 | 104700 |
| King Williams Town | South Africa | 103700 | 103700 |
| Nigel | South Africa | 102000 | 102000 |
| Pietersburg | South Africa | 101600 | 101600 |
South Africa: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 4.844 million (2002) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 16.86 million (2003) | | Roadways (km) | total: 275,971 km
paved: 57,568 km (including 2,032 km of expressways)
unpaved: 218,403 km (2002) |
South Africa: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 43.27 years
male: 43.47 years
female: 43.06 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 61.81 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 21.5% (2003 est.) |
South Africa
: 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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