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United Kingdom
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
11.9% or about 2,881,000 ha of United Kingdom is forested, according to FAO. United Kingdom had 2,219,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, United Kingdom lost an average of 13,500 ha or 0.52% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, United Kingdom gained 10.3% of its forest cover, or around 270,000 ha.
United Kingdom's forests contain 136 million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: United Kingdom has some 688 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 1.7% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 2.9% are threatened. United Kingdom is home to at least 1623 species of vascular plants, of which 1.0% are endemic. 15.3% of United Kingdom is protected under IUCN categories I-V.
The following contains data relating to forest cover in United Kingdom
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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United Kingdom: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 24250 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 2881 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 12 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 0 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 0 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 20 |
| Percent other wooded land | n.s. |
United Kingdom: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 0 | 0 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 662 | 23 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 2219 | 77 |
United Kingdom: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 2611 | 2793 | 2845 | 2881 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 18 | 10 | 7 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.68 | 0.37 | 0.25 | |
United Kingdom: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 646 | 648 | 656 | 662 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.0 | 0.03 | 0.22
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United Kingdom: 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 |
| - | - | - | |
United Kingdom: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 1965 | 2145 | 2189 | 2219 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 18 | 9 | 6 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.88 | 0.41 | 0.27 | |
United Kingdom: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 32 | n.s. | 5 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 4 |
United Kingdom: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 35 | 65 | 0 |
| PRIVATE OWNERSHIP |
| Individuals | Business entities and institutions | Local, indigenous and tribal communities |
| 76 | 24 | n.s. |
| HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS |
| Public administration | Individuals | Business
entities and Institutions | Communities | Other |
| 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
United Kingdom: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 379 | 132 | 281 | 98 | 100 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| 1 | 50 | | | |
United Kingdom: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 120 | 119 | 128 | 136 |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | 47 |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | 2 | 2 |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| n.s. | n.s. | n.s. |
United Kingdom: Area of forest affected by fire and other disturbances 2005
| FOREST FIRE |
| 1000 ha | % wild fire (not managed burn) |
| 1 | 100 |
| EXCLUDING FOREST FIRE |
| Insects | Diseases | Other biotic agents | Abiotic factors | Total (excluding fire) | % of 2005 forest area |
| 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 10 | n.s. |
United Kingdom: 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 |
| 6901 | 8452 | 9149 | 100 |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 256 | 259 | 352 | 100 |
United Kingdom: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 367 | 9 | 111 | 487 | n.s. |
United Kingdom: Employment in forestry 1990-2005
TOTAL
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| 20 | 11 | 10 |
IN PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF GOODS-FORESTRY
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| 18 | 9 | 8 |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 |
United Kingdom: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): No (-)
Sub-national forest policy: Yes
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (2003) Under revision
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1967)
Sub-national forest law: No
United Kingdom: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| 569 | 44 | 1344 | 33 | 1350 | 35 |
United Kingdom: 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 |
| 0 | 209455 | 65091 | 3636 | 22182 | 213092 | 87273
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United Kingdom: 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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United Kingdom: Environment
| Environment - current issues | continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3% | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants | | Natural hazards | winter windstorms; floods |
United Kingdom: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 23.46%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 76.33% (2001) | | Natural resources | coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land |
United Kingdom: Economy
| Economy - overview: | The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is one of the quintet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. GDP growth slipped in 2001-03 as the global downturn, the high value of the pound, and the bursting of the "new economy" bubble hurt manufacturing and exports. Output recovered in 2004, to 3.2% growth, but fell in 2005, to 1.8%. Despite slower growth, the economy is one of the strongest in Europe; inflation, interest rates, and unemployment remain low. The relatively good economic performance has complicated the BLAIR government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that the economy is doing well outside of EMU, and they cite public opinion polls that continue to show a majority of Britons opposed to the euro. Meantime, the government has been speeding up the improvement of education, transport, and health services, at a cost in higher taxes and a widening public deficit. | | GDP - per capita | $30,900 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 1.8% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 1.1%, industry: 26%, services: 72.9% (2005 est.) | | Industries | machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods | | Population below poverty line (%) | 17% (2002 est.) | | Debt - external | $7.107 trillion (30 June 2005) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 1.5%, industry 19.1%, services 79.5% (2004) |
United Kingdom: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 60,441,457 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 0.28% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 250.2 | | Percent rural (2003) | 10.9% | | Median age (years) | total: 38.99 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 1.66 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | white (English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census) |
Largest Cities in United Kingdom
Cities and urban areas in United Kingdom with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| London | United Kingdom | 7393800 | 11230500 |
| Birmingham | United Kingdom | 985900 | 3202800 |
| Glasgow | United Kingdom | 609400 | 1086200 |
| Liverpool | United Kingdom | 466600 | 3630100 |
| Sheffield | United Kingdom | 421800 | 1104900 |
| Leeds | United Kingdom | 420300 | 1498500 |
| Bristol | United Kingdom | 409300 | 614800 |
| Manchester | United Kingdom | 394300 | 394300 |
| Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 380500 | 665600 |
| Leicester | United Kingdom | 319100 | 319100 |
| Kingston upon Hull | United Kingdom | 309100 | 309100 |
| Coventry | United Kingdom | 295000 | 411200 |
| Bradford | United Kingdom | 290400 | 290400 |
| Cardiff | United Kingdom | 279500 | 677700 |
| Nottingham | United Kingdom | 271400 | 632300 |
| Stoke-on-Trent | United Kingdom | 266700 | 266700 |
| Wolverhampton | United Kingdom | 258100 | 258100 |
| Belfast | United Kingdom | 255100 | 489500 |
| Plymouth | United Kingdom | 249900 | 249900 |
| Derby | United Kingdom | 227900 | 227900 |
| Reading | United Kingdom | 222700 | 222700 |
| Southampton | United Kingdom | 211500 | 733600 |
| Aberdeen | United Kingdom | 188300 | 188300 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | United Kingdom | 187200 | 1147200 |
| Preston | United Kingdom | 183400 | 183400 |
| Sunderland | United Kingdom | 180700 | 180700 |
| Luton | United Kingdom | 179700 | 179700 |
| Portsmouth | United Kingdom | 176300 | 176300 |
| Norwich | United Kingdom | 173300 | 173300 |
| Swansea | United Kingdom | 170500 | 170500 |
| Bournemouth | United Kingdom | 161800 | 161800 |
| Southend-on-Sea | United Kingdom | 160900 | 160900 |
| Swindon | United Kingdom | 153700 | 153700 |
| Dundee | United Kingdom | 148500 | 148500 |
| Blackpool | United Kingdom | 147500 | 147500 |
| Poole | United Kingdom | 146000 | 146000 |
| Middlesbrough | United Kingdom | 144800 | 692500 |
| Peterborough | United Kingdom | 144800 | 144800 |
| Huddersfield | United Kingdom | 143500 | 143500 |
| Bolton | United Kingdom | 138400 | 138400 |
| Stockport | United Kingdom | 133000 | 133000 |
| Ipswich | United Kingdom | 131400 | 131400 |
| York | United Kingdom | 126200 | 126200 |
| Brighton | United Kingdom | 122500 | 122500 |
| Rotherham | United Kingdom | 122000 | 122000 |
| Oxford | United Kingdom | 121700 | 121700 |
| Gloucester | United Kingdom | 117900 | 117900 |
| Newport | United Kingdom | 115400 | 115400 |
| Watford | United Kingdom | 115400 | 115400 |
| Slough | United Kingdom | 113300 | 113300 |
| Blackburn | United Kingdom | 105600 | 105600 |
| Basildon | United Kingdom | 104600 | 104600 |
| Saint Helens | United Kingdom | 104400 | 104400 |
| Northampton | United Kingdom | 104100 | 104100 |
| Oldham | United Kingdom | 103700 | 103700 |
| Woking-Byfleet | United Kingdom | 102800 | 102800 |
| Chelmsford | United Kingdom | 100700 | 100700 |
| Colchester | United Kingdom | 100300 | 100300 |
United Kingdom: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 34.898 million (2002) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 49.677 million (2002) | | Roadways (km) | total: 392,931 km
paved: 392,931 km (including 3,431 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2003) |
United Kingdom: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 78.38 years
male: 75.94 years
female: 80.96 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 0.2% (2001 est.) |
United Kingdom
: 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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