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Uruguay
Forest Information and Data
According to the U.N. FAO,
10.0% or about 1,744,000 ha of Uruguay is forested, according to FAO. Of this 17.5% ( 306,000 ) is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse and carbon-dense form of forest. Uruguay had 978,000 ha of planted forest.
Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2010, Uruguay lost an average of 41,200 ha or 4.48% per year. In total, between 1990 and 2010, Uruguay gained 89.6% of its forest cover, or around 824,000 ha.
Uruguay's forests contain - million metric tons of carbon in living forest biomass.
Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Uruguay has some 659 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 2.3% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.6% are threatened. Uruguay is home to at least 2278 species of vascular plants, of which 1.8% are endemic. 0.2% of Uruguay 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) | 3 | 2 | 1 | | Aboveground forest carbon (Mt C) | 63 | 37 | 30 | | Belowground forest carbon (Mt C) | 20 | 12 | 10 | | Total forest carbon (Mt C) | 83 | 49 | 40 | | Average Carbon Density (t C/ha) | 28 | 28 | 28 |
M=million, t=metric tons; all figures are mean carbon stock values
The following contains data relating to forest cover in Uruguay
Previous version of this profile (2009)
SECTIONS:
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Uruguay: Forest Cover, 2010
| Total Land Area (1000 ha) | 17502 |
| Total Forest Area (1000 ha) | 1744 |
| Percent Forest Cover | 10 |
| Primary Forest Cover (1000 ha) | 306 |
| Primary Forest, % total forest | 18 |
| Other wooded land (1000 ha) | 4 |
| Percent other wooded land | n.s. |
Uruguay: Breakdown of forest types, 2010
| Primary forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 306 | 18 |
| Other naturally regenerated forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 460 | 26 |
| Planted Forest (1000 ha | % of forest area) | 978 | 56 |
Uruguay: Trends in Total (Net) Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| TOTAL FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 920 | 1412 | 1520 | 1744 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 49 | 22 | 45 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 4.38 | 1.48 | 2.79 | |
Uruguay: Trends in Natural Forest Cover (Deforestation), 1990-2010
| FOREST COVER (excluding planted forests) (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 719 | 743 | 754 | 766 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.3 | 0.33 | 0.31
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Uruguay: Trends in Primary or Old Growth Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PRIMARY FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 288 | 297 | 302 | 306 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 0.31 | 0.33 | 0.26 | |
Uruguay: Trends in Planted Forest Cover, 1990-2010
| PLANTED FOREST COVER (1000 ha) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| 201 | 669 | 766 | 978 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (1000 ha)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 47 | 19 | 42 | |
ANNUAL CHANGE RATE (percent)
Negative number represents deforestation |
| 1990-2000 | 2000-2005 | 2005-2010 |
| 12.78 | 2.74 | 5.01 | |
Uruguay: Primary designated function (percent)
| Production | Protection of soil and water | Conservation of biodiversity | Social services | Multiple use | Other | None or unknown |
| 64 | 21 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Uruguay: Forest ownership and management rights 2005 (percent)
| OWNERSHIP PATTERN |
| Public ownership | Private ownership | Other |
| 1 | 99 | 0 |
| PRIVATE OWNERSHIP |
| Individuals | Business entities and institutions | Local, indigenous and tribal communities |
| - | - | 0 |
| HOLDER OF MANAGEMENT RIGHTS OF PUBLIC FORESTS |
| Public administration | Individuals | Business
entities and Institutions | Communities | Other |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
Uruguay: Growing stock in forest
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
Total
(million m3) | Per hectare
(m3) | Coniferous
(million m3) | Broadleaved
(million m3) | % commercial species |
| 125 | 72 | 1 | 124 | 8 |
| GROWING STOCK IN FOREST |
| Total (million m3) | Per hectare (m3) | Coniferous (million m3) | Broadleaved (million m3) | % commercial species |
| - | - | | | |
Uruguay: Trends in carbon stock in living forest biomass 1990-2010
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(million metric tons) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | - | - | - |
CARBON STOCK IN LIVING FOREST BIOMASS
(per hectare in tons) |
| | | 2000 |
| | | - |
ANNUAL CHANGE
(1 000 t/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | - | - |
ANNUAL CHANGE PER HECTARE
(t/ha/yr) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 |
| - | - | - |
Uruguay: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Uruguay: 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 |
| 849 | 1530 | 3243 | - |
WOODFUEL
Total volume (1 000 m3 over bark) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | percent of which from forest 2005 |
| 3086 | 2389 | 1863 | - |
Uruguay: Value of wood and NWFP removals 2005
Value of removals
(million US$) | Value per ha forest
(US$) |
| Industrial roundwood | Woodfuel | NWFP | Total | |
| 2 | - | - | - | - |
Uruguay: 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 |
| 1 | 6 | 5 |
IN MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREAS-CONSERVATION
(1000 full-time employees) |
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 |
| - | - | - |
Uruguay: Forest policy and legal framework 2008
National forest policy (year): Yes (1987)
Sub-national forest policy: No
National forest program (year) - status: Yes (-) -
National forest law (year): Specific forest law (1987)
Sub-national forest law: No
Uruguay: Human resources within public forest institutions 2000-2008
| 2000 | 2005 | 2008 |
| # | % female | # | % female | # | % female |
| - | - | - | - | 53 | 36 |
Uruguay: 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 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | -
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Uruguay: 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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Uruguay: Environment
| Environment - current issues | water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation | | Natural hazards | seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts |
Uruguay: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 7.43%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 92.34% (2001) | | Natural resources | arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries |
Uruguay: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the Uruguyan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the serious banking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF limited the damage. The debt swap with private creditors carried out in 2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's $14 billion in public debt, substantially alleviated the country's amortization burden in the coming years and restored public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness of the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, low international interest rates, and greater export competitiveness, but slowed to a 6.2% pace in 2005. | | GDP - per capita | $10,000 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 6.2% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 7.1%, industry: 27.7%, services: 65.2% (2005 est.) | | Industries | food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages | | Economic aid - recipient | NA | | Debt - external | $9.931 billion (30 June 2005 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 21% of households (2003) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70% |
Uruguay: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 3,415,920 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 0.47% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 19.7 | | Percent rural (2003) | 7.4% | | Median age (years) | total: 32.46 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 1.91 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent) |
Largest Cities in Uruguay
Cities and urban areas in Uruguay with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Montevideo | Uruguay | 1449900 | 1723300 |
Uruguay: Infrastructure
| Telephones - main lines in use | 946,500 (2002) | | Telephones - mobile cellular | 652,000 (2002) | | Roadways (km) | total: 8,983 km
paved: 8,081 km
unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.) |
Uruguay: Health
| Life expectancy at birth (years) | total population: 76.13 years
male: 72.92 years
female: 79.45 years (2005 est.) | | Infant mortality rate | 11.95 deaths/1,000 live births | | HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%) | 0.3% (2001 est.) |
Uruguay
: 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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