Argentina

12.1% —or about 33,021,000 hectares—of Argentina is forested.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Argentina lost an average of 149,200 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 0.42%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change increased by 4.8% to 0.44% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Argentina lost 6.4% of its forest cover, or around 2,241,000 hectares. Measuring the total rate of habitat conversion (defined as change in forest area plus change in woodland area minus net plantation expansion) for the 1990-2005 interval, Argentina lost 2.1% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Argentina has some 1913 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 13.3% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 6.4% are threatened. Argentina is home to at least 9372 species of vascular plants, of which 11.7% are endemic. 2.1% of Argentina is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

Argentina pictures

SECTIONS:

Forest Cover | Forest types | Breakdown of forest types | Change in Forest Cover | Primary forest | Forest designation | Disturbances affecting forest land | Protected areas | Biodiversity - Wildlife | Biodiversity - Plants | Value of forests | Production, trade and consumption of forest products | Environment | Land use / Resources | Economy | Population / Demographics | Infrastructure | Health | References | Books

Books

Argentina: Forest Cover, 2005 Total Land Area (ha) 273,669,000 Total Forest Area (ha) 33,021,000 Percent Forest Cover 12.07% Primary Forest Cover (ha) - Primary Forest, % total forest - Primary Forest, % total land - Other wooded land (ha) 60,961,000 Argentina : Forest types Tropical (% forest area) 91% Subtropical (% forest area) 5% Temperate (% forest area) 4% Boreal/polar (% forest area) 0% Argentina: Breakdown of forest types, 2005 Primary forest (ha | %) - - Modified natural (ha | %) 31,792,000 96.3% Semi-natural (ha | %) - - Production plantation (ha | %) 1,229,000 3.7% Production plantation (ha | %) - - Argentina: Change in Forest Cover TOTAL FOREST COVER Forest 1990 (ha) 35,262,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 33,770,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 33,021,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (149,200) -0.42% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (149,800) -0.44% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (2,241,000) -6.36% Change in rate (%) 4.84% PRIMARY FOREST COVER Primary 1990 (ha) - Primary 2000 (ha) - Primary 2005 (ha) - Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) - - Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - - Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) - - Change in rate (%) - OTHER WOODED LAND Other 1990 (ha) 60,280,000 Other 2000 (ha) 60,734,000 Other 2005 (ha) 60,961,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 45,400 0.08% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 45,400 0.07% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 681,000 1.13% Change in rate (%) -0.75% PLANTATIONS Other 1990 (ha) 769,000 Other 2000 (ha) 1,078,000 Other 2005 (ha) 1,229,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 30,900 4.02% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 30,200 2.80% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 460,000 59.82% Change in rate (%) -30.28% TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations Other 1990 (ha) 94,773,000 Other 2000 (ha) 93,426,000 Other 2005 (ha) 92,753,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (134,700) -0.14% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (134,600) -0.14% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (2,020,000) -2.13% Change in rate (%) 1.37% Argentina: Primary Primary or "old-growth" vegetation Primary Forest 2005 (ha) - Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) - Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) 0 Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) 0.00% Argentina: Forest designation Ownership of forest land, 2000 Public (%) - Private (%) - Other (%) - Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 Public (%) - Private (%) - Other (%) - Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 Production (%) 3.7% Protection (%) - Conservation (%) 3.4% Social Services (%) - Multiple Services (%) 6.3% None of Unknown (%) 86.5% Argentina: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000 Forest Area annually affected by Fire (%) 1.91% Insects (ha) - Diseases (ha) - Other (ha) - Argentina: Protected areas 11 Protected areas Biosphere reserves, 2005 Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 13 World Heritage sites, 2004 8 Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land 2.1% Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land 1.40% Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 0.73% Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 4.15% Argentina: Biodiversity - Wildlife Amphibians total species 162 endemic species 49 threatened species 30 Birds total species 1038 endemic species 41 threatened species 55 Mammals total species 375 endemic species 60 threatened species 32 Reptiles total species 338 endemic species 104 threatened species 5 Wildlife diversity total species 1913 endemic species 254 threatened species 122 Argentina: Biodiversity - Plants Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 50.50% Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 63.60% Number of Native tree species Native tree species 236 Number of tree species in IUCN red list Critically Endangered 0 Endangered 10 Vulnerable 34 Vascular Plant Species, 2004 Total 9372 Number endemic 1100 Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 Species threatened 42 Argentina: Value of forests Biomass stock in forest, 2005 Above-ground biomass (M t) 3,824 Below-ground biomass (M t) 993 Dead wood (M t) 516 Total (M t) 5,333 Carbon stock in forest, 2005 Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) 1,912 Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) 499 Carbon in dead wood (M t) 260 Carbon in litter (M t) 124 Soil carbon (M t) 1,264 Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) 1990-2000 -20,100 2000-2005 -21,200 Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) 1990-2000 -0.33 2000-2005 -0.38 Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) 7,536 Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) 3,490 Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) 11,026 Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) 1 Plant products 2005 Food (t) - Fodder (t) - Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) - Ornamental plants (t) - Exudates (t) 14,850 Other plant products (t) 61 Animal products 2005 Living animals (units) - Hides, skins and trophies (units) - Wild honey and bee-wax (t) - Bush meat (t) - Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Other edible animal products (t) - Other non-edible animal products (t) - Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (US$) $117,616,000 Wood fuel (US$) $26,115,000 Non-wood forest products (US$) - Total value (US$) $143,731,000 Total value ($USD/ha) $4 Employment in forestry 2000 Total people employed 33,000 Argentina : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002 Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 3,972 Imports 0 Exports 0 Consumption 3,972 Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 5,335 Imports 0 Exports 36 Consumption 5,299 Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 2,130 Imports 24 Exports 285 Consumption 1,869 Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 692 Imports 10 Exports 364 Consumption 338 Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 785 Imports 74 Exports 258 Consumption 601 Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 1,338 Imports 277 Exports 116 Consumption 1,499 Argentina: Environment Environment - current issues environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution 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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Natural hazards San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding Argentina: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 12.31% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 87.21% (2001) Natural resources fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium Argentina: Economy Economy - overview: Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the country has suffered problems of inflation, external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the peso was floated in February; the exchange rate plunged and real GDP fell by 10.9% in 2002, but by mid-year the economy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. GDP expanded by about 8% per year from 2003 to 2005. Growth is being led by a revival in domestic demand, solid exports, and favorable external conditions. The government boosted spending ahead of the October 2005 midterm congressional elections, but strong revenue performance will allow Argentina to exceed its primary budget surplus target for this year of 3.2 percent of GDP. Inflation has been rising steadily and is expected to reach 11.8 percent this year. GDP - per capita $13,600 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 8.2% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 10.5%, industry: 35.8%, services: 53.7% (2004 est.) Industries food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel Economic aid - recipient $10 billion (2001 est.) Debt - external $119 billion (June 2005 est.) Population below poverty line (%) 38.5% (June 2005) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Argentina: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 39,537,943 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 0.98% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 14.4 Percent rural (2003) 9.9% Median age (years) total: 29.42 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 2.19 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3% Largest Cities in Argentina Cities and urban areas in Argentina with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Buenos Aires Argentina 11655100 12923800 Cordoba Argentina 1460200 1543500 Rosario Argentina 1243400 1358300 Mendoza Argentina 977500 977500 La Plata Argentina 833100 833100 Tucuman Argentina 791200 791200 Mar del Plata Argentina 679000 679000 Salta Argentina 519900 519900 Santa Fe Argentina 500000 500000 San Juan Argentina 435700 435700 Resistencia Argentina 399500 399500 Neuquen Argentina 391900 391900 Santiago del Estero Argentina 388100 388100 Corrientes Argentina 330000 330000 Bahia Blanca Argentina 309300 309300 Posadas Argentina 297300 297300 Jujuy Argentina 260500 260500 Parana Argentina 258700 258700 Formosa Argentina 227000 227000 Catamarca Argentina 178200 178200 Rio Cuarto Argentina 171400 171400 Comodoro Rivadavia Argentina 166000 166000 San Nicolas Argentina 155900 155900 San Luis Argentina 150200 150200 La Rioja Argentina 145500 145500 Concordia Argentina 142600 142600 San Rafael Argentina 117900 117900 San Carlos de Bariloche Argentina 114800 114800 Trelew Argentina 111200 111200 Tandil Argentina 108500 108500 Mercedes Argentina 106600 106600  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) and the State of the World�s Forests (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