STATISTICS: Bolivia


Bolivia

54.2% —or about 58,740,000 hectares—of Bolivia is forested. Of this, 50.0% —or roughly 29,360,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Bolivia lost an average of 270,400 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 0.43%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change increased by 4.4% to 0.45% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Bolivia lost 6.5% of its forest cover, or around 4,055,000 hectares. Bolivia lost -2,028,000 hectares—0—of its primary forest cover during that time. Deforestation rates of primary cover have decreased 6.5% since the close of the 1990s. 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, Bolivia lost 6.2% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Bolivia has some 2194 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 5.4% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 3.6% are threatened. Bolivia is home to at least 17367 species of vascular plants, of which 23.0% are endemic. 11.1% of Bolivia is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

Bolivia Environmental profile






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Bolivia: Forest Cover, 2005
Total Land Area (ha)108,438,000
Total Forest Area (ha)58,740,000
Percent Forest Cover54.17%
Primary Forest Cover (ha)29,360,000
Primary Forest, % total forest49.98%
Primary Forest, % total land27.08%
Other wooded land (ha)2,473,000


Bolivia : Forest types
Tropical (% forest area)100%
Subtropical (% forest area)0%
Temperate (% forest area)0%
Boreal/polar (% forest area)0%


Bolivia: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
Primary forest (ha | %)29,360,00050.0%
Modified natural (ha | %)29,360,00050.0%
Semi-natural (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)20,0000.0%
Production plantation (ha | %)--


Bolivia: Change in Forest Cover
TOTAL FOREST COVER
Forest 1990 (ha)62,795,000
Forest 2000 (ha)60,091,000
Forest 2005 (ha)58,740,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(270,400)-0.43%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(270,200)-0.45%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(4,055,000)-6.46%
Change in rate (%)4.42%
PRIMARY FOREST COVER
Primary 1990 (ha)31,388,000
Primary 2000 (ha)30,036,000
Primary 2005 (ha)29,360,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(135,200)-0.43%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(135,200)-0.45%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(2,028,000)-6.46%
Change in rate (%)4.50%
OTHER WOODED LAND
Other 1990 (ha)2,473,000
Other 2000 (ha)2,473,000
Other 2005 (ha)2,473,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)-0.00%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Change in rate (%)#DIV/0!
PLANTATIONS
Other 1990 (ha)20,000
Other 2000 (ha)20,000
Other 2005 (ha)20,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)-0.00%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Change in rate (%)#DIV/0!
TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations
Other 1990 (ha)65,248,000
Other 2000 (ha)62,544,000
Other 2005 (ha)61,193,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(270,400)-0.41%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(270,200)-0.43%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(4,055,000)-6.21%
Change in rate (%)4.25%


Bolivia: Primary
Primary or "old-growth" vegetation
Primary Forest 2005 (ha)29,360,000
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)-
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)29,360,000
Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area)27.08%


Bolivia: 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 (%)0.0%
Protection (%)0.0%
Conservation (%)20.0%
Social Services (%)0.0%
Multiple Services (%)80.0%
None of Unknown (%)0.0%


Bolivia: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
Forest Area annually affected by
Fire (%)3.17%
Insects (ha)-
Diseases (ha)-
Other (ha)-


Bolivia: Protected areas
3
Protected areas
Biosphere reserves, 2005
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 20058
World Heritage sites, 20046
Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land11.1%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land9.89%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 20041.11%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 20048.21%


Bolivia: Biodiversity - Wildlife
Amphibians
total species161
endemic species50
threatened species21
Birds
total species1414
endemic species21
threatened species30
Mammals
total species361
endemic species20
threatened species26
Reptiles
total species258
endemic species28
threatened species2
Wildlife diversity
total species2194
endemic species119
threatened species79


Bolivia: Biodiversity - Plants
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
27.60%
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
48.80%
Number of Native tree species
Native tree species2,700
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically Endangered4
Endangered9
Vulnerable57
Vascular Plant Species, 2004
Total17367
Number endemic4000
Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004
Species threatened70


Bolivia: Value of forests
Biomass stock in forest, 2005
Above-ground biomass (M t)7,828
Below-ground biomass (M t)2,740
Dead wood (M t)1,163
Total (M t)11,731
Carbon stock in forest, 2005
Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t)3,926
Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t)1,370
Carbon in dead wood (M t)581
Carbon in litter (M t)-
Soil carbon (M t)-
Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr)
1990-2000-20,100
2000-2005-20,000
Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr)
1990-2000n.s.
2000-2005n.s.
Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m)582
Wood fuel (1000 cubic m)38
Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m)620
Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock)n.s.
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)-
Other plant products (t)-
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$)$49,220,000
Wood fuel (US$)$321,000
Non-wood forest products (US$)-
Total value (US$)$49,541,000
Total value ($USD/ha)$1
Employment in forestry 2000
Total people employed23,000


Bolivia : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production2,184
Imports0
Exports0
Consumption2,184
Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production8,054
Imports1
Exports2
Consumption8,053
Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production299
Imports1
Exports34
Consumption266
Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production14
Imports10
Exports1
Consumption23
Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production0
Imports0
Exports0
Consumption0
Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production0
Imports45
Exports0
Consumption45
Bolivia: Environment
Environment - current issuesthe clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
Natural hazardsflooding in the northeast (March-April)


Bolivia: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)arable land: 2.67%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 97.14% (2001)
Natural resourcestin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower


Bolivia: Economy
Economy - overview:Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, reformed its economy after suffering a disastrous economic crisis in the early 1980s. The reforms spurred real GDP growth, which averaged 4 percent in the 1990s, and poverty rates fell. Economic growth, however, lagged again beginning in 1999 because of a global slowdown and homegrown factors such as political turmoil, civil unrest, and soaring fiscal deficits, all of which hurt investor confidence. In 2003, violent protests against the pro-foreign investment economic policies of President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA led to his resignation and the cancellation of plans to export Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large northern hemisphere markets. Foreign investment dried up as companies adopted a wait-and-see attitude regarding new President Carlos MESA's willingness to protect investor rights in the face of increased demands by radical groups that the government expropriate foreign-owned assets. Real GDP growth in 2003-05 - helped by increased demand for natural gas in neighboring Brazil - was positive, but still below the levels seen during the 1990s. Bolivia remains dependent on foreign aid from multilateral lenders and foreign governments.
GDP - per capita$2,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)3% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - productssoybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber
GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 12.6%, industry: 35%, services: 52.4% (2005 est.)
Industries mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing
Economic aid - recipient$681 million (2002)
Debt - external$6.43 billion (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)64% (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%


Bolivia: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005)8,857,870
Population growth rate (%) (2005)1.49%
Population density (people/sq km) (2005)8.2
Percent rural (2003)36.6%
Median age (years)total: 21.47 years
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)2.94 (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups (%)Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%


Largest Cities in Bolivia

Cities and urban areas in Bolivia with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.

CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
La PazBolivia15178001551300
Santa CruzBolivia11617001161700
CochabambaBolivia568900798000
OruroBolivia203100203100
SucreBolivia202700202700
TarijaBolivia141100141100
PotosiBolivia135900135900
QuillacolloBolivia125300125300




 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



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