STATISTICS: Colombia


Colombia

58.5% —or about 60,728,000 hectares—of Colombia is forested. Of this, 87.4% —or roughly 53,062,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Colombia lost an average of 47,600 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 0.08%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 0.5% to 0.08% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Colombia lost 1.2% of its forest cover, or around 711,000 hectares. Colombia lost -792,000 hectares—0—of its primary forest cover during that time. Deforestation rates of primary cover have decreased 1.5% 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, Colombia lost 1.2% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Colombia has some 3429 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 17.6% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 10.1% are threatened. Colombia is home to at least 51220 species of vascular plants, of which 29.3% are endemic. 8.6% of Colombia is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

Colombia Environmental profile






Books

Colombia: Forest Cover, 2005
Total Land Area (ha)103,870,000
Total Forest Area (ha)60,728,000
Percent Forest Cover58.47%
Primary Forest Cover (ha)53,062,000
Primary Forest, % total forest87.38%
Primary Forest, % total land51.09%
Other wooded land (ha)18,202,000


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


Colombia: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
Primary forest (ha | %)53,062,00087.4%
Modified natural (ha | %)7,337,00012.1%
Semi-natural (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)312,0000.5%
Production plantation (ha | %)16,0000.0%


Colombia: Change in Forest Cover
TOTAL FOREST COVER
Forest 1990 (ha)61,439,000
Forest 2000 (ha)60,963,000
Forest 2005 (ha)60,728,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(47,600)-0.08%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(47,000)-0.08%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(711,000)-1.16%
Change in rate (%)-0.49%
PRIMARY FOREST COVER
Primary 1990 (ha)53,854,000
Primary 2000 (ha)53,343,000
Primary 2005 (ha)53,062,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(51,100)-0.09%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(56,200)-0.11%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(792,000)-1.47%
Change in rate (%)11.03%
OTHER WOODED LAND
Other 1990 (ha)18,219,000
Other 2000 (ha)18,158,000
Other 2005 (ha)18,202,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(6,100)-0.03%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)8,8000.05%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(17,000)-0.09%
Change in rate (%)-244.75%
PLANTATIONS
Other 1990 (ha)136,000
Other 2000 (ha)254,000
Other 2005 (ha)328,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)11,8008.68%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)14,8005.83%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)192,000141.18%
Change in rate (%)-32.84%
TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations
Other 1990 (ha)79,522,000
Other 2000 (ha)78,867,000
Other 2005 (ha)78,602,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(65,500)-0.08%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(53,000)-0.07%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(920,000)-1.16%
Change in rate (%)-18.41%


Colombia: Primary
Primary or "old-growth" vegetation
Primary Forest 2005 (ha)53,062,000
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)18,039,000
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)71,101,000
Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area)68.45%


Colombia: 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 (%)12.7%
Protection (%)1.0%
Conservation (%)14.1%
Social Services (%)0.0%
Multiple Services (%)-
None of Unknown (%)72.2%


Colombia: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
Forest Area annually affected by
Fire (%)0.04%
Insects (ha)-
Diseases (ha)-
Other (ha)-


Colombia: Protected areas
5
Protected areas
Biosphere reserves, 2005
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 20053
World Heritage sites, 20045
Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land8.6%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land6.58%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 20042.02%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 200463.87%


Colombia: Biodiversity - Wildlife
Amphibians
total species623
endemic species341
threatened species208
Birds
total species1821
endemic species84
threatened species86
Mammals
total species467
endemic species43
threatened species39
Reptiles
total species518
endemic species136
threatened species15
Wildlife diversity
total species3429
endemic species604
threatened species348


Colombia: Biodiversity - Plants
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
-
Growing stock composition
3 most common species
% of total growing stock
-
Number of Native tree species
Native tree species5,000
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically Endangered31
Endangered50
Vulnerable108
Vascular Plant Species, 2004
Total51220
Number endemic15000
Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004
Species threatened222


Colombia: Value of forests
Biomass stock in forest, 2005
Above-ground biomass (M t)11,945
Below-ground biomass (M t)4,180
Dead wood (M t)2,419
Total (M t)18,544
Carbon stock in forest, 2005
Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t)5,972
Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t)2,090
Carbon in dead wood (M t)1,209
Carbon in litter (M t)-
Soil carbon (M t)-
Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr)
1990-2000-
2000-2005-
Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005
Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr)
1990-2000-
2000-2005-
Wood removal 2005
Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m)3,246
Wood fuel (1000 cubic m)7,029
Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m)10,275
Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock)-
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$)-
Wood fuel (US$)-
Non-wood forest products (US$)-
Total value (US$)-
Total value ($USD/ha)$-
Employment in forestry 2000
Total people employed-


Colombia : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production9,598
Imports0
Exports-
Consumption9,598
Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production2,012
Imports0
Exports19
Consumption1,993
Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production527
Imports18
Exports16
Consumption529
Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production182
Imports50
Exports40
Consumption192
Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production358
Imports113
Exports1
Consumption470
Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production837
Imports321
Exports119
Consumption1,039
Colombia: Environment
Environment - current issuesdeforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Natural hazardshighlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts


Colombia: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)arable land: 2.42%
permanent crops: 1.67%
other: 95.91% (2001)
Natural resourcespetroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower


Colombia: Economy
Economy - overview:Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past two years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to improve thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, and an export-oriented growth focus. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. New exploration is needed to offset declining oil production. On the positive side, several international financial institutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE, succeeded in reducing the public-sector deficit below 1.5% of GDP. The government's economic policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business sector. Coffee prices have recovered from previous lows as the Colombian coffee industry pursues greater market shares in developed countries such as the United States.
GDP - per capita$7,100 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)4.3% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - productscoffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 12.5%, industry: 34.3%, services: 53.3% (2005 est.)
Industries textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Economic aid - recipientNA
Debt - external$37.06 billion (30 June 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)59% (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture 22.7%, industry 18.7%, services 58.5% (2000 est.)


Colombia: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005)42,954,279
Population growth rate (%) (2005)1.49%
Population density (people/sq km) (2005)41.4
Percent rural (2003)23.5%
Median age (years)total: 26.04 years
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)2.56 (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups (%)mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixed black-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%


Largest Cities in Colombia

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

CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
BogotaColombia66805007798000
CaliColombia22038002800600
MedellinColombia19324002994400
BarranquillaColombia12984001870700
CartagenaColombia853900853900
CucutaColombia657100735000
BucaramangaColombia542400955500
IbagueColombia401400401400
PereiraColombia386900585800
Santa MartaColombia372200372200
BelloColombia355000355000
PastoColombia354000354000
ManizalesColombia342900342900
NeivaColombia318600318600
SoledadColombia314200314200
ArmeniaColombia300800300800
VillavicencioColombia290400290400
SoachaColombia284100284100
ValleduparColombia279900279900
MonteriaColombia253900253900
ItaguiColombia244400244400
SincelejoColombia237000237000
PalmiraColombia233100233100
BuenaventuraColombia230700230700
FloridablancaColombia229000229000
PopayanColombia207000207000
BarrancabermejaColombia185900185900
Dos QuebradasColombia167400167400
TuluaColombia159700159700
EnvigadoColombia143500143500
CartagoColombia132900132900
GirardotColombia120100120100
MaicaoColombia117500117500
FlorenciaColombia115400115400
BugaColombia114300114300
SogamosoColombia113900113900
TunjaColombia109500109500




 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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