Italy

33.9% —or about 9,979,000 hectares—of Italy is forested.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Italy gained an average of 106,400 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual reforestation rate of 1.27%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 11.3% to 1.13% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Italy gained 19.0% of its forest cover, or around 1,596,000 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, Italy gained 21.2% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Italy has some 710 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 3.4% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.1% are threatened. Italy is home to at least 5599 species of vascular plants, of which 12.7% are endemic. 7.2% of Italy is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

Italy 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

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Italy: Forest Cover, 2005 Total Land Area (ha) 29,411,000 Total Forest Area (ha) 9,979,000 Percent Forest Cover 33.93% Primary Forest Cover (ha) - Primary Forest, % total forest - Primary Forest, % total land - Other wooded land (ha) 1,047,000 Italy : Forest types Tropical (% forest area) 0% Subtropical (% forest area) 84% Temperate (% forest area) 16% Boreal/polar (% forest area) 0% Italy: Breakdown of forest types, 2005 Primary forest (ha | %) - - Modified natural (ha | %) - - Semi-natural (ha | %) - - Production plantation (ha | %) 146,000 1.5% Production plantation (ha | %) - - Italy: Change in Forest Cover TOTAL FOREST COVER Forest 1990 (ha) 8,383,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 9,447,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 9,979,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 106,400 1.27% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 106,400 1.13% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 1,596,000 19.04% Change in rate (%) -11.26% PRIMARY FOREST COVER Primary 1990 (ha) 160,000 Primary 2000 (ha) 160,000 Primary 2005 (ha) - Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) - 0.00% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) - - Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) - - Change in rate (%) - OTHER WOODED LAND Other 1990 (ha) 880,000 Other 2000 (ha) 992,000 Other 2005 (ha) 1,047,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 11,200 1.27% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 11,000 1.11% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 167,000 18.98% Change in rate (%) -12.87% PLANTATIONS Other 1990 (ha) 289,000 Other 2000 (ha) 144,000 Other 2005 (ha) 146,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (14,500) -5.02% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 400 0.28% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (143,000) -49.48% Change in rate (%) -105.54% TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations Other 1990 (ha) 8,974,000 Other 2000 (ha) 10,295,000 Other 2005 (ha) 10,880,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 132,100 1.47% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 117,000 1.14% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 1,906,000 21.24% Change in rate (%) -22.80% Italy: 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% Italy: Forest designation Ownership of forest land, 2000 Public (%) 35.0% Private (%) 65.0% Other (%) 0.0% Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 Public (%) - Private (%) - Other (%) - Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 Production (%) - Protection (%) - Conservation (%) 29.9% Social Services (%) - Multiple Services (%) - None of Unknown (%) 70.1% Italy: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000 Forest Area annually affected by Fire (%) 0.49% Insects (ha) 0.70% Diseases (ha) - Other (ha) 0.25% Italy: Protected areas 8 Protected areas Biosphere reserves, 2005 Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 46 World Heritage sites, 2004 36 Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land 7.2% Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land 1.47% Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 5.70% Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 3.59% Italy: Biodiversity - Wildlife Amphibians total species 45 endemic species 12 threatened species 5 Birds total species 478 endemic species 3 threatened species 15 Mammals total species 132 endemic species 6 threatened species 12 Reptiles total species 55 endemic species 3 threatened species 4 Wildlife diversity total species 710 endemic species 24 threatened species 36 Italy: Biodiversity - Plants Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 34.40% Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 66.60% Number of Native tree species Native tree species 117 Number of tree species in IUCN red list Critically Endangered 2 Endangered 0 Vulnerable 0 Vascular Plant Species, 2004 Total 5599 Number endemic 712 Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 Species threatened 3 Italy: Value of forests Biomass stock in forest, 2005 Above-ground biomass (M t) 1,043 Below-ground biomass (M t) 230 Dead wood (M t) 159 Total (M t) 1,431 Carbon stock in forest, 2005 Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) 521 Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) 115 Carbon in dead wood (M t) 80 Carbon in litter (M t) 67 Soil carbon (M t) 825 Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) 1990-2000 23,800 2000-2005 31,560 Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) 1990-2000 1.11 2000-2005 1.71 Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) 3,800 Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) 5,800 Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) 9,600 Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) 1 Plant products 2005 Food (t) 79,155 Fodder (t) 2,306 Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) - Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) - Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) 9,703 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 36,000 Italy : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002 Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 4,567 Imports 600 Exports 0 Consumption 5,167 Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 3,222 Imports 5,277 Exports 16 Consumption 8,483 Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 1,605 Imports 7,857 Exports 187 Consumption 9,275 Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 5,520 Imports 1,896 Exports 1,142 Consumption 6,274 Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 588 Imports 3,464 Exports 18 Consumption 4,034 Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 9,273 Imports 3,501 Exports 1,047 Consumption 11,727 Italy: Environment Environment - current issues air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities Environment - international agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, 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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants Natural hazards regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice Italy: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 27.79% permanent crops: 9.53% other: 62.68% (2001) Natural resources coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorospar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land Italy: Economy Economy - overview: Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed, welfare-dependent agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported. Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a tight fiscal policy in order to meet the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Unions and has benefited from lower interest and inflation rates. The current government has enacted numerous short-term reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and long-term growth. Italy has moved slowly, however, on implementing needed structural reforms, such as lightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy's rigid labor market and over-generous pension system, because of the current economic slowdown and opposition from labor unions. But the leadership faces a severe economic constraint: the budget deficit has breached the 3% EU ceiling. The economy experienced no growth in 2005, and unemployment remained at a high level. GDP - per capita $28,300 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 0% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 2.1%, industry: 28.8%, services: 69.1% (2005 est.) Industries tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics Population below poverty line (%) NA Debt - external $1.682 trillion (30 June 2005 est.) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 5%, industry 32%, services 63% (2001) Italy: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 58,103,033 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 0.07% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 197.6 Percent rural (2003) 32.6% Median age (years) total: 41.77 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 1.28 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south) Largest Cities in Italy Cities and urban areas in Italy with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. Rome Italy 2649500 3552600 Milan (Milano) Italy 1302000 4051500 Napoli Italy 992700 3620300 Torino Italy 898400 1617600 Palermo Italy 684800 947500 Genova Italy 628800 679000 Bologna Italy 380300 545700 Firenze (Florence) Italy 375500 825100 Catania Italy 337800 830700 Bari Italy 331700 331700 Venezia Italy 272100 272100 Messina Italy 259000 259000 Verona Italy 256100 256100 Trieste Italy 214500 214500 Padova Italy 211500 211500 Taranto Italy 207800 207800 Brescia Italy 192100 192100 Reggio di Calabria Italy 179600 179600 Modena Italy 176500 176500 Parma Italy 169300 169300 Cagliari Italy 163500 163500 Livorno Italy 160900 160900 Perugia Italy 158200 158200 Foggia Italy 154900 154900 Reggio nell'Emilia Italy 146000 146000 Salerno Italy 142000 142000 Ravenna Italy 138900 138900 Rimini Italy 131700 131700 Ferrara Italy 131600 131600 Siracusa Italy 126400 126400 Sassari Italy 120700 120700 Pescara Italy 115300 115300 Latina Italy 115200 115200 Vicenza Italy 110500 110500 Terni Italy 107800 107800 Forli Italy 107500 107500 Trento Italy 105900 105900 Novara Italy 101900 101900  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