Liberia: Forest Cover, 2005
| Total Land Area (ha) | 9,632,000 | | Total Forest Area (ha) | 3,154,000 | | Percent Forest Cover | 32.75% | | Primary Forest Cover (ha) | 129,000 | | Primary Forest, % total forest | 4.09% | | Primary Forest, % total land | 1.34% | | Other wooded land (ha) | - |
Liberia : Forest types
| Tropical (% forest area) | 100% | | Subtropical (% forest area) | 0% | | Temperate (% forest area) | 0% | | Boreal/polar (% forest area) | 0% |
Liberia: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
| Primary forest (ha | %) | 129,000 | 4.1% | | Modified natural (ha | %) | 3,017,000 | 95.7% | | Semi-natural (ha | %) | - | - | | Production plantation (ha | %) | 8,000 | 0.3% | | Production plantation (ha | %) | - | - |
Liberia: Change in Forest Cover
| TOTAL FOREST COVER | | Forest 1990 (ha) | 4,058,000 | | Forest 2000 (ha) | 3,455,000 | | Forest 2005 (ha) | 3,154,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | (60,300) | -1.49% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | (60,200) | -1.74% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | (904,000) | -22.28% | | Change in rate (%) | 17.26% | | PRIMARY FOREST COVER | | Primary 1990 (ha) | 129,000 | | Primary 2000 (ha) | 129,000 | | Primary 2005 (ha) | 129,000 | | 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! | | OTHER WOODED LAND | | Other 1990 (ha) | - | | Other 2000 (ha) | - | | Other 2005 (ha) | - | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | #DIV/0! | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | #DIV/0! | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | #DIV/0! | | Change in rate (%) | #DIV/0! | | PLANTATIONS | | Other 1990 (ha) | 8,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 8,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 8,000 | | 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) | 4,050,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 3,447,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 3,146,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | (60,300) | -1.49% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | (60,200) | -1.75% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | (904,000) | -22.32% | | Change in rate (%) | 17.30% |
Liberia: Primary
| Primary or "old-growth" vegetation | | Primary Forest 2005 (ha) | 129,000 | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | - | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | 129,000 | | Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) | 1.34% |
Liberia: 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 (%) | 41.5% | | Protection (%) | - | | Conservation (%) | 4.1% | | Social Services (%) | - | | Multiple Services (%) | 48.3% | | None of Unknown (%) | 6.2% |
Liberia: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
| Forest Area annually affected by | | Fire (%) | - | | Insects (ha) | - | | Diseases (ha) | - | | Other (ha) | - |
Liberia: Protected areas
| Protected areas | | Biosphere reserves, 2005 | | Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 | 1 | | World Heritage sites, 2004 | 0 | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land | 1.3% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land | 1.16% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 | 0.00% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 | 12.52% |
Liberia: Biodiversity - Wildlife
| Amphibians | | total species | 42 | | endemic species | 5 | | threatened species | 4 | | Birds | | total species | 576 | | endemic species | 1 | | threatened species | 11 | | Mammals | | total species | 183 | | endemic species | 0 | | threatened species | 20 | | Reptiles | | total species | 80 | | endemic species | 1 | | threatened species | 2 | | Wildlife diversity | | total species | 881 | | endemic species | 7 | | threatened species | 37 |
Liberia: 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 species | - | | Number of tree species in IUCN red list | | Critically Endangered | | 0 | | Endangered | 4 | | Vulnerable | 42 | | Vascular Plant Species, 2004 | | Total | 2200 | | Number endemic | 103 | | Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 | | Species threatened | 46 |
Liberia: Value of forests
| Biomass stock in forest, 2005 | | Above-ground biomass (M t) | 731 | | Below-ground biomass (M t) | 175 | | Dead wood (M t) | 127 | | Total (M t) | 1,033 | | Carbon stock in forest, 2005 | | Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) | 365 | | Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) | 88 | | Carbon in dead wood (M t) | 63 | | Carbon in litter (M t) | - | | Soil carbon (M t) | - | | Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) | | 1990-2000 | -9,525 | | 2000-2005 | -9,526 | | Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) | | 1990-2000 | n.s. | | 2000-2005 | n.s. | | Wood removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) | - | | Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) | 5,918 | | Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) | 5,918 | | 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) | - | | 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 | 2,000 |
Liberia : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
| Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 5,133 | | Imports | - | | Exports | - | | Consumption | 5,133 | | Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 337 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 1,000 | | Consumption | 0 | | Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 30 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 26 | | Consumption | 4 | | Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 30 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 30 | | Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | - | | Consumption | 0 | | Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | - | | Consumption | 0 |
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Liberia: Environment
| Environment - current issues | tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation | | Natural hazards | dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March) |
Liberia: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 3.95%
permanent crops: 2.28%
other: 93.77% (2001) | | Natural resources | iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower |
Liberia: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia, while continued international sanctions on diamonds and timber exports will limit growth prospects for the foreseeable future. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some have returned, but many will not. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The departure of the former president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria in August 2003, the establishment of the all-inclusive Transitional Government, and the arrival of a UN mission have helped diffuse the political crisis, but have done little to encourage economic development. Wealthy international donors, who are ready to assist recontruction efforts, are withholding funding until Liberia's National Assembly signs onto a Governance and Economic Management Action Plan (GEMAP). The Plan was created in October 2005 by the International Contact Group for Liberia to help ensure transparent revenue collection and allocation - something that was lacking under the Transitional Government and that has limited Liberia's economic recovery. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous financial support and technical assistance from donor countries. | | GDP - per capita | $700 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 8% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 76.9%, industry: 5.4%, services: 17.7% (2002 est.) | | Industries | rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds | | Economic aid - recipient | $94 million (1999) | | Debt - external | $3.2 billion (2005 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 80% | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.) |
Liberia: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 3,482,211 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.64% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 36.2 | | Percent rural (2003) | 53.3% | | Median age (years) | total: 18.06 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 6.09 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves) |
Largest Cities in Liberia
Cities and urban areas in Liberia with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Monrovia | Liberia | 543000 | 1407700 |
| Ajdabiyah | Liberia | 122200 | 122200 |
 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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