Pakistan

2.5% —or about 1,902,000 hectares—of Pakistan is forested.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Pakistan lost an average of 41,100 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 1.63%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change increased by 24.4% to 2.02% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Pakistan lost 24.7% of its forest cover, or around 625,000 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, Pakistan lost 14.7% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Pakistan has some 1027 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 3.5% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.5% are threatened. Pakistan is home to at least 4950 species of vascular plants, of which 7.5% are endemic. 4.0% of Pakistan is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

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

Pakistan: Forest Cover, 2005 Total Land Area (ha) 77,088,000 Total Forest Area (ha) 1,902,000 Percent Forest Cover 2.47% Primary Forest Cover (ha) - Primary Forest, % total forest - Primary Forest, % total land - Other wooded land (ha) 1,389,000 Pakistan : Forest types Tropical (% forest area) 2% Subtropical (% forest area) 98% Temperate (% forest area) 0% Boreal/polar (% forest area) 0% Pakistan: Breakdown of forest types, 2005 Primary forest (ha | %) - - Modified natural (ha | %) 1,584,000 83.3% Semi-natural (ha | %) - - Production plantation (ha | %) 318,000 16.7% Production plantation (ha | %) - - Pakistan: Change in Forest Cover TOTAL FOREST COVER Forest 1990 (ha) 2,527,000 Forest 2000 (ha) 2,116,000 Forest 2005 (ha) 1,902,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (41,100) -1.63% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (42,800) -2.02% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (625,000) -24.73% Change in rate (%) 24.36% 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) 1,191,000 Other 2000 (ha) 1,323,000 Other 2005 (ha) 1,389,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 13,200 1.11% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 13,200 1.00% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 198,000 16.62% Change in rate (%) -9.98% PLANTATIONS Other 1990 (ha) 234,000 Other 2000 (ha) 296,000 Other 2005 (ha) 318,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) 6,200 2.65% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) 4,400 1.49% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) 84,000 35.90% Change in rate (%) -43.90% TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations Other 1990 (ha) 3,484,000 Other 2000 (ha) 3,143,000 Other 2005 (ha) 2,973,000 Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) (34,100) -0.98% Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) (34,000) -1.08% Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) (511,000) -14.67% Change in rate (%) 10.52% Pakistan: 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% Pakistan: Forest designation Ownership of forest land, 2000 Public (%) 66.0% Private (%) 34.0% Other (%) - Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 Public (%) 66.0% Private (%) 34.0% Other (%) - Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 Production (%) 32.0% Protection (%) - Conservation (%) 11.4% Social Services (%) - Multiple Services (%) 56.7% None of Unknown (%) - Pakistan: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000 Forest Area annually affected by Fire (%) 1.94% Insects (ha) 0.47% Diseases (ha) 3.31% Other (ha) - Pakistan: Protected areas 1 Protected areas Biosphere reserves, 2005 Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 19 World Heritage sites, 2004 6 Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land 4.0% Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land 0.90% Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 3.51% Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 0.00% Pakistan: Biodiversity - Wildlife Amphibians total species 17 endemic species 3 threatened species 0 Birds total species 625 endemic species 6 threatened species 30 Mammals total species 195 endemic species 4 threatened species 17 Reptiles total species 190 endemic species 23 threatened species 9 Wildlife diversity total species 1027 endemic species 36 threatened species 56 Pakistan: Biodiversity - Plants Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 67.30% Growing stock composition 3 most common species % of total growing stock 87.20% Number of Native tree species Native tree species 1,104 Number of tree species in IUCN red list Critically Endangered 0 Endangered 0 Vulnerable 2 Vascular Plant Species, 2004 Total 4950 Number endemic 372 Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 Species threatened 2 Pakistan: Value of forests Biomass stock in forest, 2005 Above-ground biomass (M t) 381 Below-ground biomass (M t) 135 Dead wood (M t) 57 Total (M t) 573 Carbon stock in forest, 2005 Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) 191 Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) 68 Carbon in dead wood (M t) 28 Carbon in litter (M t) 4 Soil carbon (M t) - Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) 1990-2000 -5,000 2000-2005 -5,200 Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) 1990-2000 -0.36 2000-2005 -0.49 Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) 2,301 Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) 31,603 Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) 33,904 Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) 18 Plant products 2005 Food (t) 47,842 Fodder (t) 3,900,000 Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) 616 Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) 43,000 Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) 34,450 Ornamental plants (t) - Exudates (t) 3,184 Other plant products (t) 235 Animal products 2005 Living animals (units) - Hides, skins and trophies (units) - Wild honey and bee-wax (t) 50 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) 238 Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 Industrial roundwood (US$) $113,116,000 Wood fuel (US$) $1,380,971,000 Non-wood forest products (US$) $33,807,000 Total value (US$) $1,527,894,000 Total value ($USD/ha) $803 Employment in forestry 2000 Total people employed 30,000 Pakistan : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002 Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 25,013 Imports 0 Exports - Consumption 25,013 Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 1,605 Imports 295 Exports 0 Consumption 1,310 Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 1,180 Imports 28 Exports 0 Consumption 1,208 Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 Production 354 Imports 57 Exports 0 Consumption 411 Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 335 Imports 31 Exports - Consumption 366 Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 Production 1,165 Imports 167 Exports 0 Consumption 1,332 Pakistan: Environment Environment - current issues water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification Environment - international agreements party to: 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 signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation Natural hazards frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August) Pakistan: Land use / Resources Land use (%) arable land: 27.87% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 71.26% (2001) Natural resources land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone Pakistan: Economy Economy - overview: Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. However, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered by generous foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets since 2001, have generated solid macroeconomic recovery the last four years. The government has made substantial macroeconomic reforms since 2000, although progress on more politically sensitive reforms has slowed. For example, in the budget for fiscal year 2006, Islamabad did not impose taxes on the agriculture or real estate sectors, despite Pakistan's chronically low tax-to-GDP ratio. While long-term prospects remain uncertain, given Pakistan's low level of development, medium-term prospects for job creation and poverty reduction are the best in more than a decade. Islamabad has raised development spending from about 2% of GDP in the 1990s to 4% in 2003, a necessary step towards reversing the broad underdevelopment of its social sector. GDP growth, spurred by double-digit gains in industrial production over the past year, has become less dependent on agriculture, and remained above 7% in 2004 and 2005. Inflation remains the biggest threat to the economy, jumping to more than 9% in 2005. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank announced that they would provide US $1 billion each in aid to help Pakistan rebuild areas hit by the October 2005 earthquake in Kashmir. Foreign exchange reserves continued to reach new levels in 2005, supported by steady worker remittances. GDP - per capita $2,400 (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate (%) 8.4% (2005 est.) Agriculture - products cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs GDP - composition by sector (%) agriculture: 21.6%, industry: 25.1%, services: 53.3% (2005 est.) Industries textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp Economic aid - recipient $2.4 billion (FY01/02) Debt - external $39.94 billion (2005 est.) Population below poverty line (%) 32% (FY00/01 est.) Labor force - by occupation (%) agriculture 42%, industry 20%, services 38% (2004 est.) Pakistan: Population / Demographics Population (July 2005) 162,419,946 Population growth rate (%) (2005) 2.03% Population density (people/sq km) (2005) 208.6 Percent rural (2003) 65.9% Median age (years) total: 19.58 years Total fertility rate (children born/woman) 4.14 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups (%) Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants) Largest Cities in Pakistan Cities and urban areas in Pakistan with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002. City Country City Population Urban Area Population Karachi Pakistan 10272500 10272500 Lahore Pakistan 5611500 5611500 Faisalabad Pakistan 2191200 2191200 Rawalpindi Pakistan 1558400 2548900 Gujranwala Pakistan 1349300 1828600 Multan Pakistan 1310400 1310400 Hyderabad Pakistan 1275900 1363100 Peshawar Pakistan 1094900 1094900 Quetta Pakistan 620900 620900 Islamabad Pakistan 586500 586500 Sargodha Pakistan 504600 504600 Sialkot Pakistan 462800 462800 Bahawalpur Pakistan 447100 447100 Sukkur Pakistan 364800 364800 Jhang Pakistan 323800 323800 Shekhupura Pakistan 301300 301300 Larkana Pakistan 299600 299600 Okara Pakistan 286300 286300 Gujrat Pakistan 277200 277200 Mardan Pakistan 271000 271000 Kasur Pakistan 267800 267800 Rahim Yar Khan Pakistan 253200 253200 Sahiwal Pakistan 229800 229800 Wah Pakistan 219900 219900 Dera Ghazi Khan Pakistan 208500 208500 Mirpur Khas Pakistan 204400 204400 Nawabshah Pakistan 202900 202900 Mingaora Pakistan 193400 193400 Chiniot Pakistan 187600 187600 Kamoke Pakistan 167300 167300 Burewala Pakistan 166100 166100 Jhelum Pakistan 161600 161600 Sadiqabad Pakistan 156800 156800 Jacobabad Pakistan 152600 152600 Shikarpur Pakistan 147700 147700 Khanewal Pakistan 147400 147400 Hafizabad Pakistan 144300 144300 Kohat Pakistan 138800 138800 Muzaffargarh Pakistan 134800 134800 Khanpur Pakistan 130500 130500 Gojra Pakistan 127400 127400 Bahawalnagar Pakistan 121500 121500 Muridke Pakistan 120300 120300 Pakpattan Pakistan 119500 119500 Abottabad Pakistan 117500 117500 Tando adam Pakistan 114600 114600 Jaranwala Pakistan 114500 114500 Khairpur Pakistan 113200 113200 Chishtian Mandi Pakistan 112700 112700 Daska Pakistan 112500 112500 Dadu Pakistan 109200 109200 Mandi Bahauddin Pakistan 107900 107900 Ahmadpur East Pakistan 106400 106400 Kamalia Pakistan 105600 105600 Khuzdar Pakistan 103100 103100 Vihari Pakistan 102300 102300 Dera Ismail Khan Pakistan 100100 100100  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