Syria: Forest Cover, 2005
| Total Land Area (ha) | 18,378,000 | | Total Forest Area (ha) | 461,000 | | Percent Forest Cover | 2.51% | | Primary Forest Cover (ha) | - | | Primary Forest, % total forest | - | | Primary Forest, % total land | - | | Other wooded land (ha) | 35,000 |
Syria: Forest types
| Tropical (% forest area) | 0% | | Subtropical (% forest area) | 100% | | Temperate (% forest area) | 0% | | Boreal/polar (% forest area) | 0% |
Syria: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
| Primary forest (ha | %) | - | - | | Modified natural (ha | %) | 198,000 | 43.0% | | Semi-natural (ha | %) | - | - | | Production plantation (ha | %) | - | - | | Production plantation (ha | %) | 264,000 | 57.3% |
Syria: Change in Forest Cover
| TOTAL FOREST COVER | | Forest 1990 (ha) | 372,000 | | Forest 2000 (ha) | 432,000 | | Forest 2005 (ha) | 461,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 6,000 | 1.61% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 5,800 | 1.34% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 89,000 | 23.92% | | Change in rate (%) | -16.76% | | 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) | 35,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 35,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 35,000 | | 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) | 175,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 234,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 264,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 5,900 | 3.37% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 6,000 | 2.56% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 89,000 | 50.86% | | Change in rate (%) | -23.95% | TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations | | Other 1990 (ha) | 232,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 233,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 232,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 100 | 0.04% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | (200) | -0.09% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Change in rate (%) | -299.14% |
Syria: 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% |
Syria: Forest designation
| Ownership of forest land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 100.0% | | Private (%) | - | | Other (%) | - | | Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 100.0% | | Private (%) | - | | Other (%) | - | | Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 | | Production (%) | - | | Protection (%) | - | | Conservation (%) | - | | Social Services (%) | - | | Multiple Services (%) | 100.0% | | None of Unknown (%) | - |
Syria: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
| Forest Area annually affected by | | Fire (%) | 0.00% | | Insects (ha) | - | | Diseases (ha) | - | | Other (ha) | - |
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Syria: 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 | 0 | | Vulnerable | 0 | | Vascular Plant Species, 2004 | | Total | 3000 | | Number endemic | 0 | | Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 | | Species threatened | 0 |
Syria: Value of forests
| Biomass stock in forest, 2005 | | Above-ground biomass (M t) | - | | Below-ground biomass (M t) | - | | Dead wood (M t) | - | | Total (M t) | - | | Carbon stock in forest, 2005 | | Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) | - | | Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) | - | | Carbon in dead wood (M t) | - | | 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) | - | | Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) | - | | Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) | - | | 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 | 16,000 |
Syria: Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
| Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 16 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 16 | | Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 35 | | Imports | 1 | | Exports | 1 | | Consumption | 35 | | Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 9 | | Imports | 217 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 226 | | Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 27 | | Imports | 152 | | Exports | 1 | | Consumption | 178 | | Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 11 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 11 | | Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | 1 | | Imports | 76 | | Exports | 6 | | Consumption | 71 |
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Syria: Environment
| Environment - current issues | deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification | | Natural hazards | dust storms, sandstorms |
Syria: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 25.22%
permanent crops: 4.43%
other: 70.35% (2001) | | Natural resources | petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower |
Syria: Economy
| Economy - overview: | Real GDP growth slowed to 1.4 percent in 2005, a slight decrease from an average annual growth of 2.3 percent for the last eight years. The assassination in February of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI diverted attention from economic policymaking and raised the spectre of international sanctions. Oil output and exports declined. Buoyant world oil prices, however, narrowed the budget deficit and widened the current account surplus. The Government of Syria has implemented modest economic reforms in the last few years, including cutting interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating some of the multiple exchange rates, and raising prices on some subsidized foodstuffs. Nevertheless, the economy remains highly controlled by the government. Long run economic constraints include declining oil production and exports and pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. | | GDP - per capita | $3,500 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 1.4% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 25%, industry: 31%, services: 44% (2003 est.) | | Industries | petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining | | Economic aid - recipient | $180 million (2002 est.) | | Debt - external | $8.59 billion (excludes military debt and debt to Russia) (2005 est.) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 20% (2004 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 30%, industry 27%, services 43% (2002 est.) |
Syria: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 18,448,752 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.34% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 100.2 | | Median age (years) | total: 20.37 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 3.5 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7% |
Largest Cities in Syria
Cities and urban areas in Syria with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Aleppo (Halab) | Syria | 1891900 | 2404500 |
| Damascus | Syria | 1803700 | 2306000 |
| Homs | Syria | 724700 | 724700 |
| Ladhiqiyah | Syria | 404000 | 404000 |
| Hamah | Syria | 365300 | 365300 |
| Dayr az-Zawr | Syria | 216200 | 216200 |
| Rakkah | Syria | 214800 | 214800 |
| Hasakah | Syria | 194400 | 194400 |
| Qamishly | Syria | 177000 | 177000 |
| Tartus | Syria | 148600 | 148600 |
 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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