STATISTICS: Uruguay


Uruguay

8.6% —or about 1,506,000 hectares—of Uruguay is forested. Of this, 19.7% —or roughly 296,000 hectares—is classified as primary forest, the most biodiverse form of forest.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Uruguay gained an average of 50,400 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual reforestation rate of 5.57%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change decreased by 75.3% to 1.38% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Uruguay gained 66.4% of its forest cover, or around 601,000 hectares. Uruguay lost 57,000 hectares—0—of its primary forest cover during that time. Deforestation rates of primary cover have increased 23.9% 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, Uruguay gained 5.1% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Uruguay has some 659 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 2.3% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.6% are threatened. Uruguay is home to at least 2278 species of vascular plants, of which 1.8% are endemic. 0.2% of Uruguay is protected under IUCN categories I-V.






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Uruguay: Forest Cover, 2005
Total Land Area (ha)17,502,000
Total Forest Area (ha)1,506,000
Percent Forest Cover8.60%
Primary Forest Cover (ha)296,000
Primary Forest, % total forest19.65%
Primary Forest, % total land1.69%
Other wooded land (ha)4,000


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


Uruguay: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
Primary forest (ha | %)296,00019.7%
Modified natural (ha | %)444,00029.5%
Semi-natural (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)751,00049.9%
Production plantation (ha | %)15,0001.0%


Uruguay: Change in Forest Cover
TOTAL FOREST COVER
Forest 1990 (ha)905,000
Forest 2000 (ha)1,409,000
Forest 2005 (ha)1,506,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)50,4005.57%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)19,4001.38%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)601,00066.41%
Change in rate (%)-75.28%
PRIMARY FOREST COVER
Primary 1990 (ha)239,000
Primary 2000 (ha)296,000
Primary 2005 (ha)296,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)5,7002.38%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)57,00023.85%
Change in rate (%)-100.00%
OTHER WOODED LAND
Other 1990 (ha)4,000
Other 2000 (ha)4,000
Other 2005 (ha)4,000
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)201,000
Other 2000 (ha)669,000
Other 2005 (ha)766,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)46,80023.28%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)19,4002.90%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)565,000281.09%
Change in rate (%)-87.55%
TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations
Other 1990 (ha)708,000
Other 2000 (ha)744,000
Other 2005 (ha)744,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)3,6000.51%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)-0.00%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)36,0005.08%
Change in rate (%)-100.00%


Uruguay: Primary
Primary or "old-growth" vegetation
Primary Forest 2005 (ha)296,000
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)-
Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha)296,000
Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area)1.69%


Uruguay: Forest designation
Ownership of forest land, 2000
Public (%)2.7%
Private (%)97.3%
Other (%)0.0%
Ownership of other wooded land, 2000
Public (%)0.0%
Private (%)100.0%
Other (%)0.0%
Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005
Production (%)59.7%
Protection (%)23.0%
Conservation (%)17.2%
Social Services (%)-
Multiple Services (%)-
None of Unknown (%)-


Uruguay: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
Forest Area annually affected by
Fire (%)0.07%
Insects (ha)-
Diseases (ha)-
Other (ha)-


Uruguay: Protected areas
Protected areas
Biosphere reserves, 2005
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 20052
World Heritage sites, 20041
Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land0.2%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land0.00%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 20040.17%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 20040.00%


Uruguay: Biodiversity - Wildlife
Amphibians
total species48
endemic species7
threatened species4
Birds
total species414
endemic species5
threatened species24
Mammals
total species118
endemic species2
threatened species6
Reptiles
total species79
endemic species1
threatened species3
Wildlife diversity
total species659
endemic species15
threatened species37


Uruguay: 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 species147
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically Endangered0
Endangered0
Vulnerable0
Vascular Plant Species, 2004
Total2278
Number endemic40
Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004
Species threatened1


Uruguay: 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)3,160
Wood fuel (1000 cubic m)1,740
Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m)4,900
Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock)4
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$)$47,400,000
Wood fuel (US$)$13,920,000
Non-wood forest products (US$)-
Total value (US$)$61,320,000
Total value ($USD/ha)$41
Employment in forestry 2000
Total people employed6,000


Uruguay : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production4,076
Imports0
Exports-
Consumption4,076
Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production1,832
Imports1
Exports1,102
Consumption731
Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production224
Imports20
Exports77
Consumption167
Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production6
Imports20
Exports0
Consumption26
Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production35
Imports15
Exports1
Consumption49
Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production89
Imports61
Exports78
Consumption72
Uruguay: Environment
Environment - current issueswater pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Natural hazardsseasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts


Uruguay: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)arable land: 7.43%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 92.34% (2001)
Natural resourcesarable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries


Uruguay: Economy
Economy - overview:Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the Uruguyan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the serious banking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF limited the damage. The debt swap with private creditors carried out in 2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's $14 billion in public debt, substantially alleviated the country's amortization burden in the coming years and restored public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness of the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, low international interest rates, and greater export competitiveness, but slowed to a 6.2% pace in 2005.
GDP - per capita$10,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)6.2% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - productsrice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 7.1%, industry: 27.7%, services: 65.2% (2005 est.)
Industries food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Economic aid - recipientNA
Debt - external$9.931 billion (30 June 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)21% of households (2003)
Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%


Uruguay: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005)3,415,920
Population growth rate (%) (2005)0.47%
Population density (people/sq km) (2005)19.7
Percent rural (2003)7.4%
Median age (years)total: 32.46 years
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)1.91 (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups (%)white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)


Largest Cities in Uruguay

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

CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
MontevideoUruguay14499001723300




 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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