STATISTICS: Venezuela


Venezuela

54.1% —or about 47,713,000 hectares—of Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) is forested.

Change in Forest Cover: Between 1990 and 2000, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) lost an average of 287,500 hectares of forest per year. The amounts to an average annual deforestation rate of 0.55%. Between 2000 and 2005, the rate of forest change increased by 5.9% to 0.59% per annum. In total, between 1990 and 2005, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) lost 8.3% of its forest cover, or around 4,313,000 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, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) lost 7.5% of its forest and woodland habitat.

Biodiversity and Protected Areas: Venezuela has some 2356 known species of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles according to figures from the World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Of these, 13.3% are endemic, meaning they exist in no other country, and 5.6% are threatened. Venezuela is home to at least 21073 species of vascular plants, of which 38.0% are endemic. 34.2% of Venezuela is protected under IUCN categories I-V.

Venezuela Environmental profile | Venezuela pictures






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Venezuela: Forest Cover, 2005
Total Land Area (ha)88,205,000
Total Forest Area (ha)47,713,000
Percent Forest Cover54.09%
Primary Forest Cover (ha)-
Primary Forest, % total forest-
Primary Forest, % total land-
Other wooded land (ha)7,369,000


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


Venezuela: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
Primary forest (ha | %)--
Modified natural (ha | %)--
Semi-natural (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)--
Production plantation (ha | %)--


Venezuela: Change in Forest Cover
TOTAL FOREST COVER
Forest 1990 (ha)52,026,000
Forest 2000 (ha)49,151,000
Forest 2005 (ha)47,713,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(287,500)-0.55%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(287,600)-0.59%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(4,313,000)-8.29%
Change in rate (%)5.89%
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)7,526,000
Other 2000 (ha)7,421,000
Other 2005 (ha)7,369,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(10,500)-0.14%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(10,400)-0.14%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(157,000)-2.09%
Change in rate (%)0.45%
PLANTATIONS
Other 1990 (ha)-
Other 2000 (ha)-
Other 2005 (ha)-
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)--
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)--
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)--
Change in rate (%)-
TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations
Other 1990 (ha)59,552,000
Other 2000 (ha)56,572,000
Other 2005 (ha)55,082,000
Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %)(298,000)-0.50%
Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %)(298,000)-0.53%
Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %)(4,470,000)-7.51%
Change in rate (%)5.27%


Venezuela: 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%


Venezuela: 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 (%)38.1%
Protection (%)0.0%
Conservation (%)61.9%
Social Services (%)0.0%
Multiple Services (%)0.0%
None of Unknown (%)-


Venezuela: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
Forest Area annually affected by
Fire (%)0.03%
Insects (ha)-
Diseases (ha)-
Other (ha)-


Venezuela: Protected areas
1
Protected areas
Biosphere reserves, 2005
Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 20055
World Heritage sites, 20043
Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land34.2%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land13.66%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 200420.72%
Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 20040.00%


Venezuela: Biodiversity - Wildlife
Amphibians
total species288
endemic species162
threatened species68
Birds
total species1392
endemic species46
threatened species25
Mammals
total species353
endemic species18
threatened species26
Reptiles
total species323
endemic species87
threatened species13
Wildlife diversity
total species2356
endemic species313
threatened species132


Venezuela: 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 species1,360
Number of tree species in IUCN red list
Critically Endangered3
Endangered6
Vulnerable50
Vascular Plant Species, 2004
Total21073
Number endemic8000
Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004
Species threatened67


Venezuela: 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)812
Wood fuel (1000 cubic m)2
Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m)813
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$)$43,856,000
Wood fuel (US$)-
Non-wood forest products (US$)-
Total value (US$)$43,856,000
Total value ($USD/ha)$1
Employment in forestry 2000
Total people employed2,000


Venezuela : Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production3,697
Imports0
Exports-
Consumption3,697
Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production1,227
Imports0
Exports4
Consumption1,223
Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production364
Imports43
Exports61
Consumption346
Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002
Production282
Imports60
Exports52
Consumption290
Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production265
Imports123
Exports0
Consumption388
Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002
Production562
Imports166
Exports38
Consumption690
Venezuela: Environment
Environment - current issuessewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreementsparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements
Natural hazardssubject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts


Venezuela: Land use / Resources
Land use (%)arable land: 2.95%
permanent crops: 0.92%
other: 96.13% (2001)
Natural resourcespetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds


Venezuela: Economy
Economy - overview:Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector, accounting for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and over half of government operating revenues. Government revenue has also been bolstered by increased tax collection, which has surpassed its 2005 collection goal by almost 50%. Tax revenue is the primary source of non-oil revenue, which accounts for 53% of the 2006 budget. A disastrous two-month national oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economy remained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an 8.9% fall in 2002. Output recovered strongly in 2004-2005, aided by high oil prices and strong consumption growth. Venezuela continues to be an important source of crude oil for the US market. Both inflation and unemployment remain fundamental problems.
GDP - per capita$6,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)8.3% (2005 est.)
Agriculture - productscorn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
GDP - composition by sector (%)agriculture: 4.6%, industry: 48.2%, services: 47.2% (2005 est.)
Industries petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Economic aid - recipient$74 million (2000)
Debt - external$39.79 billion (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)47% (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)agriculture 13%, industry 23%, services 64% (1997 est.)


Venezuela: Population / Demographics
Population (July 2005)25,375,281
Population growth rate (%) (2005)1.40%
Population density (people/sq km) (2005)28.8
Percent rural (2003)12.3%
Median age (years)total: 25.6 years
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)2.26 (2005 est.)
Ethnic groups (%)Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people


Largest Cities in Venezuela

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

CityCountryCity PopulationUrban Area Population
MaracaiboVenezuela17999001868000
CaracasVenezuela17631003478100
ValenciaVenezuela14572001739100
BarquisimetoVenezuela9195001039300
Ciudad GuayanaVenezuela782600782600
PetareVenezuela502300502300
MaracayVenezuela4793001125300
Ciudad BolivarVenezuela358500358500
BarcelonaVenezuela348600606900
MaturinVenezuela303600303600
TurmeroVenezuela301500301500
CumanaVenezuela293000293000
San CristobalVenezuela286200286200
MeridaVenezuela271400271400
BarinasVenezuela254000254000
CabimasVenezuela212300212300
Puerto la CruzVenezuela191500191500
Puerto CabelloVenezuela187600187600
AcariguaVenezuela180300180300
GuacaraVenezuela167400167400
Santa TeresaVenezuela158700158700
CoroVenezuela151000151000
GuanareVenezuela140100140100
ValeraVenezuela128000128000
El TigreVenezuela127900127900
Ocumare del TuyVenezuela127500127500
CarupanoVenezuela122700122700
CalabozoVenezuela118800118800
Punto FijoVenezuela114600114600
CuaVenezuela112300112300
San FernandoVenezuela111600111600
CaroraVenezuela105400105400




 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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