122 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001
PART IV
FORESTRY IN
REGIONAL
ECONOMIC GROUPS
This chapter presents summary information on forest cover and forest
products (production and trade) for the 11 regional economic groups
listed below. In each case, the figures for imports and exports take
into account the value of international trade with all countries,
including those within the regional group. The regional economic
groups covered are:
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
European Community (EC)
Latin American Economic System (LAES)
League of Arab States
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
South Pacific Forum (SPF)
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
123PART IV FORESTRY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok
with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration. At present, its members are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,
Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Viet Nam. The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association
are: i) “to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through
joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a
prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations”; and ii) “to promote regional peace
and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries
of the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter”.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
Nearly half of the ASEAN region is covered with tropical forest, accounting for about 6 percent of the
world’s total forest area. Three-quarters of total wood production is used as fuelwood and charcoal.
ASEAN is an important timber-producing region (particularly of tropical hardwoods), accounting for 5
percent of the world’s industrial roundwood production. More than three-quarters of this comes from
Indonesia and Malaysia. These two countries are major producers and exporters of wood-based panels
(mainly plywood), together accounting for 19 percent (in value) of world export trade in panels. The
region is rapidly developing its pulp and paper industry. Many ASEAN countries are major exporters
of non-wood forest products, in particular rubber, rattan and bamboo. Forests in the ASEAN region are
of global significance in terms of biological diversity conservation.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 298 711 17
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 74 200 5
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 9 880 2
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 16 259 11
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 3 084 2
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 9 477 3
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 434 542
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 211 407
Percentage of land under forest 48.7
Forest area per capita (ha) 0.4
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -2 325
- Percentage -1.1
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 2 301 n.s. 1 57 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 6 654 674 807 10 945 171 545 2
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 4 227 1 248 149 5 2 272 470 398 2
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 12 102 3 099 297 21 996 311 007 2
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 1 933 598 054 4 1 671 738 265 5
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 2 873 1 822 845 3 2 448 1 934 560 3
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
Production of wood-based products, 1998
124 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001
The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) was established by the Treaty of
Chaguaramas on 4 July 1973, for the principal purpose of enhancing, through cooperation, the economic,
social and cultural development of the people of member countries. CARICOM’S members are Antigua
and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat,
Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and
Tobago.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
The CARICOM countries account for only 1 percent of the world’s forest area, most of which is located in
Guyana and Suriname. These countries, as well as Belize and Dominica, have a high percentage of their
land area under forest. With the exception of Dominica, CARICOM’s small island states have a moderate
to low forest cover. CARICOM’s share of world production and trade in forest products is minor and its
members are heavily dependent on imports to meet their paper, sawnwood and wood-based panel
requirements. Guyana is the Community’s most active country in terms of forest industries.
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 6 606 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 1 128 n.s.
Sawnwood (m
3
) 172 n.s.
Wood panels (m
3
) 84 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) n.s. n.s.
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) n.s. n.s.
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 44 073
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 33 938
Percentage of land under forest 77.0
Forest area per capita (ha) 2.3
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -100
- Percentage -0.3
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) n.s. n.s. n.s. 1 54 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 96 8 064 n.s. 54 6 296 n.s.
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 32 11 893 n.s. 370 116 405 n.s.
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 73 17 453 n.s. 104 38 041 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) n.s. 166 n.s. 9 5 415 n.s.
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 1 994 n.s. 145 123 953 n.s.
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
Caribbean Community and Common Market
125PART IV FORESTRY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS
Commonwealth of Independent States
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 43 267 2
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 100 929 7
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 20 358 5
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 4 160 3
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 3 907 2
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 3 932 1
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 2 177 597
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 894 411
Percentage of land under forest 41.1
Forest area per capita (ha) 3.1
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares 709
- Percentage 0.1
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 988 23 059 16 2 74 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 21 042 976 611 15 582 24 117 n.s.
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 5 222 611 756 3 1 058 88 390 n.s.
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 1 408 328 885 2 434 112 036 1
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 1 007 338 827 2 54 29 513 n.s.
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 1 762 768 490 1 708 704 622 1
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was established in December 1991. It is a voluntary
association consisting of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of
Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The main purpose
of the Commonwealth is to develop and strengthen cooperation and to serve the cause of peace and
security.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
Nearly one-quarter of the world’s forests are located in the CIS. The Russian Federation, which
alone contains 22 percent of the world’s forests, accounts for 94 percent of the group’s total forest
area. In addition to the Russian Federation, which has 50 percent of its land area under forest,
Belarus and Georgia are also heavily forested (with 45 and 44 percent of their land under forest,
respectively). The other countries have a low to moderate forest cover. The Russian Federation
accounts for about 90 percent of both production and consumption of forest products in the CIS. It
is a major exporter of industrial roundwood, accounting for 24 percent (by volume) and 14 percent
(by value) of world trade in logs. This is a significant increase from 1996, when the Russian
Federation accounted for 20 percent of the volume of world trade in logs. The other countries are
highly dependent on imports to meet their requirements for wood products.
126 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001
Economic Community of West African States
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 168 009 10
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 17 872 1
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 4 157 1
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 578 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 23 n.s.
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 63 n.s.
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 607 842
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 69 822
Percentage of land under forest 11.5
Forest area per capita (ha) 0.3
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -1 265
- Percentage -1.8
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) n.s. 27 n.s. n.s. 17 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 249 39 479 1 28 3 782 n.s.
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 832 308 444 1 43 8 872 n.s.
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 270 100 966 1 36 14 517 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) n.s. 302 n.s. 8 4 939 n.s.
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 4 2 564 n.s. 259 187 824 n.s.
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The Treaty of Lagos establishing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was
signed by representatives of 15 West African States in Lagos on 28 May 1975. At present, the following
countries adhere to the treaty: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, C?te d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The
ECOWAS Treaty specifies that the Community’s objective, to be achieved in stages, is the creation of
an economic and monetary union. Cooperation in the development of agriculture, forestry, animal
husbandry and fisheries is one of its primary aims. The first stage in this cooperation entails the
harmonization of internal and external policies, the second stage envisages the adoption of a common
agricultural policy.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
ECOWAS members together contain only 2 percent of the world’s forests. While only 12 percent of the
combined land area is under forest, an additional 23 percent is classified as “other wooded land”, which
contributes to the production of various forest products, grazing and desertification control. “Trees
outside forests”, such as those in agroforestry systems, are also an important resource. More than 90
percent of the wood produced by ECOWAS member countries is used as woodfuel. Within the
Community, the most important producers of industrial wood products are Nigeria, C?te d’Ivoire and
Ghana. ECOWAS accounts for only a minor share of world imports and exports of wood products.
127PART IV FORESTRY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS
European Community
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 35 036 2
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 225 808 15
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 71 708 17
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 36 866 24
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 33 201 19
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 77 598 26
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 313 187
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 115 685
Percentage of land under forest 36.9
Forest area per capita (ha) 0.3
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares 317
- Percentage 0.3
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 789 27 340 19 869 38 732 55
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 13 169 1 072 553 16 42 051 3 380 880 40
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 30 021 6 848 781 29 36 786 9 842 302 39
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 14 566 5 905 542 39 16 086 6 372 162 40
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 7 792 3 515 436 26 14 421 7 242 329 46
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 44 348 36 925 871 53 37 885 30 604 696 44
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957. In 1993, the Treaty
of Maastricht established the European Union (EU) as a broader framework which retained the EEC,
now the European Community (EC), as a legal entity. The following countries are members: Austria,
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The aims of the EC include the abolition of
restrictive trading practices and the free movement of capital and labour within the union. A single
market with free movement of goods and capital was established in January 1993.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
About one-third of the region is covered with forest, ranging from boreal to Mediterranean scrub
forest. About 70 percent of the forests are located in four countries: Sweden, Finland, France and
Germany. Although the EC has only 3 percent of the world’s forest area, it is a leading producer of
wood-based products, in particular paper and panels. It is a major trader, accounting for 42 and
40 percent of the value of world exports and imports of wood-based products, respectively. Sweden,
Finland, Germany, France and Austria are among the world’s top ten exporters of forest products, and
Germany, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Belgium and Luxembourg are
among the top ten importers.
128 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001
Latin American Economic System
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 255 957 13
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 143 069 9
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 35 157 8
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 5 966 4
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 10 996 6
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 14 020 5
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 207 889
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 955 966
Percentage of land under forest 47.6
Forest area per capita (ha) 1.9
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -4 669
- Percentage - 0.5
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 8 1 017 1 19 704 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 2 980 190 098 3 125 23 936 n.s.
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 3 999 987 728 4 2 626 638 772 3
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 1 688 598 400 4 974 324 208 2
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 4 644 1 776 446 13 1 204 585 225 3
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 1 561 1 089 865 2 5 188 3 919 439 6
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The Latin American Economic System (LAES) is a regional intergovernmental organization that groups
28 Latin American and Caribbean countries: Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala,
Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and
Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. LAES was established on 17 October 1975 by the Panama Convention.
The objectives of LAES are to promote a system for consultation and coordination, aiming to achieve
consensus in the form of joint positions and common strategies, for the Latin American and Caribbean
region on economic issues. The common strategies may be for individual countries or groups of
countries. LAES also serves to promote cooperation and integration among the countries of the region.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
Forest cover varies greatly within the group, ranging from very heavily forested countries (Belize, Brazil,
Suriname and Guyana) to countries with a small percentage of land area under forest (Barbados, Haiti,
El Salvador and Uruguay). All the Amazon basin countries are members of LAES, which accounts for its
large amount of forest area, representing 25 percent of the world’s forest cover. Together, LAES member
countries are important wood producers, particularly of woodfuel, industrial roundwood and
sawnwood, and significant exporters of pulp for paper. The region’s tropical forests have global
significance in terms of biological diversity conservation and carbon storage.
129PART IV FORESTRY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS
League of Arab States
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 24 643 1
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 4 226 n.s.
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 242 n.s.
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 349 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 234 n.s.
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 671 n.s.
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 1 308 642
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 79 246
Percentage of land under forest 6.1
Forest area per capita (ha) 0.3
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -1 013
- Percentage -1.3
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) n.s. 16 n.s. 17 1 506 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 6 346 n.s. 585 83 029 1
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 4 1 537 n.s. 6 620 1 156 295 5
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 31 23 696 n.s. 1 930 532 859 3
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 83 37 442 n.s. 395 179 860 1
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 47 40 058 n.s. 2 288 1 512 306 2
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The League of Arab States, more generally known as the Arab League, was established on 22 March
1945. It comprises Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the Sudan,
the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The broad objectives of the
Arab League are to develop cooperation and strengthen complementarity among its member states in
economical, cultural, scientific, social and military fields. To do so, the League has set up several
specialized agencies. Those of interest to FAO are: the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
(Khartoum, the Sudan); the Arab Centre for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (Damascus, the
Syrian Arab Republic); the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (Kuwait); the Arab League
Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (Tunis, Tunisia); the Arab Organization for Agricultural
Development (Khartoum, the Sudan); the Arab Academy for Science and Maritime Transport
(Alexandria, Egypt); and the Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation (Kuwait).
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
The combined forest area of these countries accounts for only 2 percent of the world’s forests. Some
countries (Algeria, Morocco, Somalia, the Sudan and Yemen) have significant areas of “other wooded
land” which, although not counted in the forest area figures, are important for forest products, grazing
and desertification control. Fuelwood and charcoal are the major forest products. Production of industrial
wood is very limited; about two-thirds of the demand for industrial roundwood and processed wood
products is met by imports. Gum arabic, a non-wood forest product, is a major export of the Sudan.
130 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001
North American Free Trade Agreement
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 91 414 5
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 614 248 41
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 178 645 43
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 52 067 35
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 82 526 47
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 100 692 34
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 2 028 861
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 525 769
Percentage of land under forest 25.9
Forest area per capita (ha) 1.3
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -243
- Percentage 0
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 210 20 092 14 265 14 852 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 10 432 1 368 075 21 7 055 437 112 5
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 54 379 10 385 211 45 48 130 7 441 390 30
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 11 334 2 868 081 19 12 254 3 125 408 20
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 15 793 6 631 750 48 6 192 2 698 022 17
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 25 632 19 265 276 28 19 217 15 769 680 23
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
Canada, Mexico and the United States are members of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), which came into effect on 1 January 1994. NAFTA′s main aims are to contribute to the
expansion of world trade; create, expand and secure markets for the goods produced in members’
territories; reduce distortions in trade; create new employment opportunities; improve working
conditions and living standards in members’ territories; and address related environmental and
conservation issues. NAFTA is a trading bloc of global reach. It is innovative because it establishes
linkages between economies with different levels of economic development. Current discussions see the
linking of existing subregional integration schemes of NAFTA into a Free Trade Area of the Americas.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
One-fourth of the area of the NAFTA countries is forest land. Together, the three countries account for
14 percent of the world’s forest area. Almost 90 percent of the region’s forest is located in Canada and
the United States, which are major world producers of wood. Canada and the United States together
produce 40 percent of the world’s industrial roundwood, and more than one-third of all processed
wood products, including almost half the world’s paper pulp. NAFTA is extremely important in world
trade of wood products. The value of its exports of sawnwood and pulp for paper represents nearly
one-half of the world’s export market. It accounts for nearly one-third of the world’s import market for
sawnwood and one-fifth of the paper, wood panels and paper pulp markets. The forest sector in
NAFTA is a significant source of revenue and employment through forest industries, forest-based
recreation and tourism.
131PART IV FORESTRY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 369 709 21
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 29 473 2
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 19 224 5
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 493 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 2 583 1
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 3 881 1
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 412 917
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 76 665
Percentage of land under forest 18.6
Forest area per capita (ha) 0.1
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -97
- Percentage - 0.1
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) n.s. 4 n.s. n.s. 35 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 134 14 379 n.s. 1 894 210 261 2
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 15 7 967 n.s. 96 17 344 n.s.
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 12 7 658 n.s. 137 41 961 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 2 2 367 n.s. 317 113 609 1
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 26 21 013 n.s. 1 035 653 080 1
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established in 1985 by the Heads
of State and Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
SAARC’s main goal is to accelerate economic and social development in its member states through joint
action in agreed areas of cooperation. To achieve this objective, SAARC seeks to:
promote the welfare of the peoples of South Asia and to improve their quality of life;
accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region and to provide
all individuals the opportunity to live in dignity and to realize their full potential;
promote and strengthen collective self-reliance among the countries of South Asia;
promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in the economic, social, cultural, technical and
scientific fields;
strengthen cooperation with other developing countries;
strengthen cooperation among the Association’s members in international fora on matters of
common interest, and cooperate with international and regional organizations with similar aims
and purposes.
132 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
SAARC member countries contain only 2 percent of the world’s forest area but support 22 percent of
the earth’s population. The region’s forest cover is relatively low (19 percent of total land area), but
“trees outside forests”, particularly on agricultural land, are an important source of wood and
non-wood forest products, notably in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and parts of India. More than
90 percent of all wood production is used as fuelwood and charcoal, three-quarters of which is
consumed in India alone. SAARC accounts for 21 percent of world production of woodfuel.
International trade in wood products is limited. India is a major exporter of non-wood forest products,
including medicinal plants, essential oils, bidi leaves and lac.
133PART IV FORESTRY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS
South Pacific Forum
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 8 502 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 40 199 3
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 7 189 2
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 2 769 2
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 2 366 1
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 3 377 1
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 846 783
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 197 099
Percentage of land under forest 23.3
Forest area per capita (ha) 6.7
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -365
- Percentage - 0.2
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) n.s. 82 n.s. 1 74 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 6 924 452 101 7 11 2 384 n.s.
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 1 301 322 028 1 846 292 549 1
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 786 207 674 1 268 110 047 1
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 708 210 179 2 202 89 200 1
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 879 468 512 1 1 459 1 165 564 2
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The South Pacific Forum (SPF), consisting of Heads of Government, was established in 1971. Its
members and affiliated agencies are: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. SPF provides an opportunity to discuss a wide variety of
South Pacific and international concerns and issues common to members, including the promotion of a
free trade area in the South Pacific region. The Forum Secretariat promotes regional cooperation among
members on important economic issues.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
SPF countries together contain less than 3 percent of the world’s forest area. Although 94 percent of the
region’s forest area is located in Australia and Papua New Guinea, several countries are heavily forested
– most notably Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu as well as, to a lesser extent, Samoa
and Fiji. Australia and New Zealand have large plantation programmes and also dominate the region’s
production of industrial roundwood and processed wood products. The region (led by Australia, New
Zealand and Papua New Guinea) is a significant exporter of industrial roundwood. However, the Asian
economic crisis, which began in mid-1997, resulted in a reduction of SPF’s share in world exports of
industrial roundwood from 15 percent in 1996 to 7 percent in 1998. The region shows signs of having
recovered to a large extent since then. The small island nations have abundant coconut tree resources
which serve as a source of wood, coconuts, copra and palm oil for local populations.
134 STATE OF THE WORLD’S FORESTS 2001
Southern African Development Community
Quantity % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 145 757 8
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 31 348 2
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 2 414 1
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 807 1
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 2 139 1
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 2 148 1
Forest resources
Land area (’000 ha) 906 338
Total forest area, 2000 (’000 ha) 357 189
Percentage of land under forest 39.4
Forest area per capita (ha) 1.8
Annual change in forest area, 1990-2000
- Thousand hectares -2 246
- Percentage -0.6
Production of wood-based products, 1998
Product Export Export value Import Import value
quantity quantity
US$ thousands % of world total US$ thousands % of world total
Woodfuel (’000 m
3
) 2 91 n.s. 2 96 n.s.
Industrial roundwood (’000 m
3
) 377 59 228 1 22 3 024 n.s.
Sawnwood (’000 m
3
) 165 51 458 n.s. 372 87 065 n.s.
Wood panels (’000 m
3
) 62 31 373 n.s. 134 41 691 n.s.
Pulp for paper (’000 tonnes) 541 202 803 1 77 32 860 n.s.
Paper and paperboard (’000 tonnes) 495 327 925 n.s. 348 375 524 1
Note: n.s. = not significant, indicating a very small value.
International forest products trade: quantity and value, 1998
The Declaration and Treaty establishing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was
signed at the Summit of Heads of Government in Windhoek, Namibia in August 1992. At present, its
members are: Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe. The objectives of SADC are to: achieve development and economic growth, alleviate
poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of southern Africa and support the
socially disadvantaged through regional integration; evolve common political values, systems and
institutions; promote and defend peace and security; promote self-sustaining development on the basis
of collective self-reliance and the interdependence of member states; achieve complementarity between
national and regional strategies and programmes; promote and maximize productive employment and
utilization of the resources of the region; achieve sustainable utilization of natural resources and effective
protection of the environment; and strengthen and consolidate the long-standing historical, social and
cultural affinities and links among the peoples of the region.
135PART IV FORESTRY IN REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROUPS
DESCRIPTION OF THE FOREST SECTOR
The SADC region encompasses a large and diverse forest area, including both tropical and temperate
forests. SADC countries together account for 9 percent of the world’s forests. A large part (38 percent) of
this is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has 60 percent of its land area under
forest. In addition, Angola, Malawi, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia all have a high
percentage of their land area under forest. Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland have significant forest
plantation programmes. South Africa, although it has only 2 percent of SADC’s forest area, dominates its
production and trade of forest products. It produces almost 60 percent of the region’s industrial
roundwood, 65 percent of sawnwood, more than 80 percent of both panels and paper pulp, and nearly
all the region’s paper and paperboard. South Africa also dominates the region’s exports in most
products, although Swaziland exports important quantities of pulp for paper. SADC’s forests are
important for carbon storage (particularly those of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and biological
diversity conservation, and they have important wildlife resources.
