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Estimates by FAO (2000) show that global production of total
roundwood reached 3,335 million m3 in 1999. Just over half
of this was woodfuel, most of which was produced and consumed
in developing countries. The remaining production is industrial
roundwood. Of wood products, such as sawnwood, wood-based
panels and paper, generally 15% or less is from tropical origin.
Also in terms of trade, tropical timber products account for
generally small shares of the global wood exports. As an exception,
plywood accounts for 71 percent of plywood exports are from
tropical wood. In terms of value, the developing world accounted
for just 15% of the world's $140 billion value in traded forest
products in 1999. Mayor timber producing countries are Indonesia,
Brazil, Malaysia, India, Gabon and Cameroon.
Production of wood products in the world
and contribution of developing countries. Source: FAO 2000
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Total world production(in m3) |
% in developing countries |
| Wood fuel |
1,782 106
|
89%
|
| Industrial roundwood |
1,553 106
|
29%
|
| Total |
3,335 106
|
106
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Only a relatively small proportion of the tropical timber
that is produced is traded internationally. While exports
represent very significant economic activity for countries
such as Malaysia and Indonesia, the internal market in countries
such as Brazil far exceeds the international market.
Logging attracts significant international attention due
to the nature of the trade. A large percentage of the harvest
comes from undisturbed forests, leading to direct degradation
and the opening up of previously inaccessible forestland.
Benefits from the timber trade are monopolised by political
and economic oligarchies in many countries. Market-based certification
schemes and community-based forestry projects are two tools
that are used to adjust the impacts of logging on rural populations
and the environment (see below).
Fuelwood is a main product of dry forests, particularly in
Africa where it provides a very significant source of household
fuel. Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria accounting
for about 50 percent of the total fuelwood production in the
world. In some countries, for example, Nepal in Asia, and
Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania in sub-Saharan Africa, woodfuels
provide 80 percent or more of total energy requirements. As
much as two-thirds of woodfuel may be derived from non-forest
wood sources, such as Trees Outside Forests but also wood
residues from wood industries and waste. However, gloomy scenarios
about widespread shortages and loss of forests have not materialised,
probably due to the surprisingly low contribution of forests
as sources of fuelwood. In many countries with a high dependence
on wood fuel there is increasing scarcity of fuel wood. However
The areas at greatest risk are those with low forest cover
which are densely populated by poor people. Such areas are
concentrated in forest
transition zones in Central America, coastal South America,
sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia.
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