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Malaysia- Forests, Grasslands, and Drylands Factsheet

Forests:

Malaysia- Forests, Grasslands, and Drylands Factsheet

Published:
Updated: August 29, 2011, 2:08 pm
Topics: Forests Land-use & Land-cover Change Society & Environment Ecology
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor: C Michael Hogan

This Malaysia Forests, Grasslands and Drylands Factsheet sets forth summary data for an array of ecological resources in the country of Malaysia.

Malaysia is situated in southeast Asia. It consists of two regions: peninsular Malaysia in the west lying between Thailand and Singapore, and the states of Sabah and Sarawak located in the east on the island of Borneo. The two regions are separated by the South China Sea. The total land area of the country is 328 550 km². Malaysia is a federal country, divided into 13 states plus the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan Island..

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives.Its mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.  WRI has created EarthTrends, an online collection of information regarding the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world. Committed to the principle that accurate information drives responsible decisions by governments and individuals, EarthTrends offers the public a large breadth of statistical, graphic, and analytical data in easily accessible formats.

 

Factsheet

FOREST AREA AND CHANGE                                                                                        

   MALAYSIA     ASIA (excluding Middle East)    WORLD           
 Total forest area, 2000 (000 ha)             19,292  504,180   3,869,455
 Natural forest area, 2000 (000 ha)    17,543  375,824  3,682,722
 Plantations area, 2000 (000 ha)    1,750  110,953  186,733
 Total dryland area, 1950-1981 (000 ha) {a}    0  1,078,121  5,059,984
 Change in forest area:      
      Total, 1990-2000    -11%  -1%  -2%
      Natural, 1990-2000    -13%  -1%  -4%
      Plantations, 1990-2000   2%   5%  3%
 Original forest {b} as a percent of total land area {c}   100%  X   48%
 Forest area in 2000 as a percent of total land area {c}    59%  20%  29%

FOREST AREA BY CROWN COVER (000 ha), 2000

      
      Area of forest with crown cover:      
         Greater than 10%    31,859  920,164  6,537,209
         Greater than 25%    30,235  699,058  4,842,071
         Greater than 50%    26,994  509,247  3,143,720
         Greater than 75%    24,115  336,266  1,945,916

ECOSYSTEM AREAS BY TYPE

      
Total land area  (ha)    32,975  2,494,475  13,328,979
 Percent of total land area covered by:      
       Forests    66%  17%  24%
       Shrublands, savanna, and grasslands    1%  37%  37%
       Cropland and crop/natural vegetation mosaic    31%  34%  20%
       Urban and built-up areas    0.1%  0.2%  0.2%
       Sparse or barren vegetation; snow and ice    0%  10%  16%
       Wetlands and water bodies   2%   2%  3%

 FORESTS CERTIFIED THROUGH THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL

      
       Natural forests, 2002 (hectares)    55,083  145,323  11,457,393
       Plantations, 2002 (hectares)    0  61,936  3,324,996
       Mixed forests, 2002 (hectares)    0  25,702  11,461,154
 

 FOREST  PROTECTION                                                                                                  

                                                                      
       Percentage of Forests Protected      
           Tropical forest, 1990s    11.7%  16.4%  9.0%
           Nontropical forest, 1990s    X  5.3%  6.0%
           Sparse trees and parkland, 1990s   X  7.0%  5.5%
       Number of tree species threatened, 1990s    737  X  5,904

 WOOD PRODUCTION AND TRADE

      
       Annual roundwood production:      
           Total, 1996-1998 (m3)    37,081,000  1,111,958,000  3,261,621,000
           Fuel, 1996-1998 (m3)    7,410,000  863,316,000  1,739,504,000
           Industrial, 1996-1998 (m3)    29,671,000  268,470,000  1,522,116,000
           Paper and paperboard, 1996-1998 (metric tons)    804,000  88,859,000  313,206,000
           Recovered paper, 1996-1998 (metric tons)    102,000  36,539,000  126,404,000
       Average value of trade in forest products {d}:      
           Imports, 1996-1998 (US$)    929,417,000  37,114,499,000  142,932,629,000
           Exports, 1996-1998 (US$)    3,615,326,000  16,434,017,000  135,313,009,000
       Forest product exports as a percent of the total value of all exports, 1997    X  2.1%  2.0%
       
       
       

References and Further Reading

Citation

World Resources Institute (Lead Author);Mark McGinley (Contributing Author);C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor) "Malaysia- Forests, Grasslands, and Drylands Factsheet". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth October 12, 2009; Last revised Date August 29, 2011; Retrieved June 18, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Malaysia-_Forests,_Grasslands,_and_Drylands_Factsheet_(ERI)?topic=49490>

The Author

World Resources Institute The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. Our mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Because people are inspired by ideas, empowered by knowledge, and moved to change by greater understanding, WRI provides—and helps other institutions pro ... (Full Bio)

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