I wrote recently that the UK was the second-least wooded country in Europe (see post). More specifically with 12% forest cover the UK has the same forest cover as the Republic of Moldova. Ireland and the Netherlands are equally the least-wooded countries in Europe, each with 11% forest cover. There are four territories with less cover: Isle of Man (6%), Jersey (5%), Guernsey (3%) and Malta (1%). Gibraltar, Holy See, Monaco, San Marino and Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands all have 0% forest cover.
At the other end of the scale, Finland tops the league of forest-clad countries with an amazing 73% forest cover. Sweden, Slovenia, Latvia and Estonia all exceed 50% forest cover. The UK’s other nearest neighbours have close to three times its forest cover: France (29%) and Germany (32%).
These statistics come from the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 of the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Based of these data I created this bar graph to illustrate the percentage forest cover of all European countries, ranked by cover.
Gabriel Hemery
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Gabriel – I expect you know a fair bit about how other European countries organise their forestry and in the fallout from the Government sell off it would be particularly interesting to pick out salient features. In particular, I’ve always seen Scotland aligned in geography & demography to Scandinavia – so it may be fair to draw comparisons with Sweden, for example. England, however, is quite different – 2nd only in population to Holland, where Staatsbosbeheer,originally the Dutch FC, is now a combined Forest & Wildlife service managin both National forests and nature reserves primarily for public benefit.
Thanks Rod – an interesting view which as you say would be good to follow up. I will post something on this soon.
Gabriel
What about Iceland?
Thanks for your question. Based on the the same published stats that I cite (2010), I calculate that Iceland has a forest cover of less than 1% (0.29% precisely).
I hope this helps. I’d be interested in why you ask.
Gabriel
No one ever mentions Iceland, and yet the Southern section of the island was covered with scraggy birch forests when the Norse arrived.
The Icelanders may be environmental saints today, but their ancestors sure weren’t.
The lack of trees and hedges (something we do have in abundance in the British Isles) has led to massive erosion and soil degradation.
The problem is that the trees can’t grow back because of all the sheep, they only return when planted and fenced in or when growing out of the way of grazing sheep.
Personally I think a few areas of forest should be replanted there. 10% forest cover would hardly be hard for a nation which is almost empty.
Birches, willows and perhaps some introduced sycamore perhaps.
Where is Russia its European country