English - Convention on Biological Diversity

FOREWORD.................................................................................................................................................... 13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................................. 15
1. COUNTRY CONTEXT.............................................................................................................................. 17
1.1. Geographical location, borders and land area................................................................................. 17
1.2. Physical geography and topography.................................................................................................. 18
1.3. Water resources .................................................................................................................................... 20
1.4. Climate.................................................................................................................................................... 22
2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT ............................................................................................................ 24
2.1. History of the human settlements and archaeology........................................................................ 24
2.2. Current human population and demography.................................................................................. 25
2.3. Social and economic situation............................................................................................................. 27
2.4. Political situation................................................................................................................................... 29
2.5. Infrastructure and development......................................................................................................... 30
2.6. Property rights and tenure .................................................................................................................. 32
2.7. Land use ................................................................................................................................................. 33
2.8. Human pressure on the environment ................................................................................................ 34
3. STATUS OF BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS .......................................................................... 37
3.1. Status and quality of research on ecosystems and species ............................................................. 37
3.2. Biogeography ......................................................................................................................................... 38
3.3. Status review of ecosystems................................................................................................................. 40
3.3.1. Description of key ecosystems ...................................................................................................... 40
3.3.2. Assessment of status of key ecosystems....................................................................................... 43
3.3.2.1. Forest ecosystems ...................................................................................................................... 43
3.3.2.2. Dryland/grassland ecosystems.................................................................................................. 44
3.3.2.3. Mountain ecosystems ................................................................................................................ 44
3.3.2.4. Wetland ecosystems .................................................................................................................. 45
3.4. Status review of plant assemblages.................................................................................................... 47
3.4.1. Description of key plant assemblages.......................................................................................... 47
3.4.2. Rare, endemic or threatened plant assemblages....................................................................... 48
3.5. Status review of species........................................................................................................................ 49
3.5.1. Micro-organisms............................................................................................................................. 49
3.5.1.1. Diversity of known micro-organisms....................................................................................... 49
3.5.1.2. Endemism among micro-organisms ......................................................................................... 50
3.5.1.3. Conservation status of micro-organisms.................................................................................. 50
3.5.2. Fungi................................................................................................................................................. 50
3.5.2.1. Diversity of Fungi and centres of diversity.............................................................................. 50
3.5.2.2. Endemism among Fungi ........................................................................................................... 50
3.5.2.3. Conservation status of Fungi .................................................................................................... 50