Chapter LXXIX: Section 3: , Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: 886 (2) 2162-2000, FAX (10)

Chile
total: 290
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 58
under 914 m: 216 (2006)

China
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 39 (2006)

Colombia
total: 883
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 35
914 to 1,523 m: 275
under 914 m: 572 (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
total: 209
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 94
under 914 m: 97 (2006)

Congo, Republic of the
total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Cook Islands
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Costa Rica
total: 125
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 101 (2006)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Croatia
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2006)

Cuba
total: 92
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 62 (2006)

Cyprus
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Czech Republic
total: 75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 49 (2006)

Denmark
total: 64
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 61 (2006)

Djibouti
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Dominican Republic
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

East Timor
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Ecuador
total: 261
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 228 (2006)

Egypt
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

El Salvador
total: 71
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 56 (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Eritrea
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Estonia
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Ethiopia
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Europa Island
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

European Union
1,252 (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Fiji
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Finland
total: 72
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 67 (2006)

France
total: 185
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 73
under 914 m: 108 (2006)

French Guiana
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

French Polynesia
total: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Gabon
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Gaza Strip
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Georgia
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Germany
total: 222
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 185 (2006)

Ghana
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Glorioso Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Greece
total: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Greenland
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Guadeloupe
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Guam
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Guatemala
total: 439
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 111
under 914 m: 319 (2006)

Guinea
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Guyana
total: 81
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 65 (2006)

Haiti
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Honduras
total: 105
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 84 (2006)

Hungary
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Iceland
total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 61 (2006)

India
total: 98
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 48 (2006)

Indonesia
total: 503
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 471 (2006)

Iran
total: 192
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 140
under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Iraq
total: 33
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Ireland
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Israel
total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Italy
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Jamaica
total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Jan Mayen
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Japan
total: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Jordan
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Juan de Nova Island
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Kazakhstan
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Kenya
total: 210
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 115
under 914 m: 84 (2006)

Kiribati
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Korea, North
total: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Korea, South
total: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Kuwait
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Laos
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Latvia
total: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Lebanon
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Lesotho
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Liberia
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 38 (2006)

Libya
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Lithuania
total: 57
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Luxembourg
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Macedonia
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Madagascar
total: 87
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Malawi
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Malaysia
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 72 (2006)

Maldives
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Mali
total: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Marshall Islands
total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Martinique
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Mauritania
total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Mauritius
total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Mexico
total: 1,611
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 460
under 914 m: 1,081 (2006)

Midway Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Moldova
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Mongolia
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Montenegro
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Morocco
total: 34
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Mozambique
total: 136
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 87 (2006)

Namibia
total: 116
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Nepal
total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Netherlands
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

New Caledonia
total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 6 (2006)

New Zealand
total: 73
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 40 (2006)

Nicaragua
total: 165
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 141 (2006)

Niger
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Nigeria
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Northern Mariana Islands
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Norway
total: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Oman
total: 131
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Pakistan
total: 48
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Palau
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Palmyra Atoll
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Panama
total: 64
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Papua New Guinea
total: 561
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 488 (2006)

Paraguay
total: 869
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 325
under 914 m: 518 (2006)

Peru
total: 214
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 124 (2006)

Philippines
total: 173
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 99 (2006)

Poland
total: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Portugal
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Puerto Rico
total: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Qatar
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Romania
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Russia
total: 1,007
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 127
under 914 m: 780 (2006)

Rwanda
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Samoa
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Saudi Arabia
total: 135
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Senegal
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Serbia
total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Seychelles
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Sierra Leone
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Slovakia
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Slovenia
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Solomon Islands
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Somalia
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 6 (2006)

South Africa
total: 585
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 302
under 914 m: 249 (2006)

Spain
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 44 (2006)

Spratly Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Sri Lanka
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Sudan
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Suriname
total: 42
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 36 (2006)

Svalbard
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Swaziland
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Sweden
total: 100
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 91 (2006)

Switzerland
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Syria
total: 66
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 54 (2006)

Taiwan
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Tajikistan
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Tanzania
total: 113
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 33 (2006)

Thailand
total: 42
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Togo
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Tonga
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Tromelin Island
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Tunisia
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Turkey
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Turkmenistan
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Tuvalu
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Uganda
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Ukraine
total: 306
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 274 (2006)

United Arab Emirates
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

United Kingdom
total: 137
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 112 (2006)

United States
total: 9,739
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 157
914 to 1,523 m: 1,728
under 914 m: 7,847 (2006)

Uruguay
total: 56
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 31 (2006)

Uzbekistan
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 25 (2006)

Vanuatu
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Venezuela
total: 246
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 90
under 914 m: 147 (2006)

Vietnam
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Wallis and Futuna
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Western Sahara
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Yemen
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Zambia
total: 101
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 64
under 914 m: 32 (2006)

Zimbabwe
total: 386
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 187
under 914 m: 194 (2006)

This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006

======================================================================

@2032 Environment - current issues

Afghanistan
limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate
supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing;
deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for
fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water
pollution

Akrotiri
shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for
loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon
vultures is on the base

Albania
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial
and domestic effluents

Algeria
soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming
practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum
refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the
pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in
particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and
fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water

American Samoa
limited natural fresh water resources; the water
division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past
few years to improve water catchments and pipelines

Andorra
deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes
to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste
disposal

Angola
overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable
to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical
rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical
timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of
biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and
siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

Anguilla
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing
demand largely because of poor distribution system

Antarctica
in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the Antarctic
ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square
kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet
light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an
Antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown
to harm one-celled Antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant
areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming

Antigua and Barbuda
water management - a major concern because of
limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the
clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to
run off quickly

Arctic Ocean
endangered marine species include walruses and whales;
fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from
disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack

Argentina
environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an
industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation,
desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse
gas targets

Armenia
soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy
crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for
firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the
draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a
source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of
Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a
seismically active zone

Aruba
NA

Ashmore and Cartier Islands
NA

Atlantic Ocean
endangered marine species include the manatee, seals,
sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the
decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes;
municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and
eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico,
Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste
and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and
Mediterranean Sea

Australia
soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,
urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due
to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for
agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique
animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast
coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by
increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited
natural fresh water resources

Austria
some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution;
soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air
pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power
stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria
between northern and southern Europe

Azerbaijan
local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron
Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be
the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe
air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil
spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton

Bahamas, The
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Bahrain
desertification resulting from the degradation of limited
arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal
degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation)
resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers,
oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater
resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all
water needs

Baker Island
no natural fresh water resources

Bangladesh
many people are landless and forced to live on and
cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in
surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results
from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by
naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of
falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the
country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe
overpopulation

Barbados
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships;
soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination
of aquifers

Bassas da India
NA

Belarus
soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the
country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident
at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

Belgium
the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human
activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry,
extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water
pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;
uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now
resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Belize
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial
effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Benin
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens
wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Bermuda
sustainable development

Bhutan
soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Bolivia
the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the
international demand for tropical timber are contributing to
deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation
methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification;
loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used
for drinking and irrigation

Bosnia and Herzegovina
air pollution from metallurgical plants;
sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and
destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife;
deforestation

Botswana
overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

Bouvet Island
NA

Brazil
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and
endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the
area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water
pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large
cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper
mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills

British Indian Ocean Territory
NA

British Virgin Islands
limited natural fresh water resources (except
for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the
islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

Brunei
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Bulgaria
air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted
from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest
damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil
contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and
industrial wastes

Burkina Faso
recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy;
overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation

Burma
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;
inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Burundi
soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of
agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land
remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat
loss threatens wildlife populations

Cambodia
illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip
mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand
have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural
fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population
does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because
of illegal fishing and overfishing

Cameroon
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Canada
air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting
lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities,
and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest
productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to
agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Cape Verde
soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used
as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened
several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand
extraction; overfishing

Cayman Islands
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water
supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Central African Republic
tap water is not potable; poaching has
diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great
wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Chad
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal
in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification

Chile
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural
resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage

China
air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates)
from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages,
particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes;
deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land
since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development;
desertification; trade in endangered species

Christmas Island
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Clipperton Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands
fresh water resources are limited to
rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Colombia
deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse
of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions

Comoros
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation
on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
poaching threatens wildlife
populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible
for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching;
mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors,
diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage

Congo, Republic of the
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water
pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;
deforestation

Cook Islands
NA

Coral Sea Islands
no permanent fresh water resources

Costa Rica
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of
the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil
erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste
management; air pollution

Cote d'Ivoire
deforestation (most of the country's forests - once
the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water
pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Croatia
air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid
rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and
domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of
infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Cuba
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Cyprus
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments,
seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's
largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution
from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of
wildlife habitats from urbanization

Czech Republic
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia
and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid
rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code
should improve domestic pollution

Denmark
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant
emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea;
drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and
pesticides

Dhekelia
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the
spring and autumn

Djibouti
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
desertification; endangered species

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea
damages coral reefs; deforestation

East Timor
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion

Ecuador
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically
sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Egypt
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown
sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam;
desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and
marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides,
raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh
water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial
water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and
natural resources

El Salvador
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;
contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Equatorial Guinea
tap water is not potable; deforestation

Eritrea
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing;
loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

Estonia
air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning
power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted
to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less
than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to
water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in
connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the
pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400
natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural
areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain
locations

Ethiopia
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor
management

Europa Island
NA

European Union
NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
overfishing by unlicensed vessels
is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for
commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the
world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
deforestation; soil erosion

Finland
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants
contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes,
agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

France
some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from
industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes,
agricultural runoff

French Guiana
NA

French Polynesia
NA

French Southern and Antarctic Lands
NA

Gabon
deforestation; poaching

Gambia, The
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases
prevalent

Gaza Strip
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage
treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and
contamination of underground water resources

Georgia
air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of
Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable
water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals

Germany
emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries
contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur
dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea
from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern
Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a
mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15
years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature
preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat
directive

Ghana
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural
activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and
habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;
inadequate supplies of potable water

Gibraltar
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or
natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for
drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Glorioso Islands
NA

Greece
air pollution; water pollution

Greenland
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the
Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Grenada
NA

Guadeloupe
NA

Guam
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid
proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Guatemala
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water
pollution

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing,
overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to
environmental damage

Guinea-Bissau
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

Guyana
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial
chemicals; deforestation

Haiti
extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land
is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion;
inadequate supplies of potable water

Heard Island and McDonald Islands
NA

Holy See (Vatican City)
NA

Honduras
urban population expanding; deforestation results from
logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further
land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled
development and improper land use practices such as farming of
marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the
country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers
and streams, with heavy metals

Hong Kong
air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Howland Island
no natural fresh water resources

Hungary
the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management,
energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU
requirements will require large investments

Iceland
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
wastewater treatment

India
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air
pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap
water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing
population is overstraining natural resources

Indian Ocean
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,
and Red Sea

Indonesia
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes,
sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest
fires

Iran
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle
emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the
Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation
(salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution
from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Iraq
government water control projects have drained most of the
inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting
the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh
Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been
displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses
serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate
supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian
Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and
erosion; desertification

Ireland
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural
runoff

Isle of Man
waste disposal (both household and industrial);
transboundary air pollution

Israel
limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose
serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial
and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and
domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Italy
air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur
dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and
agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate
industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

Jamaica
heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by
industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air
pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Jan Mayen
NA

Japan
air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;
acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and
threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of
fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these
resources in Asia and elsewhere

Jarvis Island
no natural fresh water resources

Jersey
NA

Johnston Atoll
no natural fresh water resources

Jordan
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Juan de Nova Island
NA

Kazakhstan
radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with
former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the
country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial
pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers
which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it
is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical
pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by
the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the
Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals
and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation
practices

Kenya
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation
of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; poaching

Kingman Reef
none

Kiribati
heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to
heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon
latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

Korea, North
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water;
waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation

Korea, South
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water
pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents;
drift net fishing

Kuwait
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's
largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much
of the water; air and water pollution; desertification

Kyrgyzstan
water pollution; many people get their water directly
from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne
diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty
irrigation practices

Laos
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the
population does not have access to potable water

Latvia
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service
industries after the country regained independence; the main
environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality
and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as
well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU
accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full
enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010

Lebanon
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution
in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial
wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills

Lesotho
population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas
results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion;
desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and
redirects water to South Africa

Liberia
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of
biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage

Libya
desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources;
the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development
scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large
aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
products and chemicals at military bases

Luxembourg
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of
farmland

Macau
NA

Macedonia
air pollution from metallurgical plants

Madagascar
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island

Malawi
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from
agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of
spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Malaysia
air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from
Indonesian forest fires

Maldives
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies;
global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

Mali
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate
supplies of potable water; poaching

Malta
very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing
reliance on desalination

Marshall Islands
inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of
Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing
vessels

Martinique
NA

Mauritania
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated
by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural
fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only
perennial river; locust infestation

Mauritius
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to
urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted
in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme
southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in
urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;
deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in
the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land
subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and
deforestation national security issues

Micronesia, Federated States of
overfishing, climate change,
pollution

Midway Islands
NA

Moldova
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned
pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater;
extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the
policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and
industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the
burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment

Montenegro
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets,
especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Montserrat
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for
cultivation

Morocco
land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting
from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of
vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of
reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Mozambique
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands
have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and
coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant
poaching for ivory is a problem

Namibia
very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;
wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Nauru
limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks
collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging
desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90
years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the
central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining
land resources

Navassa Island
NA

Nepal
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of
alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes,
agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife
conservation; vehicular emissions

Netherlands
water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic
compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air
pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain

Netherlands Antilles
NA

New Caledonia
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

New Zealand
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
hard-hit by invasive species

Nicaragua
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Niger
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification;
wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and
lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction

Nigeria
soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water
pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil;
has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land;
rapid urbanization

Niue
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter
loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands
contamination of groundwater on Saipan may
contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of
endangered species conflicts with development

Norway
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely
affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle
emissions

Oman
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very
limited natural fresh water resources

Pacific Ocean
endangered marine species include the dugong, sea
lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in
Philippine Sea and South China Sea

Pakistan
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and
agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Palau
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to
the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing

Palmyra Atoll
NA

Panama
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery
resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution
in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Papua New Guinea
rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of
growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought

Paracel Islands
NA

Paraguay
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste
disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

Peru
deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing
of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

Philippines
uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed
areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers;
coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove
swamps that are important fish breeding grounds

Pitcairn Islands
deforestation (only a small portion of the original
forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Poland
situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy
industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist
governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of
sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the
resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from
industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal
of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as
industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but
at substantial cost to business and the government

Portugal
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and
vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Puerto Rico
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Qatar
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing
dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Reunion
NA

Romania
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution
in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta
wetlands

Russia
air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired
electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial,
municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and
seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from
improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of
sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater
contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management;
abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides

Rwanda
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for
fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis
NA

Saint Lucia
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the
northern region

Saint Pierre and Miquelon
recent test drilling for oil in waters
around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that
would impact the environment

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
pollution of coastal waters and
shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents;
in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming
prohibitive

Samoa
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Saudi Arabia
desertification; depletion of underground water
resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies
has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination
facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

Senegal
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Serbia
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities;
water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which
flows into the Danube

Seychelles
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

Sierra Leone
rapid population growth pressuring the environment;
overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and
slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil
exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing

Singapore
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water
resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal
problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in
Indonesia

Slovakia
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human
health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Slovenia
Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste;
pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals;
forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at
metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Solomon Islands
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding
coral reefs are dead or dying

Somalia
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human
health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification

South Africa
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires
extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water
usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff
and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil
erosion; desertification

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
NA

Southern Ocean
increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from
the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary
productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA
of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent
years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more
Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to
affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental
mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish
note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong
comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries

Spain
pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and
effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality
and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation;
desertification

Spratly Islands
NA

Sri Lanka
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations
threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from
mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources
being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste
disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Sudan
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification;
periodic drought

Suriname
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of
inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil
degradation; soil erosion

Sweden
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North
Sea and the Baltic Sea

Switzerland
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air
burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of
agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Syria
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes;
inadequate potable water

Taiwan
air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in
endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Tajikistan
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of
soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides

Tanzania
soil degradation; deforestation; desertification;
destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent
droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by
illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory

Thailand
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from
organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
populations threatened by illegal hunting

Togo
deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and
the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards
and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban
areas

Tokelau
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are
contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Tonga
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared
for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from
starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting
threatens native sea turtle populations

Trinidad and Tobago
water pollution from agricultural chemicals,
industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches;
deforestation; soil erosion

Tromelin Island
NA

Tunisia
toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses
health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh
water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification

Turkey
water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air
pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for
oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Turkmenistan
contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural
chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor
irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large
share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to
that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification

Turks and Caicos Islands
limited natural fresh water resources,
private cisterns collect rainwater

Tuvalu
since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not
potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with
storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one
desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion
because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive
clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral
reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is
concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and
their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's
underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to
Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels
should make evacuation necessary

Uganda
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake
Victoria; poaching is widespread

Ukraine
inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water
pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast
from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

United Arab Emirates
lack of natural freshwater resources
compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution
from oil spills

United Kingdom
continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met
Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and
intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a
domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the
government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial
waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to
recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to
33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling
increased from 8.8% to 10.3%

United States
air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US
and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide
from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of
pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in
much of the western part of the country require careful management;
desertification