Global Land Cover 2000

Global Land Cover 2000 map produced by the IES in collaboration with world-wide partners

Creating the first ever complete overview of the vegetation cover across the planet

Leading a team of 30 institutions from all over the world, the IES Global Environment Monitoring Unit has produced a global land cover classification for the year 2000 (GLC2000). The general objective was to provide a harmonized land cover database covering the whole globe for the year 2000 to the International Convention on Climate Change, the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Ramsar Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. The year 2000 was considered as a reference year for environmental assessment in relation to various activities, in particular the United Nation's Ecosystem-related International Conventions. The GLC2000 land cover database has been chosen as a core dataset for the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment. This means that the GLC2000 dataset is used internationally as a main input dataset to define the boundaries between ecosystems such as forest, grassland, and cultivated systems.

In contrast to former global mapping initiatives, the GLC2000 project was a bottom-up approach to global mapping. More than 30 research teams were involved in the project, contributing to 19 regional windows. Each defined region was mapped by local experts, which guaranteed an accurate classification based on local knowledge. Each regional partner used the VEGA2000 dataset, consisting of 14 months of pre-processed daily global data acquired by the VEGETATION instrument on board the SPOT 4 satellite. The dataset was sponsored by members of the VEGETATION programme, including the Joint Research Centre. Each partner used the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) produced by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Association) and UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), which ensured that a standard legend was used across the globe. This hierarchical classification system allowed each partner to choose the most appropriate land cover classes to best describe their region, whilst also providing the possibility to translate regional classes to a more generalized global legend.

The land cover of the Amazon basin

The GLC2000 dataset has been highly appreciated by renowned organizations around the world. On June 3rd, 2002, Dr. Reid, Director of the UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, declared that the GLC2000 will be used as a core dataset for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reports, acknowledging the efforts of the teams involved. Further distinctions include the use of the GLC2000 map by the American Museum of Natural History and the TIMES Atlas of the World.

More information on the Global Land Cover 2000, including a full download of the map, can be found on the Global Environment Monitoring unit website.

EU Legislation and Documents supported by this Project:

Contact Info:

Alan Belward - Tel.: +39-0332-789298 E-mail: alan.belward(at)jrc.ec.europa.eu