North America Land Cover 2010 30m

Overview This 30-meter dataset reflects land cover information for 2020 from Mexico and Canada, and 2021 over the conterminous United States and Alaska. Each country developed its own classification method to identify land cover classes and provided an input layer to produce a continental land cover map across North America. The main inputs for image classification were 30-meter Landsat 8 Collection 2 Level 1 data across the three countries; image selection and spectral band reduction varied by country according to site-specific requirements. Canada selected most images from 2020, with a few from 2019 and 2021; the conterminous United States and Alaska relied mainly on 2021 imagery; and the Mexico map was based on change detection between 2015 and 2020 Landsat 8 mosaics. National maps were generated for Canada by the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS); for Mexico by the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad), National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía), and National Forestry Commission of Mexico (Comisión Nacional Forestal); and for the United States by the United States Geological Survey. Each country used its own approach, ancillary data, and mapping methodology, and the national datasets were then combined by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) into a seamless North American product, merging four map sections: Alaska, Canada, the conterminous United States, and Mexico. The current version (version 2) integrates updated land cover information for the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Canada, based on national maps updated in February 2024 by the USGS and CCRS. Unlike version 1, where the conterminous United States represented 2019 conditions, this version corresponds to 2021. Land Cover Classes The raster attribute table provides 19 thematic land cover classes plus a background value, with class names in English, Spanish, and French: 1: Temperate or sub-polar needleleaf forest 2: Sub-polar taiga needleleaf forest 3: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf evergreen forest 4: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf deciduous forest 5: Temperate or sub-polar broadleaf deciduous forest 6: Mixed forest 7: Tropical or sub-tropical shrubland 8: Temperate or sub-polar shrubland 9: Tropical or sub-tropical grassland 10: Temperate or sub-polar grassland 11: Sub-polar or polar shrubland-lichen-moss 12: Sub-polar or polar grassland-lichen-moss 13: Sub-polar or polar barren-lichen-moss 14: Wetland 15: Cropland 16: Barren lands 17: Urban and built-up 18: Water 19: Snow and ice Geographic Coverage The service covers Canada, the United States, and Mexico, including Alaska. Data Sources and Licensing This dataset is produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), derived from national land cover maps provided by Natural Resources Canada, the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, the National Forestry Commission; and the United States Geological Survey. The compiled dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: Irregular Limitations of use: Intended for continental-scale reference. Vintage: 2020 Applications (Intended Use) Land cover review and continental- to national-scale mapping. Environmental monitoring and change detection over time. Spatial analysis and integration with other thematic layers in the North American Environmental Atlas. Supporting cross-border environmental cooperation and policy-making among North American nations. Files Download

Overview This dataset shows North American land cover for 2010 at a spatial resolution of 250 meters, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery. It provides a harmonized view of the physical cover of Earth's surface across the continent, classified into nineteen Level II land cover classes defined using the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) standard developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The dataset was produced as part of the North American Land Change Monitoring System (NALCMS), a trilateral effort between Natural Resources Canada, the United States Geological Survey, and three Mexican organizations: the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía), the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad), and the National Forestry Commission of Mexico (Comisión Nacional Forestal). The collaboration is facilitated by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), an international organization created by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation to promote environmental collaboration between the three countries. Land Cover Classes The raster attribute table provides 19 thematic land cover classes: 1: Temperate or sub-polar needleleaf forest 2: Sub-polar taiga needleleaf forest 3: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf evergreen forest 4: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf deciduous forest 5: Temperate or sub-polar broadleaf deciduous forest 6: Mixed forest 7: Tropical or sub-tropical shrubland 8: Temperate or sub-polar shrubland 9: Tropical or sub-tropical grassland 10: Temperate or sub-polar grassland 11: Sub-polar or polar shrubland-lichen-moss 12: Sub-polar or polar grassland-lichen-moss 13: Sub-polar or polar barren-lichen-moss 14: Wetland 15: Cropland 16: Barren land 17: Urban and built-up 18: Water 19: Snow and ice Geographic Coverage This dataset covers Canada, Alaska, the conterminous United States, and Mexico. Data Sources and Licensing This dataset builds on the initial 2005 North American Land Cover product, updated to reflect land cover changes detected through 2010. No changes were mapped in Hawaii due to a lack of newer data. This version (2.0) supersedes Edition 1.0, correcting labeling and classification errors identified after the initial release, and removes the water buffer along the coastline of North America to ensure consistent statistics for the water class. The entire dataset is produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), derived from national land cover maps provided by Natural Resources Canada, the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, the National Forestry Commission; and the United States Geological Survey. The compiled dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: As needed Limitations of use: Intended for continental-scale reference. Vintage: 2010 Applications (Intended Use) Land cover review and continental- to national-scale mapping. Environmental monitoring and change detection over time. Spatial analysis and integration with other thematic layers in the North American Environmental Atlas. Supporting cross-border environmental cooperation and policy-making among North American nations. Files Download

Overview This dataset shows North American land cover for 2005 at a spatial resolution of 250 meters, based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery. It provides a harmonized view of the physical cover of Earth's surface across the continent, classified into nineteen Level II land cover classes defined using the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) standard developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The dataset was produced as part of the North American Land Change Monitoring System (NALCMS), a trilateral effort between Natural Resources Canada, the United States Geological Survey, and three Mexican organizations: the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía), the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad), and the National Forestry Commission of Mexico (Comisión Nacional Forestal). The collaboration is facilitated by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), an international organization created by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation to promote environmental collaboration between the three countries. Land Cover Classes The raster attribute table provides 19 thematic land cover classes: 1: Temperate or sub-polar needleleaf forest 2: Sub-polar taiga needleleaf forest 3: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf evergreen forest 4: Tropical or sub-tropical broadleaf deciduous forest 5: Temperate or sub-polar broadleaf deciduous forest 6: Mixed forest 7: Tropical or sub-tropical shrubland 8: Temperate or sub-polar shrubland 9: Tropical or sub-tropical grassland 10: Temperate or sub-polar grassland 11: Sub-polar or polar shrubland-lichen-moss 12: Sub-polar or polar grassland-lichen-moss 13: Sub-polar or polar barren-lichen-moss 14: Wetland 15: Cropland 16: Barren land 17: Urban and built-up 18: Water 19: Snow and ice Geographic Coverage This dataset covers Canada, Alaska, the conterminous United States, and Mexico. Data Sources and Licensing This dataset represents the baseline North American Land Cover product for 2005, later updated to produce the 2010 edition. This version (3.0) supersedes Edition 2.0, correcting labeling and classification errors identified after the initial release, and removes the water buffer along the coastline of North America to ensure consistent statistics for the water class. The dataset is produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), derived from national land cover maps provided by Natural Resources Canada, the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, the National Forestry Commission; and the United States Geological Survey. The compiled dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: As needed Limitations of use: Intended for continental-scale reference. Vintage: 2005 Applications (Intended Use) Land cover review and continental- to national-scale mapping. Environmental monitoring and change detection over time. Spatial analysis and integration with other thematic layers in the North American Environmental Atlas. Supporting cross-border environmental cooperation and policy-making among North American nations. Files Download

Overview This layer shows North America classified into "anthropogenic biomes," also known as "anthromes" or "human biomes." Biomes are major global ecosystem types, characterized by particular climate and soil conditions and distinctive forms of life adapted to these conditions. Incorporating the significant role of humans in altering ecosystems, this layer offers a new way of classifying the parts of the earth in which life exists.  Geographic Coverage The coverage spans the entire North American continent, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Data Sources and Licensing Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), based on the anthropogenic biomes classification developed by Erle C. Ellis and Navin Ramankutty in 2008, Putting people in the map: Anthropogenic biomes of the world. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 6, doi:10.1890/070062. The data is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation, including for commercial purposes, with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: Not planned Limitations of use: None. Acknowledgment of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation and/or Ellis & Ramankutty (2008) would be appreciated in products derived from these data. Vintage: 2008 Applications (Intended Use) Research on human influence on terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity. Land use and land cover analysis integrating human population patterns. Conservation planning that accounts for the degree of human alteration of natural systems. Integration with other thematic layers in the North American Environmental Atlas for comprehensive continental analysis. Files Download

Overview This map layer presents a dataset of named populated places across North America, encompassing Canada, the United States, and Mexico, suitable for use at a continental scale of 1:10,000,000. The information is derived from the national mapping and census agencies of each country: Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía (INEGI), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is a revised version of the 2004 data set, released as part of a joint venture coordinated by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). Places, which refer to individual municipalities, are represented as points fitted to the North American Environmental Atlas roads, railroads, and hydrography layers, so that each point reflects the approximate location of a place relative to those features. The selection of populated places was based on local importance as indicated by population size, importance as a cross-border point, and occasionally other factors. All capital cities (national, provincial, territorial, or state) are included for Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The dataset supports multiple languages for attribute names, including English, Spanish, and French, facilitating accessibility across North America. It also includes standardized identifiers and classification codes for population class, capital status, country, and state or province for each place. Geographic Coverage The coverage spans North America, including the continental territories of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Features located outside these three countries are included only to provide geographic context and carry no completeness or accuracy guarantees from the contributing agencies. Data Sources and Licensing This data is produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), derived from national atlas and census programs in Canada (Natural Resources Canada, Statistics Canada), Mexico (INEGI), and the United States (U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Census Bureau). The compiled dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), allowing redistribution and adaptation with appropriate attribution. Update frequency: Irregular Limitations of use: Intended for continental-scale reference. Positional accuracy is dependent on the source data and integration processes. Data outside Canada, Mexico, and the United States is provided for context only; the CEC and partner agencies assume no responsibility for its completeness or accuracy. Vintage: The information presented in the map layer represents data compiled in 2009, based on national census records from 2000–2001. Applications (Intended Use) Continental-scale reference and base mapping Transportation and cross-border connectivity analysis Population distribution and urban settlement research Environmental and policy research requiring geographic context Educational and reference purposes Files Download

Overview This layer shows the grasslands priority conservation areas (GPCAs) within North America's Central Grasslands, an ecosystem considered among the most threatened on the continent and the world. GPCAs are areas of tri-national importance due to their ecological significance and threatened nature, which require international cooperation for their successful conservation. This layer is part of the North American Environmental Atlas, produced through a collaboration between the national atlas programs of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, in partnership with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The 55 original GPCAs were identified in 2004 by 36 experts from Canada, Mexico, and the United States, during a workshop co-organized by the CEC and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). In 2010, the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) updated the dataset using national and international land cover, elevation, habitat, species, and bird survey data, bringing the total to 59 GPCAs. Each area was scored and ranked based on its importance to key grassland species and the rate at which its habitat was being lost. Geographic Coverage This layer covers the Central Grasslands ecosystem of North America, spanning parts of Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Data Sources and Licensing This dataset draws on more than 120 physical, biological, and social data sets from federal, state, and provincial governments, engineering and environmental firms, universities, industries, and conservation organizations, including USGS land cover and elevation layers, USGS Breeding Bird Surveys and Christmas Bird Counts, RMBO bird and vegetation surveys, and Canadian Wildlife Service bird surveys. Further detail on the selection methodology is available in the North American Grassland Priority Conservation Areas: Technical Report and Documentation. This material is licensed under CC BY 4.0, allowing non-exclusive rights to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, including for commercial purposes, so long as attribution is given to the creator. Update frequency: Not planned Limitations of use: None. Acknowledgement of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, and (or) the Nature Conservancy would be appreciated in products derived from these data. Vintage: 2010 Applications (Intended Use) Conservation planning and priority-setting for grassland habitats across North America. Biodiversity research and monitoring of grassland-dependent species. Cross-border collaboration in the conservation of shared grassland ecosystems. Land use and natural resource management, including habitat protection. Integration with other thematic layers in the North American Environmental Atlas for continental-scale analysis. Supporting environmental cooperation and policy-making among Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Files Download