Content

The Intact Forest Landscapes (IFL) are defined as large unbroken expanses of natural ecosystems in the zone of current forest landscapes extent without signs of significant human activity. For the identification of Intact Forest Landscapes the following criteria were used: (1) minimum area of 50,000 hectares; (2) minimum IFL patch width of 10 km; and (3) minimum corridor/appendage width of 2 km. The criteria were chosen to insure that IFL patch core areas are large enough to provide refuge for wide-ranging animal species.
The IFL map shows the boundary between unaltered forest landscapes – where most components, including species and site diversity, dynamics and ecological functions remain intact – and altered or fragmented forests – where some level of timber extraction, species composition change, anthropogenic fragmentation and/or alteration of ecosystem dynamics has taken place.
The IFL map is prepared by the IFL Mapping Team (Greenpeace, University of Maryland, World Resources Institute, Transparent World, and WWF Russia) using Landsat satellite imagery for the year 2000. The latest update was made for year 2014, so the current map shows the extent of Intact Forest Landscapes by the end of year 2013.

Data source

Potapov, P., Hansen, M. C., Laestadius L., Turubanova S., Yaroshenko A., Thies C., Smith W., Zhuravleva I., Komarova A., Minnemeyer S., Esipova E. The last frontiers of wilderness: Tracking loss of intact forest landscapes from 2000 to 2013.

Data quality

The current IFL map shows the the extent of Intact Forest Landscapes by the end of year 2013. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames. The first global IFL map was prepared in 2005-2006. It was updated in 2012 and again in 2014.

Data format

The IFL map is provided in ESRI shapefile format and can be downloaded here. It is also accessible in Google Earth Engine.

Availability of data

GRAS uses IFL data in agreement with Peter Potapov (IFL mapping team).

Content

Ramsar Sites are wetlands as defined in the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance: “wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres”.
In 1971 the Convention was established as an intergovernmental environmental agreement in the Iranian city Ramsar. Its mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”. The Contracting Parties designate suitable wetlands within its territory for inclusion in a List of Wetlands of International Importance. Wetlands included in the List acquire a new status at the national level and are recognized by the international community as being of significant value. The Ramsar List is maintained by the Ramsar Secretariat and is updated and extended continuously. Full data submitted by the Parties for each of their Ramsar Sites is maintained in the Ramsar Sites Database and searchable from the Ramsar Sites Information Service. Ramsar Sites are explicitly named in the EU Renewable Energy Directive as being taken into account when identifiying areas not suitable for sustainable biomass production (Directive 2009/28/EC, Nr. 73).

Data source

Ramsar Convention Secretariat: Ramsar Sites Information Service Database, Official Ramsar sites boundaries, December 2013 / Ramsar Sites central geographical coordinates, July 2014

Data quality

The List of Wetlands of International Importance and hence the data stored in the Ramsar Sites Information Service (RSIS) Database is updated continuously. On the RSIS data are available in two forms: Centroids and boundaries. In addition, GRAS received information on Ramsar Sites in some countries from national or international sources. That is why GRAS is displaying a combination of centroids and polygons of the Ramsar Sites coming from either the RSIS or national and international bodies.

Data format

The Ramsar Sites are provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the Ramsar Sites Information Service.

Availability of data

The Ramsar Convention Secretariat does not restrict the use of the geospatial data of Ramsar Sites. However, they recommend that the geospatial data is double-checked with the information sheets of Ramsar Sites.

Content

This carbon map was developed by Ruesch and Gibbs and is a global map of biomass carbon stored in above and below ground living vegetation. It was created using the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Good Practice Guidance for reporting national greenhouse gas inventories. The authors followed the IPCC GPG Tier-1 method for estimating vegetation carbon stocks using the globally consistent default values provided for above ground biomass (IPCC 2006). They added below ground biomass (root) carbon stocks using the IPCC root to shoot ratios for each vegetation type. Then they converted total living vegetation biomass to carbon stocks using the carbon fraction for each vegetation type (varies between forests, shrublands and grasslands). Maps of continental regions, ecofloristic zones, and frontier forests were combined to determine the spatial distribution of global carbon zones. These data were then gridded and combined with the vegetation map from the Global Land Cover 2000 Project (GLC2000). The resulting global gridded dataset depicts vegetation biomass carbon stocks at at 1 kilometer by 1-kilometer resolution.
Soil carbon stocks are not included in this map.

Data source

Gibbs, Holly K., and Ruesch, Aaron. New IPCC Tier-1 Global Biomass Carbon Map for the Year 2000. United States: N. p., 2008.

Data format

The dataset are provided in raster format and can be downloaded here.

Content

The Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI) by the World Bank Group reports aggregate and individual governance indicators for 215 economies over the period 1996–2012 for six dimensions of governance:

• Voice and Accountability
• Political Stability and Absence of Violence
• Government Effectiveness
• Regulatory Quality
• Rule of Law
• Control of Corruption

These aggregate indicators can be individually displayed in GRAS Maps. The indicators combine the views of a large number of enterprise, citizen and expert survey respondents in industrial and developing countries. They are based on 32 individual data sources produced by a variety of survey institutes, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and private sector firms.

Data quality

The WGI were developed in 1999 by two World Bank researchers, Daniel Kaufmann and Aart Kraay. The data are updated annually each September.

Data source

Daniel Kaufmann and Aart Kraay (2023). Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2023 Update (www.govindicators.org)

Data format

The dataset can be downloaded in Excel (.xlsx) or Stata format here: An interactive data access tool is also provided on the website.

Content

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic of life expectancy, education, and income indices used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. It is published by the United Nations Development Programme. The four tiers are:

• Life expectancy at birth
• Mean years of schools
• Expected years of schooling
• Gross national income (GNI) per capita

The tiers can be individually displayed with their original numerical value in GRAS Maps.

For further information please visit the HDI

Data Format
To download the yearly updated dataset in Excel (.xlsx) format click here.

Content

The Global Slavery Index is run by the Australian NGO Walk Free Foundation. GSI shows the prevalence of population in modern slavery and provides a country ranking of 167 countries. Modern slavery is defined as slavery and slavery-like practices (such as debt bondage, forced marriage, and sale or exploitation of children), human trafficking and forced labour. GSI uses renowned international and national data sources. The Index is composed by three separated indicators:

1. Estimate proportion of population in modern slavery by country
2. Measure of vulnerability to modern slavery by country
3. Measure of government responses to modern slavery by country

The estimate of the number of people in modern slavery, country by country, is based on two types of information:

• Secondary source information: published reports from governments, the investiga-tions of non-governmental and international organisations, and journalistic reports across all media (e.g. Stopping Forced Labor Report by ILO / Incidence of Bonded Labor in India by Lal Bahadur Shastri, National Academy of Administration)
• Random sample surveys in selected countries

For further information please visit the GSI

Data Format

To download the yearly updated dataset in Excel (.xlsx) format click here.

Content

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) was developed by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and is constructed through the calculation and aggregation of 40 indicators across 11 issues categories, reflecting national-level environmental data. Three issues are selected and displayed in GRAS Tool, to reflect performance of two issue categories: agriculture and water resources. For assessing agriculture, EPI Sustainable Pesticide Use (EPI SPU) and EPI Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index (EPI SNMI) are selected, and EPI Wastewater Treatment (EPI WWT) is representative for water resources.

EPI Sustainable Pesticide Use considers the responsible use of pesticide which leads to the gains in food security, with the note that over-application damages the environment.

For further information about the overall EPI scores and its sub indicator Sustainable Pesticide Use please visit EPI website.

Data source

Wolf, M. J., Emerson, J. W., Esty, D. C., de Sherbinin, A., Wendling, Z. A., et al. (2022). 2022 Environmental Performance Index. New Haven, CT: Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy. Epi.yale.edu.

Data format

The EPI data is updated yearly and is provided in Excel (.xlsx) format and can be downloaded both here and here.

Content

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) was developed by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and is constructed through the calculation and aggregation of 40 indicators across 11 issues categories, reflecting national-level environmental data. Three issues are selected and displayed in GRAS Tool, to reflect performance of two issue categories: agriculture and water resources. For assessing agriculture, EPI Sustainable Pesticide Use (EPI SPU) and EPI Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index (EPI SNMI) are selected, and EPI Wastewater Treatment (EPI WWT) is representative for water resources.

EPI Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index measures the sustainability of agricultural production, considering the balance between efficient application of nitrogen fertilizer and maximizing crop yield.

For further information about the overall EPI scores and its sub indicator Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index please visit EPI website.

Data source

Wolf, M. J., Emerson, J. W., Esty, D. C., de Sherbinin, A., Wendling, Z. A., et al. (2022). 2022 Environmental Performance Index. New Haven, CT: Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy. Epi.yale.edu.

Data format

The EPI data is updated yearly and is provided in Excel (.xlsx) format and can be downloaded both here and here.

Content

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) was developed by the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy and is constructed through the calculation and aggregation of 40 indicators across 11 issues categories, reflecting national-level environmental data. Three issues are selected and displayed in GRAS Tool, to reflect performance of two issue categories: agriculture and water resources. For assessing agriculture, EPI Sustainable Pesticide Use (EPI SPU) and EPI Sustainable Nitrogen Management Index (EPI SNMI) are selected, and EPI Wastewater Treatment (EPI WWT) is representative for water resources.

EPI Wastewater Treatment measures the percentage if wastewater that receives at least primary treatment in each country, normalized by the percentage of population connected to a municipal wastewater collection system.

For further information about the overall EPI scores and its sub indicator Wastewater Treatment please visit EPI website.

Data source

Wolf, M. J., Emerson, J. W., Esty, D. C., de Sherbinin, A., Wendling, Z. A., et al. (2022). 2022 Environmental Performance Index. New Haven, CT: Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy. Epi.yale.edu.

Data format

The EPI data is updated yearly and is provided in Excel (.xlsx) format and can be downloaded both here and here.

Content

Access to Drinking Water measures the proportion of a country’s total population with access to an “improved drinking water source” as a main source of drinking water. An improved drinking water source is defined as a facility or delivery point that protects water from external contamination—particularly fecal contamination. This includes piped water into a dwelling, plot, or yard; public tap or standpipe; tubewell or borehole; protected spring; and rainwater collection. The data originates from the 2012 WHO/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP).

For further information about the JMP, please visit this website.

Data Format

The data is updated yearly and can be downloaded in Excel (.xlsx) format here. It is available for Households, Schools and Health Care Facilities.

Content

Access to Sanitation measures the percentage of a country’s population that has access to an improved source of sanitation. “Improved” sanitation sources include connection to a public sewer, connection to a septic system, pour-flush latrine, simple pit latrine, or ventilated pit latrine. The system is considered “improved” if it hygienically separates human excreta from human contact and is not public, meaning that it can neither be private or shared. The data originates from the 2012 WHO/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP).

For further information about the JMP, please visit this website.

Data Format

The data is updated yearly and can be downloaded in Excel (.xlsx) format here. It is available for Households, Schools and Health Care Facilities.

Content

UN International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Core Labor Standards are not a numerical index in the classical meaning. Ratification of the eight core labour standards are regarded as a worthwhile indicator for the assessment of working conditions. However, this information is not considered for the overall social factor calculation. The ratification of UN International Labor Organisation (ILO) Core Labor Standards is displayed within the maps tool as an additional information.

The core labour standards consist of four standards, laid out in eight conventions:

• Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bar-gaining (Convention No. 87 & No. 98)
• The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour (Convention No. 29 & No. 105)
• The effective abolition of child labour (Convention No. 138 & No. 182)
• The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation (Convention No. 100 & No. 111)

For further information please visit ILO

Data Format

The data can be downloaded in various data formats like Excel or via the R-Package ILOSTAT here.

Content

The Children’s Rights and Business Atlas is an online platform with over 150 indicators on human and children’s rights, covering 195 countries. One of them is The Children’s Rights in the Workplace Index. The Children’s Rights in the Workplace Index from UNICEF evaluates five variables, which are measured by three types of indicators: legal framework, enforcement, and outcome indicators. The variables used are the following:

• Minimum age of employment
• Categorical worst forms of child labour
• Hazardous work
• Decent working conditions
• Maternity protection

The legal framework measures the state’s commitment to implement obligation to protect children, the enforcement focuses on the capacity to implement those obligations, while the outcome illustrates the status of the fulfilment of children’s rights. The scores for the 3 pillars are calculated on a scale from 0 to 10, where a lower score indicates the need to undertake basic levels of due diligence to fulfil children’s right and a higher score the need for higher levels of due diligence. For displaying purposes, the countries are displayed in the GRAS tool according to their Due Diligence Response.

You can receive further information on the methodology and data here.

Data source

UNICEF and Global Child Forum, 2018.

Data Format

The data is provided in excel (.xlsx) format and can be downloaded here.

Content

The Prindex global dataset measures global perceptions of land and property rights in 140 countries, based on results from surveys conducted. Perceived tenure security is an estimate of how an individual thinks about the security of their land or housing rights. 5 different dimensions are considered:

• Tenure insecurity – percentage of people who believe it is somewhat or very likely that they could lose the right to use their property or part of it against their will in the next 5 years
• Tenure security – percentage of people who believe it is very unlikely or unlikely that they could lose the right to use their property or part of it against their will in the next 5 years
• Formal documents – percentage of people who say they have formal, legally-binding documents that demonstrate their right to live in or use any of their properties
• Informal documents – percentage of people who say they have informal formal documents that demonstrate their right to live in or use any of their properties
• No documents – percentage of people who say they have no formal or informal documents that demostrate their right to live in or use any of their properties

For further information please visit the Prindex website.

Data source

Prindex Global Dataset, 2020

Data Format

The data is provided in Excel (.csv) format and can be downloaded here.

Content

The Freedom in the World assigns a freedom score for 195 countries and 15 territories in the world. Its principal indices: political rights score and civil liberty score are derived from information related to:

• electoral process
• political pluralism and participation
• the functioning of the government
• freedom of expression and belief
• associational and organizational rights
• the rule of law
• personal autonomy as well as individual rights.

The analysis is based on a combination of on-the-ground research, consultations with local contacts, and information from news articles, NGOs, governments, and a variety of other sources. The final conclusion is made by expert advisers and regional specialists; the final product then represents the consensus of the analysts, advisers, and Freedom House staff.

For further information please visit the FIW.

Data source

Freedom House, 2022.

Data Format

The data is updated yearly and provided in Excel (.xlsx) format. It can be downloaded here.

Content

INFORM is a multi-stakeholder forum for developing shared, quantitative analysis relevant to humanitarian crises and disasters. This forum includes organisations from across the multilateral system, including the humanitarian and development sector, donors, and technical partners. The Joint Research Center of European Commission is the scientific lead for INFORM. Together they are developing a suite of quantitative, analytical products to support decision-making on humanitarian crises and disasters. These help making decisions at different stages of the disaster management cycle, specifically climate adaptation and disaster prevention, preparedness and response. INFORM develops methodologies and tools for use at the global level and also supports their application at subnational level. The INFORM Risk Index is a global, open-source risk assessment for humanitarian crises and disasters which can support decisions about prevention, preparedness and response.

In the GRAS Tool+, available datasets on national level are displayed for the dimensions Hazard & Exposure, Vulnerabilities and Lack of Coping Capacity and subordinate categories.

The Hazard & Exposure dimension reflects the probability of physical exposure associated with specific hazards.

The Vulnerability dimension represents economic, political and social characteristics of the community that can be destabilized in case of a hazardous event. Physical vulnerability, which is a hazard dependent characteristic, is dealt with separately in the Hazard & Exposure dimension.

The Lack of Coping Capacity dimension measures the ability of a country to cope with disasters in terms of formal, organized activities and the effort of the country’s government as well as the existing infrastructure, which contribute to the reduction of disaster risk.

Read more about the INFORM Risk Index here.

Data format

The data is updated yearly and can be downloaded in Excel (.xlsx) format here:

Content

Results from time-series analysis of Landsat images characterizing forest extent and change. Trees are defined as vegetation taller than 5m in height and are expressed as a percentage per output grid cell as ‘2000 Percent Tree Cover’. ‘Forest Cover Loss’ is defined as a stand-replacement disturbance, or a change from a forest to non-forest state, during the period 2000–2022. ‘Forest Cover Gain’ is defined as the inverse of loss, or a non-forest to forest change entirely within the period 2000–2012. ‘Forest Loss Year’ is a disaggregation of total ‘Forest Loss’ to annual time scales.

Data source

Hansen, M. C., P. V. Potapov, R. Moore, M. Hancher, S. A. Turubanova, A. Tyukavina, D. Thau, S. V. Stehman, S. J. Hansen Global Forest Change v1.10 (2015- Goetz, T. R. Loveland, A. Kommareddy, A. Egorov, L. Chini, C. O. Justice, and J. R. G. Townshend. 2013. “High- 2022) Resolution Global Maps of 21st-Century Forest Cover Change.” Science 342 (15 November): 850- 53. 10.1126/science.1244693

Data format

The dataset can be displayed in an interactive webtool here. You can download the dataset as a TIF file here. The data is also accessible via Google Earth Engine.

Availability of data

Global Data coverage from 2001 until 2022.

Content

GRAS uses the Digital Elevation Model to identify the potential presence of steep slopes within the assessment area. In order to correctly interpret the dataset it is relevant to consider that steep (>30-45%) and very steep (>45%) slope classes are considered steep slopes.

Data source

Farr, T.G., Rosen, P.A., Caro, E., Crippen, R., Duren, R., Hensley, S., Kobrick, M., Paller, M., Rodriguez, E., Roth, L., Seal, D., Shaffer, S., Shimada, J., Umland, J., Werner, M., Oskin, M., Burbank, D., and Alsdorf, D.E., 2007, The shuttle radar topography mission: Reviews of Geophysics, v. 45, no. 2, RG2004, at https://doi.org/10.1029/2005RG000183.

Data quality

This dataset has undergone a void-filling process using open-source data (ASTER GDEM2, GMTED2010, and NED), as opposed to other versions that contain voids or have been void-filled with commercial sources

Data format

The dataset is provided as a TIF file and can be accessed via Google Earth Engine.

Availability of data

Global Data

Content

Land cover maps depict spatial data about various categories of physical coverage found on the Earth’s surface, such as vegetation, water bodies, human settlements etc and segregates them into different classes. This particular landcover dataset is based on the ‘European Space Agency (ESA) WorldCover 10 m, 2021 product’ which provides a global land cover map for 2021 based on Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data. It features around 11 categories aligned with UN-FAO’s Land Cover Classification System and has been generated in the framework of the ESA WorldCover project. The original resolution of 10 m was resampled to 60 m. Utilization of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) data, is relatively a new approach as up until now most of the land cover maps at regional or continental scales have used low-resolution images (>100m). Inspired by the 2017 WorldCover conference, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the WorldCover project with the primary objective of generating a freely accessible global land cover product for the year 2020.

Data source

Zanaga, D., Van De Kerchove, R., Daems, D., De Keersmaecker, W., Brockmann, C., Kirches, G., Wevers, J., Cartus, O., Santoro, M., Fritz, S., Lesiv, M., Herold, M., Tsendbazar, N.E., Xu, P., Ramoino, F., Arino, O., 2022. ESA WorldCover 10 m 2021 v200. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7254221  

Data quality

The product underwent independent validation, resulting in an overall accuracy of approximately 75%. Due to the positive reception from users, ESA decided to expand the WorldCover project and tasked the WorldCover consortium with creating an improved version for 2021 with higher quality. The new WorldCover map for 2021 was released on 28th October 2022 and exhibited a global overall accuracy of 76.7%.  As the WorldCover maps for 2020 and 2021 were produced using distinct algorithm versions (v100 and v200, respectively), any differences observed between the maps should be approached with caution. These dissimilarities may stem from genuine alterations in land cover and from changes arising due to the utilization of different algorithms. 

Data format

ESA provides the land cover maps in a raster file format (Cloud Optimized GeoTIFFs (COGs)) in EPSG:4326 projection. Data can be downloaded from here ESA WorldCover 10 m 2021 v200 | Zenodo. 

Availability of data

The ESA WorldCover product is provided free of charge, without restriction of use. 

Content

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger globally and by country and region. Calculated each year in cooperation with the German NGO Welthungerhilfe and the Irish NGO Concern Worldwide, the GHI highlights successes and failures in hunger reduction and provides insights into the drivers of hunger. The GHI wants to raise awareness and understanding of regional and country differences in hunger and aims to trigger actions to reduce hunger. GHI combines three equally weighted indicators in one index number that can however be individually displayed in the maps:

• Undernourishment: the proportion of undernourished as a percentage of the population (reflecting the share of the population with insufficient calorie intake)
• Child underweight: the proportion of children younger than the age of five who are underweight (low weight for age reflecting wasting, stunted growth, or both), which is one indicator of child undernourishment
• Child mortality: the mortality rate of children younger than the age of five (partially reflecting the fatal synergy of inadequate dietary intake and unhealthy environments).

For further information please visit the GHI

Data format

The data data is provided in Excel-Format (.xlsx) and can be downloaded here.

Content

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World reports data for different food security indicators. Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population and Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population were chosen to be visualized in the GRAS Tool.

Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population (PMSFI) shows the percentage of people in the population who live in households classified as moderately or severely food insecure. According to FAO, individual household is categorized as moderately or severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has communicated to have been exposed, at times during the year, to poor quality diets and might have been forced to also reduce the amount of food they would normally eat because of insufficient money or other resources.

Prevalence of severe food insecurity in the population (PSFI): The percentage of people in the population who live in households categorized as severely food insecure. According to FAO, individual household is categorized as severely food insecure when at least one adult in the household has communicated to have been exposed, at times during the year, to several of the most severe experiences explained in the FIES questions, such as to have been forcefully reduce the quantity of the food, to have missed meals, having gone hungry, or having to go for a whole day without eating because of insufficient money or other resources.

For further information please visit the Food and Agriculture Organization and PMSFI, PSFI.

Data source

FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO, 2021

Data format

The data is provided in CSV, Excel and XML format and can be downloaded here (PMSFI) and here (PSFI).

Content

The fire data displayed in GRAS is based on the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) provided by the NASA.  FIRMS has been developed by the University of Maryland with funds from NASA’s Applied Sciences Program and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).  FIRMS distributes near real-time fire products from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) with 1 km spatial resolution. Data is available from the year 2000 until present and is updated daily.

Data source

NASA Near Real-Time and MCD14DL MODIS Active Fire Detections (SHP format). Data set. Available on-line [https://earthdata.nasa.gov/active-fire-data]

Data quality

The MODIS fire product is classified into three confidence classes (high, medium, and low) of the occurrence of fires. Only fires with a high confidence are displayed in the GRAS Tool.  The data shows active fires and other thermal anomalies, such as volcanoes.

Data format

The data is available in ESRI-shapefile, KML, WMS or text file format and can be downloaded here.

Availability of data

„NASA promotes the full and open sharing of all data with the research and applications communities, private industry, academia, and the general public.“

Content

Tree cover is defined structurally as the proportional, vertically projected area of vegetation (including leaves, stems, branches, etc.) of woody plants above a given height. The tree cover layers use Landsat Vegetation Continuous Fields (VCF) to provide approximations of the proportion of the ground covered by woody vegetation taller than 5 meters within each 30-meter pixel. The continuous classification scheme of the VCF product enables better depiction of land cover gradients than traditional discrete classification schemes. This data is derived from the combined information obtained from all seven bands of Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and/or Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+). NASA in association with Global Land Cover Facility Department of Geographical Sciences University of Maryland announced version 4 Tree Canopy Cover (TCC) product which replaced the previous version of global tree canopy cover estimates for 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. These maps give important insights into detection and monitoring of forest changes. 

Data source

Sexton, Joseph & Song, Xiao-Peng & Feng, M. & Noojipady, Praveen & Anand, Anupam & Huang, Chengquan & Kim, Do-Hyung & Collins, Kathrine & Channan, Saurabh & Dimiceli, C. & Townshend, J. (2013). Global, 30-m resolution continuous fields of tree cover: Landsat-based rescaling of MODIS vegetation continuous fields with lidar-based estimates of error. International Journal of Digital Earth. 6. 1-22. 10.1080/17538947.2013.786146. 

Data format

The data is available as a raster file (Geo Tiff) and for convenience at 30m resolution globally here.

Content

Regularly observing and monitoring the height of forests on a significant scale is crucial for accurately assessing carbon emissions linked to forests, studying forest deterioration, and measuring the success of forest restoration initiatives. A team at WHRC (Woodwell Climate Research Center) combined more than 17,000 fine-scale radar images obtained by the Japanese ALOS satellite, with height measurements obtained by lidar on NASA’s ICESat/GLAS mission and developed continuous vegetation height maps for North and South America, Africa, and Asia for the year 2007. WHRC’s pantropic maps are at a spatial resolution of 30 meters and can detect tree heights of up to 15 to 20 meters. This is an improvement over the previously existing vegetation height maps that were at coarser spatial scales. With the finer scales, better texture in the tree height data can be obtained now. The major limitations however listed as incomplete spatial and temporal coverage of lidar data and seasonality.   

Data source

WHRC (deprecated, now Woodwell Climate Research Centre)

Data quality

The pantropic maps are at a spatial resolution of 30 meters and can detect tree heights of up to 15 to 20 meters. The major limitations are incomplete spatial and temporal coverage of lidar data and seasonality.

Data format

Available as a raster file (Geo Tiff) and for convenience at 30m resolution in the pantropic regions.

Availability of data

provided to GRAS by request from original authors.

Content

The Argentinian Federal System of Protected Areas – Sistema Federal de Áreas Protegidas (SIFAP) shows legally protected areas in Argentina. It comprises international designations (Ramsar, Biosphere Reserves) as well as national designations:

Ramsar Sites
Ramsar sites are wetlands as defined in the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance: “wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres”.

Biosphere Reserves
Biosphere reserves included in SIFAP are recognized under UNESCOs Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

National Parks and Reserves
National Parks included in SIFAP are strictly protected and should be maintained in their natural state. National Reserves often serve as buffer zones to National Parks.

Provincial Protected Areas
Each province has specific area designations. The IUCN categories which are assigned to the designations give information about the stringency of protection.

Data Source

Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación, Jefatura de Gabinete de Ministros – Presidencia de  la Nación, Grupo de Trabajo de Areas Protegidas, 2014.

Data quality

The data of Provincial Protected Areas is from 2014. The data of Ramsar Sites, Biosphere Reserves and National Parks and Reserves is from 2013. The data is updated regularly (at least annually). The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

The data is provided to GRAS in shapefile format. On the website of Secretaría de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sustentable de la Nación protected areas can be viewed online.

Availability of data

The Argentinian Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development kindly forwarded the dataset to GRAS and permitted its use in GRAS.

Content

The National Geographic Institute of Argentina (Instituto Geográfico Nacional República Argentina) provides a land cover map named „Coberturas del Suelo“ at a scale of 1: 250,000. On the basis of this map the sustainability-relevant land cover classes, namely natural forest, artificial forest, natural grassland, and peatland, have been extracted and displayed.

Data source

Instituto Geográfico Nacional República Argentina: Sistema de Información Geográfica, Base de datos geográfica „Coberturas del Suelo“, 2013.

Data quality

The land cover map is based on data from 2000 but is updated for the year 2013.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of Instituto Geográfico Nacional at http://www.ign.gob.ar/sig.

Availability of data

The dataset was recommended by the Argentinian Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development. The National Geographic Institute of Argentina does not restrict the use of the dataset, so it was implemented in GRAS.

Content

These National Parks and Reserves are legally protected and included in the Argentinian Federal System of Protected Areas (SIFAP). National Parks are strictly protected and should be maintained in their natural state. National Reserves often serve as buffer zones to National Parks.

Content

These Biosphere reserves are legally protected and included in the Argentinian Federal System of Protected Areas (SIFAP). They are recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

Content

These Provincial Protected Areas are legally protected and included in the Argentinian Federal System of Protected Areas (SIFAP). Each province has specific area designations. The IUCN categories which are assigned to the designations give information about the stringency of protection.

Values for carbon stored within natural biomass (above and below ground) are based on the biomass carbon map of Saatchi et al. 2011 (pixel of 30-arcsec ~900 m )  who derive forest biomass carbon based on a combination of forest height data derived from the ICESAT GLAS Lidar, landscape characteristics from optical and radar satellite imagery, and forest plots distributed over the region (data ~ year 2000). Carbon values for non-natural vegetation are based on the EC guidelines for the calculation of land carbon stocks for the purpose of Annex V to Directive 2009/28/EC and the IPCC 2006:

• Saatchi S, Harris NL, Brown S, Lefsky M, Mitchard ET, Salas W, Zutta BR, Buermann W, Lewis SL, Hagen S, Petrova S, White L, Silman M, Morel A.(2011). Benchmark map of forest carbon stocks in tropical regions across three continents. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A.2011 Jun 14;108(24):9899-904. More information can be found at: http://carbon.jpl.nasa.gov
• European Union (2011). Commission decision of 10 June 2010 on guidelines for the calculation of land carbon stocks for the purpose of Annex V to the Directive 2009/2008/EC.Official Journal of the European Union, L 151, 17 June 2010. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:151:0019:0041:EN:PDF
• IPCC 2006, 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories – Volume 4., Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Eggleston H.S., Buendia L., Miwa K., Ngara T. and Tanabe K. (eds). Hayama : Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2014 provides spatial information about government, indigenous and privately protected areas for continental Australia. The dataset applies the international standard for the definition of protected areas and management categories used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Definitions include the following categories:

• IA Strict Nature Reserve: managed mainly for science;
• IB Wilderness Area: managed mainly for wilderness protection;
• II National Park: managed mainly for ecosystem protection;
• III Natural Monument: managed mainly for conservation of specific natural features;
• IV Habitat / Species Management Area: managed mainly for conservation through management intervention;
• V Protected Landscape / Seascape: managed mainly for landscape/seascape conservation and recreation;
• VI Managed Resource Protected Area: managed mainly for the sustainable use of natural ecosystems.

Data Source

Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) 2014, Commonwealth of Australia. 2014.

Data quality

Data provided were compiled at scales ranging from 1:1,000 (ACT) to 1:500,000 (northern WA). Some data was generated directly from the legal descriptions of the boundaries. All source datasets which were not consistent with the CAPAD standards were corrected by the Australian Government, Department of the Environment.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the Australian Government – Department of the Environment and Energy.

Availability of data

This dataset is available under the CC-BY data licencing model.

Content

The dataset represents the compilation of catchment scale land use data for the states of Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory in Australia, as at December 2018. The catchment scale land use of Australia is a product of the Australian Collaborative Land Use and Management Program (ACLUMP).

The land use is classified according to to the Australian Land Use and Management (ALUM) Classification version 8, a three-tiered hierarchical structure. The primary, secondary and tertiary codes work together to provide increasing levels of detail about the land use.

The primary classes of land use in the ALUM Classification are:

1. Conservation and Natural Environments: Land is used primarily for conservation purposes, based on the maintenance of essentially natural ecosystems already present.
2. Production from Relatively Natural Environments: Land is used mainly for primary production based on limited change to the native vegetation.
3. Production from Dryland Agriculture and Plantations: Land is used mainly for primary production, based on dryland farming systems.
4. Production from Irrigated Agriculture and Plantations: Land is used mainly for primary production, based on irrigated farming.
5. Intensive uses: Land is subject to substantial modification, generally in association with closer residential settlement, commercial or industrial uses.
6. Water: Although primarily land cover types, water features are regarded as essential to the classification.
   Primary and secondary levels relate to the principal land use. Tertiary classes may include additional information on commodity groups, specific commodities, land management practices or vegetation information.

Data source

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment of the Australian Government. This publication (and any material sourced from it) should be attributed as: ABARES 2019, Catchment Scale Land Use of Australia – Update December 2018, ABARES, Canberra, March CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.25814/5c7728700fd2a

Data quality

The date of mapping (2003 to 2018) and scale of mapping (1:5 000 to 1:250 000) vary. Scales range from 1:5 000 and 1:25 000 for irrigated and peri-urban areas, to 1:100 000 for broadacre cropping regions and 1:250 000 for the semi-arid and arid pastoral zone. This information is provided in a supporting polygon dataset on the website. The raster file is compiled at a resolution of 50 meters.

Data format

The datasets of land use of Australia are provided as raster files and can be downloaded on the website of the Australian Government – Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. In order to integrate the data into GRAS, data was transformed into vector file format.Availability of data

Data are freely available to the public on the website of the Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.

Content

This layer shows protected areas in Australia classified according to IUCN categories (here: IUCN categories I-III). The database called CAPAD is provided by the Australian Governemnt and contains data from state and territory Governments and other protected area managers.

Content

This layer shows protected areas in Australia classified according to IUCN categories (here: IUCN categories IV-VI). The database called CAPAD is provided by the Australian government and contains data from state and territory Governments and other protected area managers

Content

The map displays the crop specific GHG values for cultivation of canola as reported by the government of Australia to the EU Commission and published by the European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2356. The values displayed in this map are given in g CO₂eq/MJ FAME and t CO₂eq/t canola seed on dry matter basis. For certification processes under EU RED, the total value in t CO₂eq/t canola seed on dry matter basis should be used. In Australia the closest statistical regions to the description of NUTS2 regions are states. Estimates of greenhouse gas emissions were therefore undertaken at this level.

Despite thorough research and analysis, GRAS takes no liability for the correctness and accuracy of the contents.

Data source

European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2356.

Data quality

The borders of the areas can be clearly identified on a small scale. The map gets updated according to the publication of new data by the EU Commission.

Data format

GHG values are published by the European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2356. Values were assigned as shape-file attributes to a political map of Australia.

Availability of data

GHG values are published by the European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2356 and publicly available here.

Content

The dataset details the Declared Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) across Australia through the implementation of the Indigenous Protected Areas Programme. The boundaries are not legally binding. An Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) is an area of Indigenous-owned land or sea where traditional Indigenous owners have entered into an agreement with the Australian Government to promote biodiversity and cultural resource conservation. The Indigenous Protected Areas element of the Caring for our Country initiative supports Indigenous communities to manage their land as IPAs, contributing to the National Reserve System. Further information can be found here.

Data quality

2014

Source

Australian Government Department of the Environment, 2014.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Belarus includes the following designations of protected areas: National Park, State Nature Reserve, Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, Nature Sanctuary or Partial Reserve, World Heritage Site (natural or mixed).

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The National System of Units of Conservation – Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação da Natureza (SNUC) comprises nationally designated protected areas which are called units of conservation. The federal units of conservation are divided into two large groups according to their strictness of protection: Full protection and sustainable use.

National Full Protection Area
This category of national protected areas has as a primary purpose the reconciliation of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. These areas aim to ensure continuity of renewable natural resources considering ecologically, socially, and economically viability in a long term. The following designations belong to this category:

• Ecological Station
• Biological Reserve
• National Park
• Natural Monument
• Wildlife Refuge

National Sustainable Use Area
This category of national protected areas is designated to retain natural areas and preserve them, wherever possible, from human interference. As a rule, only indirect use of natural resources is allowed, i.e. those that do not involve consumption, collection, damage or destruction. The following designations belong to this category:

• Environmental Protection Area
• Area of Relevant Ecological Interest
• National Forest
• Extractive Reserve
• Fauna Reserve
• Sustainable Development Area
• Private Reserve of Natural Heritage

Private Reserve of Natural Heritage
Private Reserve of Natural Heritage is a protected area created by landowner’s initiative. The main objective of these areas is to conserve biodiversity while ownership of the land remains with the landowners. In this modality of unit of conservation only scientific research and visitation with tourist, recreation, and educational objectives are permitted.

Data source

ICMBIO (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade) – Ministério do Meio Ambiente

Data quality

The data of National Full Protection Areas, National Sustainable Use Areas and Private Reserves of Natural Heritage is from 2012. Data is updated regularly. The designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be donwloaded on the website of ICMBIO or on the website of the Ministry of Environment MMA.

Availability of data

The data was acquired and provided to GRAS by courtesy of our advisor TNC Brazil.

Content

Forests, natural or planted, located in different Brazilian biomes and under the control of the federal government, states, municipalities, the Federal District or indirect administration bodies. The management of the forests focusses on sustainable production considering the protection of ecosystems, soil, water, biodiversity and associated cultural values.

Content

PROBIO (Projeto de Conservação e Utilização Sustentável da Diversidade Biológica Brasileira) is a mapping process to identify important areas for biodiversity conservation for each Brazilian biome (Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest and Pampas, Coastal and Marine). The process was organized by the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and several experts and organizations from different areas of knowledge (science, social and economic) were involved in the process. The analyses were based on systematic conservation planning principles involving standardized procedures, such as conservation target and goal definition. The final output of this process is a compiled map of important areas for biodiversity conservation. In this map each delimited area has a specific level of priority for biodiversity conservation: Extremely high, very high and high.

Data source

Ministério do Meio Ambiente (MMA): Revisão Áreas Prioritárias para Conservação da Biodiversidade (prioridade de ação) – 2007

Data quality

The current PROBIO map is from 2007. The first mapping process began in 2000 and the resulting “Priority Areas for Conservation, Sustainable Use and Benefit Sharing of Brazilian Biodiversity” were institutionalized in 2004. Due to new biological findings, a revision process took place and the new results were published in 2007. The areas in the PROBIO map have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

PROBIO data is provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded at http://mapas.mma.gov.br/i3geo/datadownload.htm

Availability of data

The data was acquired from the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and provided to GRAS by courtesy of our advisor TNC Brazil.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Indigenous Areas are part of national territory owned by Brazilian Government and are inhabited by one or more indigenous people. These areas are essential for the physical and cultural reproduction of indigenous people according to their uses, customs and traditions. Federal Government owns these lands but is not allowed to sell neither purchase it. Indigenous lands are not created by a constitutive act; the administrative demarcation of indigenous lands is rather of declaratory nature. However, the indigenous peoples hold the original law and the exclusive land use right of the lands they traditionally occupy and the lands are recognized under the Federal Constitution of 1988.

Date of Content

2013

Source

FUNAI (Fundaçao Nacional do Índio) – Ministério da Justiça

Quilombola communities are ethnic and racial groups, predominantly constituted by rural or urban black population, which define themselves as of their relationships with the land, kinship, territory, ancestry, traditions and own cultural practices. They are endowed with specific territorial relations because of their black ancestry related to the resistance to historical oppression. The national land planning institute INCRA (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária) holds the competence for the delimitation of the lands of Quilombo communities, as well as for the determination of their boundaries and titles.

Date of Content

2013

Source

INCRA (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária) – Ministério do Desenvolvimento Agrário

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Burundi includes the following designations of protected areas: National Park, Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, Nature Monument, Nature Reserve, Protected Landscapes.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Burundi refers to the year 2015. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Data source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

The data on Acute Food Insecurity is published by FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) in its dataset “Food Security Classifications Data”. The sub-national dataset classifies the food insecurity severity into five classes as follows: 1) Minimal, 2) Stressed, 3) Crisis, 4) Emergency and 5) Famine.

The data is published four times per year as an outlook report including near and medium term projections, and is updated on a monthly basis. Near term projections refer to the time period until the next main report (February, June or October of each year). Medium term projections refer to the time period between the next and after next main report release.

Since March 2011, FEWS NET has used the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Version 2.0, a five-level scale for classifying food insecurity severity. FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible: the analysis adheres to key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners of FEWS NET.

Date of Content

December 2017

Source

FEWS NET food security classification data is available for download as regional GIS shapefiles and images. Latest and historical datasets can be downloaded here

Content

The Conservation Areas Reporting and Tracking System (CARTS) is a database provided by the Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA) that contains spatial and attribution data about Canadian protected areas. Protected Areas are defined and classified according to the international IUCN standards agreed to by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In GRAS the protected areas are grouped and displayed according to their IUCN categories: Canada’s Protected Areas IUCN I-III and Canada’s Protected Areas IUCN IV-VI.
CARTS data are from federal, provincial and territorial governments, and some non-government organisations that own, administer, and/or manage areas for the protection of biodiversity using legal or other effective means. The Canadian Council on Ecological Areas (CCEA), which administers CARTS, is a non-profit organization and fulfils the role for the reporting of Canada‘s protected areas.

Data source

Canadian Council on Ecological Areas, 2013

Data quality

The current CARTS dataset is from end 2013. Data is updated at least annually but usually on a six month cycle. The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of CCEA.

Availability of data

GRAS uses CARTS data in agreement with CCEA.

The Peatlands of Canada database was developed in 2005 (Tarnocai et al., 2005) by updating the 2000 version of the database (Tarnocai et al., 2000) using new spatial and site data together with updated information from the peatland component of the Soil Organic Carbon Database (Tarnocai and Lacelle, 1996). The Soil Landscapes of Canada database was the primary source of information for the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, the Yukon, and parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Information for the Prairie Provinces was obtained primarily from Vitt et al. (1995), Halsey and Vitt (1997), Halsey et al. (1997), and Vitt et al. (2000). The database contains information about peatlands in Canada and total organic carbon content in kg/m².

Peatlands of Canada
Peatlands are defined as wetlands with massive deposits of peat that are at least 40 cm thick including the four classes of peat – bog, fen, swamp or marsh. Peatlands are dominant features of the Canadian landscape and cover approximately 13% of the land area. These peatlands are essential to the global environment because they retain, purify and deliver fresh water, store carbon, absorb pollutants and support numerous species of plants and wildlife, many of them are identified as endangered. The peatland map integrated in GRAS marks any area with a peatland percentage higher than 80%. The peat deposit in Canada has highly variable thickness. Some areas with a large extent of peatlands, could be associated with shallow peat (< 1m). For these peatlands, the TOCC (kg/m²) is small. This is why, the Total Organic Carbon Content map and the Peatlands of Canada map do not define the same areas as being relevant carbon storages.

Total Organic Carbon Content in Soil
The total organic carbon content of one polygon is a measure of the average amount of soil organic carbon of the total depth of the soil found in the land area of a soil landscape polygon. Soil landscape polygons represent particular soil and landform features and are the most detailed spatial entities within the ecological hierarchy employed in Canada (National Soil Database, 1996). The soil organic carbon contents (OCC) were calculated using data on peat thickness (T), bulk density (BD) and organic carbon (C%). The data were entered in three layers based on information in the database. The first layer represents the uppermost 0 to 25 cm for fens and marshes and 0 to 50 cm for bogs and swamps. The second layer is the remaining basal peat and the third is the organic-rich mineral layer underlying the basal peat. The OCC was then calculated for each layer using the formula OCC = C% x BD x T. For the surface organic carbon content (SOCC) T = 30 cm, for 0-100 cm (MOCC) T = 100, and for the total organic carbon content (TOCC) T is the total depth of the three layers. Each of these values was aggregated for each peat polygon in the database:

• Tarnocai, C., I.M. Kettles and B. Lacelle. 2011. Peatlands of Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 6561 (digital database). Download at Natural Resources Canada

Content

The map displays the crop specific GHG values for cultivation of canola as reported by Canada to the EU Commission and published by the European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2379. The values displayed in this map are given in g CO₂eq/MJ FAME and kg CO₂eq/dry-ton. For certification processes under EU RED, the total value in t CO₂eq/dry-ton should be used. A RU (Reconciliation Unit) is the smallest spatial unit at which activity data from the different sources (Such as AAFC-Agriculture and AgriFood – Canada, Canadian Government and Canadian Forest Service) can be harmonized. RUs are AAFC Reporting Zones subdivided by provincial boundaries. A RU is therefore within a single Province. The RUs in Canada fulfill the administrative and population requirements of the NUTS2 concept for regional GHG values.

Despite thorough research and analysis, GRAS takes no liability for the correctness and accuracy of the contents.

Data source

European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2379.

Data quality

The borders of the areas can be clearly identified on a small scale. The map gets updated according to the publication of new data by the EU Commission.

Data format

GHG values are published by the European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2379. Values were assigned as shape-file attributes to the map of the Reconciliation Units of Canada.

Availability of data

GHG values are published by the European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2379 and publicly available here.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of China includes the following designations of protected areas: ‘Protected Area’, ‘Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance’, ‘Scenic Area’, ‘UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve’ and ‘World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)’.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC

Content

GRAS displays protected areas in Colombia as delivered by Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia (PNNC), by IUCN category. Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia is the national authority in charge of the administration and management of the Systems of National Natural Parks and of the coordination of the National System of Protected Areas. IUCN categories include the respective national system categories:

IUCN category I:

• Natural Reserve

IUCN category II:

• National Natural Park
• Regional Natural Park

IUCN category III:

• Road Park
• Unique Natural Park

IUCN category IV:

• Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
• Flora Sanctuary
• Wildlife Sanctuary

IUCN category V:

• Recreation Area

IUCN category VI:

• National Integrated Management District
• Regional Integrated Management District
• National Protective Forest Reserve
• Regional Protective Forest Reserve
• Natural Reserve of the Civil Society
• Soil Conservation District

Data source

Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, 2017.

Data quality

The quality of these data may vary depending on the original source.

Data format

Data was provided directly by Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. Single shapefiles are also provided through the online platform RUNAP. (http://runap.parquesnacionales.gov.co/)

Availability of data

GRAS implemented the dataset with the explicit allowance of Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The map contains information on “Resguardos Indígenas” of Colombia, in recognition of the indigenous communities resident in the legally constituted safeguards. The dataset was provided by the Sistema de Información Geográfica para la Planeación y el Ordenamiento Territorial of the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi, Colombia.

Date of content

2016

Source

Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi, Colombia

Content

The map contains information on Collective Territories of Black Communities (Territorios Colectivos de Comunidades Negras – TCCN) of Colombia. From the Colombian Constitution of 1991 and Law 70 of 1993, the black communities were granted the right to set up Collective Territories (TCCN), in previously occupied uncultivated lands, duly demarcated and recognized by titling in order that they can fully exercise their rights and advance their traditional practices of coexistence and production. The dataset was provided by the Sistema de Información Geográfica para la Planeación y el Ordenamiento Territorial of the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi, Colombia.

Date of content

2016

Source

Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi, Colombia

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Colombia refers to the year 2015. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

National System of Conservation Areas (Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación – SINAC) is an agency of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones- MINAET), which provides information about the protected wild areas of the country. These areas have been declared as such because of their special significance for their ecosystems, the existence of endangered species, the impact on reproduction and other needs, and their historical and cultural significance. These areas are dedicated to the conservation and protection of biodiversity, soil, water resources, cultural resources and ecosystem services in general.

SINAC includes 11 categories:

• Forest Reserves
• Protective Zones
• National Parks
• Biological Reserves
• National Wildlife Refuges
• State-owned refuges
• Privately owned refuges
• Mixed ownership refuges
• Wetlands
• Natural Monuments
• Marine Reserves
• Marine Management Areas

Data Source

National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), 2019. Protected Wild Areas of Costa Rica 2019. Status: Complete.

Data quality

The Data of the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) is updated to the year 2019 scale 1:50.000.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be acquired from the National System of Conservation Areas on the website http://www.sinac.go.cr/ES/asp/Paginas/default.aspx

Availability of data

The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) permitted the use of the visualized datasets in GRAS.

Content

The National Wetland Inventory identify and delimit, cartographically, the wetland ecosystems located in the continental territory, covering the marsh, lake and estuary systems in the period between 2016 and 2018.

Data quality

Updated in 2018, Scale: 1:50.000

Content

“The National Program of Biological Corridors is established in Costa Rica as a product of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor initiative, which was conceived and organized to provide environmental goods and services to Mesoamerican and global society, seeking social consensus to promote the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources, and thus contribute to improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of the region.

Data quality

Updated in 2017, Scale: 1:50.000

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

This theme brings together the boundaries of geographical areas that are clearly defined, recognized, dedicated and managed by any effective means, legal or otherwise, in order to ensure the long-term conservation of nature as well as ecosystem services and cultural values associated. Protected areas are established in the state forest domain or other sites of national, provincial or local interest and include: 1) Natural Reserves; 2) National Parks; 3) Natural Monuments; 4) Habitats or Species Management Areas; 5) Biosphere Reserves; 6) Protected Land or Sea Landscapes; 7) Zoological and Botanical Gardens; 8) Hunting Areas and Reserves; (9) any other category that special laws and regulations designate for the conservation of species of fauna and flora, soil, water bodies, mountains or other natural habitats. These areas are managed mainly by Law No. 14/003 of 11 February 2014 on nature conservation. This dataset is produced by the ICCN with the support of the Central African Forest Observatory (OFAC) within the framework of the FORAF project. The WRI / CARPE Project used this layer to produce the Forest Atlas of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Data Source

Protected areas: Data published by the Forest Atlas of DRC, downloaded on January 20, 2017.

Data quality

The original data comes from various sources including official documents (public notice, creation decree), GPS data and satellite imagery. The quality of these data may vary depending on the source. This layer does not guarantee the full presence of all protected areas in the DRC. It includes the protected areas from which the provider was able to obtain both the GIS and administrative boundaries supported by an official creation text.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded from the Forest Atlas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Availability of data

Forest Atlas of the Democratic Republic of Congo permitted its use in GRAS.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The map contains areas populated by indigenous people in DRC, according to Dynamique des Groupes des Peuples Autochtones (DGPA).

Date of content

2012

Source

Dynamique des Groupes des Peuples Autochtones (DGPA), 2012
Download source: Moabi DRC

Content

The data on Acute Food Insecurity is published by FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) in its dataset “Food Security Classifications Data”. The sub-national dataset classifies the food insecurity severity into five classes as follows: 1) Minimal, 2) Stressed, 3) Crisis, 4) Emergency and 5) Famine.

The data is published four times per year as an outlook report including near and medium term projections, and is updated on a monthly basis. Near term projections refer to the time period until the next main report (February, June or October of each year). Medium term projections refer to the time period between the next and after next main report release.

Since March 2011, FEWS NET has used the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Version 2.0, a five-level scale for classifying food insecurity severity. FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible: the analysis adheres to key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners of FEWS NET.

Date of Content

December 2017

Source

FEWS NET food security classification data is available for download as regional GIS shapefiles and images. Latest and historical datasets can be downloaded here

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of El Salvador includes the following designations of protected areas: National Park, Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, Habitat Management Area, Natural Area, Protected Area, Protected Area with Managed Resources, UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Ethiopia includes the following designations of protected areas: ‘Controlled Hunting Area’, ‘National Forest Priority Area’, ‘National Park’, ‘Sanctuary’, ‘Wildlife Reserve’, ‘UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve’, ‘World Heritage Site’.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Ethiopia refers to the year 2015. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Data source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

The data on Acute Food Insecurity is published by FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) in its dataset “Food Security Classifications Data”. The sub-national dataset classifies the food insecurity severity into five classes as follows: 1) Minimal, 2) Stressed, 3) Crisis, 4) Emergency and 5) Famine.

The data is published four times per year as an outlook report including near and medium term projections, and is updated on a monthly basis. Near term projections refer to the time period until the next main report (February, June or October of each year). Medium term projections refer to the time period between the next and after next main report release.

Since March 2011, FEWS NET has used the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Version 2.0, a five-level scale for classifying food insecurity severity. FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible: the analysis adheres to key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners of FEWS NET.

Date of Content

December 2017

Source

FEWS NET food security classification data is available for download as regional GIS shapefiles and images. Latest and historical datasets can be downloaded here

Content

The data on Acute Food Insecurity is published by FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) in its dataset “Food Security Classifications Data”. The sub-national dataset classifies the food insecurity severity into five classes as follows: 1) Minimal, 2) Stressed, 3) Crisis, 4) Emergency and 5) Famine.

The data is published four times per year as an outlook report including near and medium term projections, and is updated on a monthly basis. Near term projections refer to the time period until the next main report (February, June or October of each year). Medium term projections refer to the time period between the next and after next main report release.

Since March 2011, FEWS NET has used the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Version 2.0, a five-level scale for classifying food insecurity severity. FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible: the analysis adheres to key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners of FEWS NET.

Data source

FEWS NET food security classification data is available for download as regional GIS shapefiles and images. Latest and historical datasets can be downloaded here. – https://fews.net/fews-data/333

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

Natura 2000 is an ecological network composed of sites designated under the Birds Directive (Special Protection Areas) and the Habitats Directive (Sites of Community Importance and Special Areas of Conservation). Special Protection Areas serve the conservation of all species of naturally occurring birds in the wild state.

Content

Natura 2000 is an ecological network composed of sites designated under the Birds Directive (Special Protection Areas) and the Habitats Directive (Sites of Community Importance and Special Areas of Conservation). Special Areas of Conservation serve the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora listed in annex I and II of the Habitats Directive.

Content

National Parks are large, largely unfragmented and have special characteristics. They fulfil the requirements for a nature conservation area in the greater part of their territory and have not been affected by human intervention at all, or to a limited extent only. They shall be developed into a state that ensures the undisturbed progression of natural processes in their natural dynamics.

Content

Areas in which the special protection of nature and landscape as a whole, or of individual parts thereof, is required in order to conserve, develop or restore living sites, biotopes or communities of certain species of wild fauna and flora, for reasons of science, natural history or national heritage, or because of their rarity, special characteristics or outstanding beauty.

Content

Biosphere Reserves are large and are typical representatives of certain landscape types. They serve the primary purpose of conserving, developing or restoring landscapes, shaped by traditional, diverse forms of use, along with their species and biotope diversity as evolved over time. They illustrate ways of developing and testing forms of economic activity that are especially conserving of natural resources.

Content

Areas which require special protection in order to conserve, develop or restore the efficiency and proper functioning of the natural balance, or the capability of natural resources to regenerate themselves, and to protect living sites and habitats of certain wild fauna and flora species. The also may need protection because of the diversity, special characteristics, beauty or cultural-historical significance of their landscapes, or because of their special importance for recreation.

Content

Nature Parks are large in size and consist mainly of landscape protection areas or nature conservation areas. They need to be developed and managed in a consistent way and serve the conservation, development or restoration of landscapes characterised by diverse uses, and of such landscapes’ species and biotope diversity. They are particularly well-suited for recreational purposes as well as the promotion of sustainable tourism and sustainable regional development.

Content

The map shows historical forests of Germany. These are defined as forests, which since at least 200 years are more or less continuously covered with forest. This is not dependent from the actual age of their current tillering because deforestation and reforestation are allowed. Smaller younger forest sites may be included. The lower limit of detection is about 50 ha.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) is a public entity in change of The Guatemala Protected Areas System (SIGAP). It provides spatial and attribute information regarding to protected areas to achieve the objectives of conservation, rehabilitation and protection of the biological diversity and natural resources of Guatemala.

SIGAP includes the following categories:

IUCN Category I:

• Biological Reserve
• National Park

IUCN Category II:

• Cultural Monument
• Protected Biotope

IUCN Category III:

• Multiple Use Areas
• Municipal Forest Reserve
• Springs Protective Forest Reserve
• Springs Protective Reserve
• Water and Forest Reserve
• Wildlife Refuge

IUCN Category IV:

• Municipal Regional Park
• Municipal Natural Recreational Park
• Regional Park and Recreational Natural Area

IUCN Category V:

• Private Natural Reserve

IUCN Category VI:

• Biosphere Reserve

No IUCN Category:

• Final Veda Zone (Fishing restrictions)

Data Source

Geospatial Analysis Direction of The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), 2017

Data quality

The Data of Guatemala Protected Areas System (SIGAP) is from February 2017. Data is updated regularly by Geospatial Analysis Direction of The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP). The designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be obtained from The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP).

Availability of data

The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) permitted the use of the visualized datasets in GRAS.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The data on Acute Food Insecurity is published by FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) in its dataset “Food Security Classifications Data”. The sub-national dataset classifies the food insecurity severity into five classes as follows: 1) Minimal, 2) Stressed, 3) Crisis, 4) Emergency and 5) Famine.

The data is published four times per year as an outlook report including near and medium term projections, and is updated on a monthly basis. Near term projections refer to the time period until the next main report (February, June or October of each year). Medium term projections refer to the time period between the next and after next main report release.

Since March 2011, FEWS NET has used the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Version 2.0, a five-level scale for classifying food insecurity severity. FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible: the analysis adheres to key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners of FEWS NET.

Date of Content

December 2017

Source

FEWS NET food security classification data is available for download as regional GIS shapefiles and images. Latest and historical datasets can be downloaded here

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Guatemala refers to the year 2017. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Data source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

The map contains the areas populated by indigenous people according to “Dynamique des Groupes des Peuple Autochtones (DGPA)”.

Content

The National Institute of Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF – Instituto Nacional de Conservacion y Desarrollo Forestal, Areas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre) is the public entity in Honduras in charge of guaranteeing the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems, through the application of policy and regulations and encouraging investment and participation. The Department of Protected Areas (DAP) of the ICF is responsible for the administration of the Protected Areas of the country and promotes, strengthens and consolidates the National System of Protected Areas (SINAPH). To date, the country has a total of 91 protected areas covering approximately 5 million hectares; of these 68 areas are officially established and 23 are in the process of being declared by the national congress. The database includes the core part of the protected areas as well as, were available, their buffer zones. Protected areas include beneath others Biological Reserves, National Park, Marine National Park, Natural Monument, Marine Natural Monument.

Data source

National Institute of Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF – Instituto Nacional de Conservacion y Desarrollo Forestal, Areas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre).

Data quality

The data of National Full Protection Areas, National Sustainable Use Areas and Private Reserves of Natural Heritage is from 13 July 2017. Data is updated regularly. The designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be obtained from The National Institute of Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF – Instituto Nacional de Conservacion y Desarrollo Forestal, Areas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre) here.

Availability of data

The National Institute of Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF – Instituto Nacional de Conservacion y Desarrollo Forestal, Areas Protegidas y Vida Silvestre) permitted the use of the visualized datasets in GRAS.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Honduras refers to the year 2018. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Data source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of India includes the following designations of protected areas: Marine National Park, National Park, Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, Sanctuary, Game Reserve, Conservation Reserve, Closed Area, UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site (natural or mixed), Not Reported and Other Area

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Directorate of Environmental and Forestry Spatial Planning of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry provides maps comprising land cover classes and information about designated areas:

• Primary Forest: Primary forests are forests that have attained great age without significant disturbance and thereby exhibit unique ecological features. Old-growth features include diverse tree-related structures that provide diverse wildlife habitat that increases the biodiversity of the forested ecosystem.
• Primary Forest, Reserved Forest
• Protected Forest: A protected forest area has as its principal function the protection of ecosystems services to manage the water, preventing floods, controlling erosion, preventing sea water intrusion, and maintain soil fertility.
• Production Forest: Production forest should be maintained as forest area and serves to generate consumption of forest products for the benefit of the community, industry and export. This forest is usually located within the boundaries of a concession (HPH licensed) and managed to produce timber. With proper management, logging level is offset by the planting and forest re-growth that continues to produce sustainable timber. In practical terms, the forests in the concession area is often excessive and sometimes logged cleared.
• Limited Production Forest: Limited Production Forest is a forest that can only be exploited by means of selective logging. Limited Production Forest are meant for timber production with low intensity. This limited production forests are generally located in the mountainous region where steep slopes complicate logging operation.
• Convertible Production Forest: Convertible Production Forests are designated for long-term non-forestry uses e.g. conversion for estate crops, smallholdings, future agricultural use.
• Nature Reserve Area and Nature Conservation: A nature reserve comprises forests with a particular characteristic, which has as a principal function the conservation of plant and animal diversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services.
• Nature Reserve Area and Marine Nature Conservation: Nature Reserves designated to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services including marine and coastal areas.
• Peatland: Nature Reserves designated to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services including marine and coastal areas. This layer is displayed in the Indonesian Carbon Stock section of the GRAS tool.

The Directorate of Environmental and Forestry Spatial Planning of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry has identified critical areas inside protected forest areas as well as on cultivation areas. The criticality is related to the degree of degradation of the land. Very critical areas are already highly degraded so that they cannot maintain their productivity or the provision of ecosystem services. The parameters to classify critical areas inside protected forest areas are based on vegetation density (weighting 5 %), slope (weighting 20%), erosion rate (weighted 20%), and land management (weighting 10%). The parameterst o classify critical areas on cultivation areas are based on productivity of the land productivity (weighting 30%) , slope (weighting 20%), erosion rate (weighting 15%), rock outcrop (5%), and land management (weighting 30%). The critical areas are classified according to five different classes of criticality:

• Not critical
• Critical potential
• Moderately critical
• Critical
• Very critical

Additionally, the Directorate of Environmental and Forestry Spatial Planning of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry has created two different land cover map in the years 2009 and 2011 which divide the country into: Primary dryland forest, secondary dryland forest, primary mangrove forest, secondary mangrove forest, primary swamp forest, secondary swamp forest, plantation forest, swamp shrub, bush/shrub, drylands agriculture, shurb-mixed dryland farm, rice field, fish pond, estate crop plantation, settlement area, transmigration area, barren land, cloud covered, grassland, mining area.

Data source

Directorate of Environmental and Forestry Spatial Planning of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Data quality

The land cover map is from 2009 and 2011. It is based on Landsat 7 ETM and has a resolution of 30 meters. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level.

Data format

The datasets of Land Cover and Critical Areas are provided as kml files and can be downloaded on the website of the Directorate of Environmental and Forestry Spatial Planning of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. In order to integrate the data into GRAS, data was transformed into vector file format.

Availability of data

Data are freely available to the public on the website of the Directorate of Environmental and Forestry Spatial Planning of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Content

The map shows a modelled orangutan spatial distribution for Borneo and Sumatra. The map was prepared based on species occurrence samples as well as contextual layers. The contextual layers included climatic, topographic, soil, above ground carbon stock, land cover and road density maps.

In Borneo, the modelled orangutan distribution map covers 155,106 km² (21% of Borneo’s landmass) and shows four main distinct distribution areas:

• Sabah and the north-eastern region of East Kalimantan where P. p. morio occurs
• The southern and central East Kalimantan area where P. p. morio also occurs
• The Central Kalimantan and south-western part of West Kalimantan area where P. p. wurmbii occurs
• The northern part of West Kalimantan and southern part of Sarawak where P. p. pygmaeus is found

The largest area of orangutan distribution in Borneo is found in Central Kalimantan, followed by West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Sabah, Sarawak, and South Kalimantan.

In Sumatra, the modelled orang-utan distribution map covers 17,797 km².

Data source

Wich SA, Gaveau D, Abram N, Ancrenaz M, Baccini A, et al. (2012) Understanding the mpacts of Land-Use Policies on a Threatened Species: Is There a Future for the Bornean Orang-utan? PLoS ONE 7(11): e49142. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049142

S. A. Wich, I. Singleton, M. G. Nowak, S. S. Utami Atmoko, G. Nisam, S. M. Arif, R. H. Putra, R. Ardi, G. Fredriksson, G. Usher, D. L. A. Gaveau, H. S. Ku?hl, Land-cover changes predict steep declines for the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). Sci. Adv. 2, e1500789 (2016)

Data quality

The map shows current modelled orang-utan spatial distribution for the year 2013 in Borneo and for the year 2011 in Sumatra. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The data were provided to GRAS in shapefile format by the author.

Availability of data

GRAS is displaying the data in agreement with the author.

Content

The map is composed by three different datasets:

• Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Terai Arc Landscape Corridors

Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TLCs) are defined as large blocks of connected tiger habitat that can support at least five tigers and where tiger presence had been confirmed in the past 10 years. The dataset was produced by combining data on land cover, tiger occurance and a human influence index.

Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes displays TLCs that could double the wild tiger population through proper conservation and management by 2020.

The Terai Arc Landscape Corridors  dataset displays 9 forest corridors on the Nepalese side of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL). Corridors are defined as existing forests connecting current Royal Bengal tiger meta-populations in Nepal and India.

Data source

Tiger Conservation Landscapes: Dinerstein, E., Loucks, C.J., Wikramanayake, E., Ginsberg, J., Sanderson, E., Seidensticker, J., Forrest, J.L., Bryja, G., Heydlauff, A., Klenzendorf, S., Mills, J, O’Brien, T., Shrestha, M, Simons, R., Songer, M. 2007. “The fate of wild tigers.” BioScience 57 (June 2007): 508-14.

Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes: Wikramanayake, E., Dinerstein, E., Seidensticker, J., Lumpkin, S., Pandav, B., Shrestha, M., Mishra, H., Ballou, J., Johnsingh, A.J.T., Chestin, I., Sunarto, S., Thinley, P., Thapa, K., Jiang, G., Elagupillay, S., Kafley, H., Pradhan, N.M.B., Jigme, K., Teak, S., Cutter, P., Aziz, Md. A., Than, U. 2011. A landscape-based conservation strategy to double the wild tiger population. Conservation Letters, 4 (3):219-227.

Terai Arc Landscape corridors: Wikramanayake, E., M. McNight, E. Dinerstein, A. Joshi, B. Gurung, D. Smith. 2004. Designing a Conservation Landscape for Tigers in Human-Dominated Environments. Conservation Biology (18):839-844.

WWF and RESOLVE. “Tiger Conservation Landscapes.” Accessed through Global Forest Watch on November 4^th 2016. www.globalforestwatch.org

Data quality

The three datasets referes to the following years:

• Tiger Conservation Landscapes: 2000
• Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes: 2011
• Terai Arc Landscape Corridors: 2014

The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level.

Data format

The data were downloaded from the Global Forest Watch website:

• Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Terai Arc Landscape Corridors

Availability of data

The data are available under a CC BY 4.0.

For determining the different land cover classes, the land cover map of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry (Direktorat Jenderal Planologi Kehutanan, Kementerian Kehutanan Republik Indonesia) is used. It is based on Landsat 7 ETM and has a resolution of 30 meters.
The Ministry of Forestry land cover map is available at http://webgis.dephut.go.id/ditplanjs/index.html.

Values on biomass carbon in Indonesia were taken from several scientific sources:

• Lasco, R.D. and Suson, P.D.,. (1999). A Leucaena Leucocephala -based indigenous fallow system in central Philippines: the Naalad system. Intl Tree Crops Journal 10: 161-174.
• Murdiyarso, D. and Wasrin, U.R.(1995). Estimating land-use change and carbon release from tropical forests conversion using remote sensing technique. J. of Biogeography 22: 715-721.
• Noordwijk, M., Hairiah, K. & Sitompul, S.M., (2000). Reducing uncertainties in the assessment at national scale of C stock impacts of land-use change. In D.B. Macandog, ed. Proc. IGES/NIES Workshop on GHG Inventories for Asia-Pacific Region, pp. 150-163. Hayama, Japan, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
• Donato, D. C., Kauffman, J. B., Murdiyarso, D., Kurnianto, S., Stidham, M. & Kanninen, M. (2011) Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics. Nature Geoscience, 4, 293-297.
• Prasetyo,L.B., Murdiyarso,D., Rosalina,U, Genya,  S., Tsuruta, H., Okamoto, K., Shigehiro, I., Shingo, U.,. (2000). Analysis of land-use changes and greenhouse gas emission (GHG) using geographical information system (GIS) technologies. Paper presented in the Workshop on Improving Land-use/cover change and greenhouse gas emission biophysical data. Institute Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia. 16 December 2000.
• Sitompul, SM and Hairiah, K., (2000). Biomass measurement of homegarden. Paper presented at the Workshop on LUCC and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Biophysical Data. Institute Pertanian Bogor, Indonesia. 16 December 2000.
• Gintings, A.N. (2000). The progress of establishing cinnamon and candlenut demonstration plots in Jambi and their potential to absorb carbon. Paper presented in the Science and Policy Workshop on Terrestrial Carbon and Possible Trading under the CDM. IC-SEA, BIOTROP, Bogor, Indonesia. 27 February-1 March 2000.
• Lasco, R.D., Pulhin, F.B. (2004). 8 Carbon budgets of tropical forest ecosystems in Southeast Asia: implications for climate change. In: Proceedings of the workshop on forests for poverty reduction: opportunities with CDM, environmental services and biodiversity. RAP Publication FAO.Nr.  2004/22 http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/ae537e/ae537e00.htm
• IPCC 2006, 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories – Volume 4., Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Eggleston H.S., Buendia L., Miwa K., Ngara T. and Tanabe K. (eds). Hayama : Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
• Asia Pacific Network of Global Change Network (APN) (2001). Land Use Change and the Terrestrial Carbon Cycle in Asia. Workshop,  29th January 2001 – 1st February 2001. Kobe, Japan. http://www.apn-gcr.org/resources/archive/files/239d5a2c4d7d386af7aba40b92bbcf51.pdf
• European Union (2011). Commission decision of 10 June 2010 on guidelines for the calculation of land carbon stocks for the purpose of Annex V to the Directive 2009/2008/EC.Official Journal of the European Union, L 151, 17 June 2010.

The Harmonized World Soil Database is used in the version provided by the European Commission Joint Research Centre – European Soil Portal:

• FAO/IIASA/ISRIC/ISS-CAS/JRC, 2012. Harmonized World Soil Database (version 1.2). FAO, Rome, Italy and IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria. http://webarchive.iiasa.ac.at/Research/LUC/External-World-soil-database/HTML/
• European Commission Joint Research Centre – European Soil Portal – Soil Data and Information Systems – Support to the Renewable Energy Directive. http://eusoils.jrc.ec.europa.eu/projects/RenewableEnergy/

Values on soil carbon and related land use factors were taken from the IPCC 2006:

• IPCC 2006, 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories – Volume 4., Prepared by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventories Programme, Eggleston H.S., Buendia L., Miwa K., Ngara T. and Tanabe K. (eds). Hayama: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The layer shows total carbon in above and below ground biomass and carbon stored in the first 30 centimeters of the soil in ton carbon per hectare (tC/ha). It was calculated based on the land cover map of the Indonesian Ministry of Forest, the biomass carbon map of Saatchi et al. 2011 and the IPCC soil classification.

Content

Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. Indonesia has large areas of peatland that hold significant amounts of carbon.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Ivory Coast includes the following designations of protected areas: ‘Botanical Reserve’, ‘Classified Forest’, ‘Fauna Reserve’, ‘Integral National Reserve’, ‘National Faunal Reserve’, ‘National Park’, ‘Partial Faunal Reserve’, ‘Ramsar Site’, ‘ Scientific Reserve’, ‘UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve’, ‘World Heritage Site’.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Laos includes the following designations of protected areas: Forest Reserves, Game Sanctuaries, Marine National Parks, Marine National Reserves, National Parks, National Reserves, Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), and World Heritage Conventions.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implement and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Kenya includes the following designations of protected areas: Forest Reserves, Game Sanctuaries, Marine National Parks, Marine National Reserves, National Parks, National Reserves, Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar), and World Heritage Conventions.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implement and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Kenya refers to the year 2015. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Data source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

The data on Acute Food Insecurity is published by FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) in its dataset “Food Security Classifications Data”. The sub-national dataset classifies the food insecurity severity into five classes as follows: 1) Minimal, 2) Stressed, 3) Crisis, 4) Emergency and 5) Famine.

The data is published four times per year as an outlook report including near and medium term projections, and is updated on a monthly basis. Near term projections refer to the time period until the next main report (February, June or October of each year). Medium term projections refer to the time period between the next and after next main report release.

Since March 2011, FEWS NET has used the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Version 2.0, a five-level scale for classifying food insecurity severity. FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible: the analysis adheres to key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners of FEWS NET.

Date of Content

December 2017

Source

FEWS NET food security classification data is available for download as regional GIS shapefiles and images. Latest and historical datasets can be downloaded here

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Malaysia includes the following designations of protected areas: Marine Park, National Park and ASEAN Heritage Park, Nature Park, Park, State Park, Bird Sanctuary, Forest Reserve, National Park, Nature Reserve, Protection Forest, Reserve, Virgin Jungle Reserve, Wildlife Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuary, Communal Forest, Hunting Reserve, Protected Area, Protected Forest, World Heritage Site (natural or mixed) and Other Areas.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet.

Availability of data

GRAS implement and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

Content

GlobCover is an ESA initiative which began in 2005 in partnership with JRC, EEA, FAO, UNEP, GOFC-GOLD and IGBP. The aim of the project was to develop a service capable of delivering global composites and land cover maps using as input observations from the 300m MERIS sensor on board the ENVISAT satellite mission.The global land cover map counts 22 land cover classes defined with the United Nations (UN) Land Cover Classification System (LCCS). For GRAS, especially the sustainability relevant land cover classes are interesting, namely grasslands and forested areas with trees higher than five metres and a canopy cover of more than 30%.

Data source

Global Land Cover Product (2005-06), Globcover version 2.2, © ESA 2010 and Université catholique de Louvain.

Data quality

Globcover Land Cover Map is prepared every three years. Following the advice of our partner DLR (German Aerospace Center), we used the Globcover version 2.2 from 2006. The Globcover land cover map from 2009 has shortcomings because the MERIS sensor was damaged and several satellite images were distorted. The Globcover 2006 land cover map has a spatial resolution of 300m.

Data format

Globcover Land cover map is provided as a raster file and can be downloaded at the website of ESA. In order to integrate the data into GRAS, it was transformed into vector file format.

Availability of data

GRAS respects the data policy of ESA and therefore the integration of the Globcover land cover map in GRAS is submitted to ESA for approval.

Content

The map shows a modelled orangutan spatial distribution for Borneo and Sumatra. The map was prepared based on species occurrence samples as well as contextual layers. The contextual layers included climatic, topographic, soil, above ground carbon stock, land cover and road density maps.

In Borneo, the modelled orangutan distribution map covers 155,106 km² (21% of Borneo’s landmass) and shows four main distinct distribution areas:

• Sabah and the north-eastern region of East Kalimantan where P. p. morio occurs
• The southern and central East Kalimantan area where P. p. morio also occurs
• The Central Kalimantan and south-western part of West Kalimantan area where P. p. wurmbii occurs
• The northern part of West Kalimantan and southern part of Sarawak where P. p. pygmaeus is found

The largest area of orangutan distribution in Borneo is found in Central Kalimantan, followed by West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Sabah, Sarawak, and South Kalimantan.

In Sumatra, the modelled orang-utan distribution map covers 17,797 km².

Data source

Wich SA, Gaveau D, Abram N, Ancrenaz M, Baccini A, et al. (2012) Understanding the mpacts of Land-Use Policies on a Threatened Species: Is There a Future for the Bornean Orang-utan? PLoS ONE 7(11): e49142. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049142

S. A. Wich, I. Singleton, M. G. Nowak, S. S. Utami Atmoko, G. Nisam, S. M. Arif, R. H. Putra, R. Ardi, G. Fredriksson, G. Usher, D. L. A. Gaveau, H. S. Ku?hl, Land-cover changes predict steep declines for the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii). Sci. Adv. 2, e1500789 (2016)

Data quality

The map shows current modelled orang-utan spatial distribution for the year 2013 in Borneo and for the year 2011 in Sumatra. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The data were provided to GRAS in shapefile format by the author.

Availability of data

GRAS is displaying the data in agreement with the author.

Content

The map is composed by three different datasets:

• Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Terai Arc Landscape Corridors

Tiger Conservation Landscapes (TLCs) are defined as large blocks of connected tiger habitat that can support at least five tigers and where tiger presence had been confirmed in the past 10 years. The dataset was produced by combining data on land cover, tiger occurance and a human influence index.

Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes displays TLCs that could double the wild tiger population through proper conservation and management by 2020.

The Terai Arc Landscape Corridors  dataset displays 9 forest corridors on the Nepalese side of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL). Corridors are defined as existing forests connecting current Royal Bengal tiger meta-populations in Nepal and India.

Data source

Tiger Conservation Landscapes: Dinerstein, E., Loucks, C.J., Wikramanayake, E., Ginsberg, J., Sanderson, E., Seidensticker, J., Forrest, J.L., Bryja, G., Heydlauff, A., Klenzendorf, S., Mills, J, O’Brien, T., Shrestha, M, Simons, R., Songer, M. 2007. “The fate of wild tigers.” BioScience 57 (June 2007): 508-14.

Tx2 Tiger Conservation LandscapesWikramanayake, E., Dinerstein, E., Seidensticker, J., Lumpkin, S., Pandav, B., Shrestha, M., Mishra, H., Ballou, J., Johnsingh, A.J.T., Chestin, I., Sunarto, S., Thinley, P., Thapa, K., Jiang, G., Elagupillay, S., Kafley, H., Pradhan, N.M.B., Jigme, K., Teak, S., Cutter, P., Aziz, Md. A., Than, U. 2011. A landscape-based conservation strategy to double the wild tiger population. Conservation Letters, 4 (3):219-227.

Terai Arc Landscape corridorsWikramanayake, E., M. McNight, E. Dinerstein, A. Joshi, B. Gurung, D. Smith. 2004. Designing a Conservation Landscape for Tigers in Human-Dominated Environments. Conservation Biology (18):839-844.

WWF and RESOLVE. “Tiger Conservation Landscapes.” Accessed through Global Forest Watch on November 4^th 2016. www.globalforestwatch.org

Data quality

The three datasets referes to the following years:

• Tiger Conservation Landscapes: 2000
• Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes: 2011
• Terai Arc Landscape Corridors: 2014

The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level.

Data format

The data were downloaded from the Global Forest Watch website:

• Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Tx2 Tiger Conservation Landscapes
• Terai Arc Landscape Corridors

Availability of data

The data are available under a CC BY 4.0.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The map shows natural protected areas in Mexico as delivered by the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP). The Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas is the national authority in charge of the administration and management of the Natural Protected Areas of Mexico. IUCN categories include the respective national system categories according to the official publication „Áreas Protegidas en Latinoamérica – De Caracas a Durban“ of the Regional Office for South America of the IUCN (2003): Sanctuaries (IUCN Category I), National Parks (IUCN Category II), Natural Monument (IUCN Category III), Flora and Fauna Protection Area (IUCN Category IV), Natural Resources Protection Area (IUCN category VI), Biosphere Reserve (IUCN category VI-I).

Content

GRAS displays natural protected areas in Mexico as delivered by the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP). The Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas is the national authority in charge of the administration and management of the Natural Protected Areas of Mexico. IUCN categories include the respective national system categories according to the official publication „Áreas Protegidas en Latinoamérica – De Caracas a Durban“ of the Regional Office for South America of the IUCN (2003):

Sanctuaries (IUCN Category I)
According to the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP) sanctuaries are areas characterized by a considerable richness of flora or fauna or by the presence of species, subspecies or habitat of restricted distribution.

National Parks (IUCN Category II)
A National Park, in accordance with the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, is constituted by being areas with one or more ecosystems of scenic beauty with scientific, educational, recreational or historical value due to the existence of flora and fauna, its aptitude for the development of tourism or other analogous reasons of general interest.

Natural Monument (IUCN Category III)
Primary objective of Natural Monuments is to protect specific outstanding natural features and their associated biodiversity and habitats.

Flora and Fauna Protection Area (IUCN Category IV)
The Flora and Fauna Protection Areas, in accordance with the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection, are areas that contain the habitats whose balance and preservation depend on the existence, transformation and development of the species of wild flora and fauna.

Natural Resources Protection Area (IUCN category VI)
Primary objective of Natural Resources Protection Areas is to protect natural ecosystems and use natural resources sustainably, when conservation and sustainable use can be mutually beneficial.

Biosphere Reserve (IUCN category VI-I)
Biosphere Reserves are natural protected areas with ecosystems that are not significantly altered and where representative species of national biodiversity inhabit. They are characterized as sites that are not exclusively protected (such as national parks) but can host human communities, who live on sustainable economic activities that do not endanger the ecological value of the site.

Data source

Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, 2018.

Data quality

The data is from October 2018. All protected areas have clearly defined boundaries which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of CONANP.

Availability of data

GRAS integrated the dataset with the explicit allowance of the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP).

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Nicaragua includes the following designations of protected areas: ‘Biological Reserve’, ‘Genetic Resources Reserve’, ‘Historical Monument’, ‘Landscape and/or Marine Protected’, ‘National Monument’, ‘National Park’, ‘Nature Reserve’, ‘Wildlife Refuge’, ‘Ramsar Site’.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Papua New Guinea includes the following designations of protected areas: Conservation Area, Locally Managed Marine Area, Marine Managed Area, National Park, Natural Reserve, Natural Reserve – National Park, Protected Area, Provincial Park, Ramsar Site – Wetland of International Importance, Reserve, Wildlife Management Area, Wildlife Sanctuary.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

Guyra Paraguay is one of the most important NGOs in Paraguay working for the defense and protection of biological diversity. The implemented maps from Guyra Paraguay are: Public Protected Areas and Private Protected Areas.

Data source

Guyra Paraguay, 2016.

Data quality

The maps are from 2011. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The Guyra Paraguay data are provided in shape file format. For more information, please visit the Guyra Paraguay website.

Availability of data

The Guyra Paraguay data set can be re-used freely.

Content

This layer shows protected areas in Paraguay classified according to IUCN categories (here: IUCN categories I-III)

Content

This layer shows protected areas in Paraguay classified according to IUCN categories (here: IUCN categories IV-VI)

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The map contains the areas populated by indigenous people according to “Dynamique des Groupes des Peuple Autochtones (DGPA)”.

Content

The SERNANP (National Service of Natural Protected Areas of the State) is a public entity in charge of directing and establishing the technical and administrative criteria for the conservation of Natural Protected Areas. It provides spatial and attribute information for natural protected areas (continental and / or marine spaces of the national territory recognized, established and legally protected by the State as such, due to their importance for the conservation of biological diversity and other associated values of cultural, scenic and scientific interest, as well as for their contribution to the sustainable development of the country). There are four kinds of databases available:

Natural Protected Areas under National Administration
These areas are divided into two categories: the protected areas established with definitive status and the protected areas with transitory status, which are called reserved areas (these are not displayed in the GRAS Tool). There are nine categories of natural protected areas with definitive status: National Reserve, National Park, Protected Forest, Hunting Reserve, Comunal Reserve, Landscape Reserve, Historical Sanctuary, National Sanctuary, Wildlife Refuge.

Regional Conservation Areas
Areas mainly established to conserve biological diversity of regional and local interest

Private Conservation Areas
Areas voluntarily conserved by their private owners and recognised by the Ministry of the Environment.

Buffer Zones
Areas adjacent to the Natural Protected Areas, which due to their nature and location, require a special treatment in order to guarantee the conservation of the Natural Protected Area

Data Source

SERNANP (National Service of Natural Protected Areas of the State). Official release of version:
Natural Protected Areas under National Administration: 11 January 2018
Regional Conservation Areas: 28 August 2017
Private Conservation Areas: 28 November 2017
Buffer Zones: 28 December 2017

Data quality

The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be obtained from SERNANP (here).

Availability of data

Data are publicly available and the SERNANP does not restrict their use.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of the Philippines includes the following designations of protected areas: Fish Sanctuary, Fish Sanctuary and Fish Reserve, Fishery Refuge and Sanctuary, Fishery Reserve, Game Refuge, Game Refuge and Bird Sanctuary, Inuyog No Banwa, Managed Resource Protected Area, Mangrove Swamp Forest Reserve, Marine and Fish Sanctuary, Marine Fishery Reserve, Marine Park, Marine Park and Sanctuary, Marine Protected Area, Marine Refuge and Sanctuary, Marine Reserve, Marine Sanctuary, Marine Sanctuary and Reservation Area, National Marine Reserve, National Park, National Park – Buffer Zone, Natural Biotic Area, Natural Biotic Area – Buffer Zone, Natural Monument, Natural Monument – Buffer Zone, Natural Park, Natural Park – Buffer Zone, Not Reported, Pangasananan, Parks and Wildlife Center, Protected Area, Protected Landscape, Protected Landscape – Buffer Zone, Protected Landscape and Seascape, Protected Landscape/Seascape – Buffer Zone, Protected Seascape, Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, Resource Reserve, Resource Reserve – Buffer Zone, Restricted Area, Sanctuary, Seagrass and Fish Sanctuary, Seagrass Protected Area, Seagrass Sanctuary, Tourist Zone and Marine Reserve, Watershed Forest Reserve, Watershed Forest Reserve – Buffer Zone, Wilderness Area, Wildlife Sanctuary, World Heritage Site (natural or mixed).

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Rwanda includes the following designations of protected areas: Forest Reserve, National Park, Ramsar Site – Wetland of International Importance, UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Rwanda refers to the year 2015. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Data source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Serbia includes the following designations of protected areas: Area Of Cultural And Historical Importance, Landscape Of Outstanding Qualities, National Park, Natural Monument, Nature Park, Nature Reserve, Protected Habitat, Regional Nature Park.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

Content

CLC2018 is one of the Corine Land Cover (CLC) datasets produced within the frame of the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service referring to land cover/land use status of the year 2018. CLC service has a long-time heritage (formerly known as “CORINE Land Cover Programme”), coordinated by the European Environment Agency (EEA). It provides consistent and thematically detailed information on land cover and land cover changes across Europe.

CLC datasets are based on the classification of satellite images produced by the national teams of the participating countries – the EEA members and cooperating countries (EEA39). National CLC inventories are then further integrated into a seamless land cover map of Europe.

Data source

European Environment Agency (EEA) under the framework of the Copernicus programme (2018)

Data quality

The year of mapping (2018). Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU): 25 ha

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the Coopernicus website.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Sierra Leone includes the following designations of protected areas: ‘National Park’, ‘No or Non-Hunting Forest Reserve’, ‘Game Sanctuary / Non-hunting Forest Reserve’, ‘Forest Reserve’.

Data Source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The SAPAD (South African Protected Areas Database) and SACAD (South African Conservation Areas Database) provide spatial and attribute information for protected areas (areas which are set aside primarily for nature and biodiversity) and conservation areas (areas of conservation importance where other land use may also be permitted). Protected areas are defined and classified according to the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act (Act 57 of 2003).

The protected areas in the SAPAD Database include (1) National Parks, (2) Nature Reserves, (3) Special Nature Reserves, (4) Mountain Catchment Areas, (5) World Heritage Sites, (6) Protected Environments, (7) Forest Nature Reserves, (8) Forest Wilderness Areas, (9) Specially Protected Forest Areas and (10) Marine Protected Areas. The types of conservation areas that are currently included in the SACAD database are the following: (1) Biosphere reserves, (2) Ramsar sites, (3) Stewardship agreements (other than nature reserves and protected environments), (4) Botanical gardens, (5) Transfrontier conservation areas, (6) Transfrontier parks, (7) Military conservation areas and (8) Conservancies.

Data source

Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa / Directorate Enterprise Geospatial Information Management, Official release of version 2017-Q3: 2017/10/10.

Data quality

The SAPAD/SACAD dataset provides the data in a spatial resolution of 1:5000 and is updated on a continuous basis.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be obtained from The Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa here.

Availability of data

The Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa, permitted the use of the visualized datasets in GRAS.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Tanzania includes the following designations of protected areas: Conservation Area, Forest Nature Reserve, Forest Plantation, Forest Reserve, Game controlled area, Game Reserve, Marine Park, Marine Reserve, National Park, Nature Reserve, Open Area, Ramsar Site – Wetland of International Importance, Sanctuary and Closed Forest Reserve, Wildlife Management Area, World Heritage Site (natural or mixed).

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Thailand includes the following designations of protected areas: ‘Cultural and Historical Site’, ‘Marine National Park, ‘National Park’, ‘National Park and ASEAN Heritage Park’, ‘’Non Hunting Area’, ‘Wildlife Sanctuary’, ‘Nature,’UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve’, ‘Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance’, and ‘World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)’.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implement and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

Content

The dataset represents land cover information from the Regional Land Cover Monitoring System for Lower Mekong Region. The Land Cover Portal is a partnership between USAID and NASA. SERVIR-Mekong is a geospatial data-for-development program that responds to the needs of Lower Mekong countries.

The dataset comprises 17 land cover classes: Surface Water, Snow and Ice, Mangroves, Flooded Forest, Forest, Orchard or Plantation Forest, Evergreen Broadleaf, Mixed Forest, Urban and Built Up, Cropland, Rice, Mining, Barren, Wetlands, Grassland, Shrubland and Aquaculture.

Data source

Regional Land Cover Monitoring System offered by SERVIR-Mekong.

Data quality

The land cover map is for 2018.

Data format

The dataset is provided as a TIF file and can be downloaded on the website of the Regional Land Cover Monitoring System. In order to integrate the data into GRAS, data was transformed into vector file format.

Availability of data

Data are freely available to the public on the website of the Regional Land Cover Monitoring System.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Uganda includes the following designations of protected areas: National Park, Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, Wildlife Sanctuary, Wildlife Reserve, Forest Reserve, Community Wildlife Management, UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site (natural or mixed).

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

INFORM is a composite indicator that identifies countries at risk of humanitarian crisis and disaster that would overwhelm national response capacity.

The INFORM model is based on risk concepts published in scientific literature and envisages three dimensions of risk: Hazards & exposure, Vulnerability, and Lack of coping capacity. The INFORM model is split into different levels to provide a quick overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk and builds up the picture of risk by 54 core indicators.
INFORM is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Team (IASC) for Preparedness and Resilience, in partnership with many UN Agencies, donors, NGOs, and Member States.

Further information can be found here.

Data quality

The INFORM Subnational risk index for Uganda refers to the year 2015. The geographical resolution of the model is at municipality level. GRAS uses the administrative boundaries of the Database of Global Administrative Areas (GADM) for the visualization in the GRAS Tool.

Data source

INFORM is a collaboration of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness and the European Commission. The European Commission Joint Research Centre is the technical lead of INFORM

Content

The data on Acute Food Insecurity is published by FEWS NET (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) in its dataset “Food Security Classifications Data”. The sub-national dataset classifies the food insecurity severity into five classes as follows: 1) Minimal, 2) Stressed, 3) Crisis, 4) Emergency and 5) Famine.

The data is published four times per year as an outlook report including near and medium term projections, and is updated on a monthly basis. Near term projections refer to the time period until the next main report (February, June or October of each year). Medium term projections refer to the time period between the next and after next main report release.

Since March 2011, FEWS NET has used the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) Version 2.0, a five-level scale for classifying food insecurity severity. FEWS NET classification is IPC-compatible: the analysis adheres to key IPC protocols but does not necessarily reflect the consensus of national food security partners of FEWS NET.

Date of Content

December 2017

Source

FEWS NET food security classification data is available for download as regional GIS shapefiles and images. Latest and historical datasets can be downloaded here

Content

The Common Database on Designated Areas (CDDA) is more commonly known as Nationally Designated Areas. It is a European inventory of protected areas designated by the national authorities of 39 European countries. The inventory began in 1995 under the CORINE programme of the European Commission. It is now maintained for European Environment Agency by the European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity and is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. The CDDA is the official source of protected area information from European countries to the World Database of Protected Areas (WDPA).
The CDDA mostly contains information on statutory designations the main purpose of which is biodiversity conservation. The CDDA does not contain all information on statutes under sectorial, particularly forestry, legislative and administrative acts and on voluntary, private designations such as those areas protected by conservation trusts. This is mainly due to the difficulty of aggregating this type of information from national to European level. Consequently, national databases have to be checked complementarily in order to get a complete overview of the protected areas in a country. Furthermore, the Natura 2000 database should be checked as well because the CDDA does not reflect the full extent of the Natura 2000 network.

Data source

Nationally designated areas (CDDA) version 12. European Environment Agency, 2014.
Estonia: “Estonian Environmental Register 25.02.2014”.
Finland: “©Finnish Environment Institute, 2014”.

Data quality

The current dataset of CDDA (version 12) is from November 11, 2014. Data is annually updated through a data request to Eionet countries. Nationally designated areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

CDDA data is provided a.o. in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the European Environment Agency.

Availability of data

GRAS uses the CDDA dataset in agreement with the European Environment Agency.

Content

The map shows natural and semi-natural grassland in the EU. Natural and semi-natural grassland is characterized by low human influence, in the sense of areas with herbaceous vegetation, a maximum height of 150cm, and gramineous species prevailing, which cover at least 75 % of the surface. The map is referring to the year 2012 and has a resolution of 20m x 20m. Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

Content

Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) designated respectively under the Habitats Directive and Bird Directive. It also includes Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The Natura 2000 sites are selected by Member States and the European Commission following strictly scientific criteria according to the two directives mentioned above. The SPAs are designed directly by each EU Member State, while the SACs follows a more elaborated process: each EU Member State must compile a list of the best wildlife areas containing the habitats and species listed in the Habitat Directive; this list must then be submitted to the European Commission, after which an evaluation and selection process on European level will take place in order to become a Natura 2000 site.

Data source

The European network of protected sites, version 2012. Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission, 2013.

Data quality

This dataset was published in 2013 on data from 2012. The borders of the areas can be clearly identified at any zoom level. The map gets updated in certain time frames.

Data format

The map of Natura 2000 sites is is provided in shape file format.

Availability of data

Natura 2000 data set can be re-use freely.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Vietnam includes the following designations of protected areas: ‘Cultural and Historical Site’, ‘Marine Protected Area’, ‘National Park’, ‘Nature Reserve’, ‘Ramsar Site’, Wetland of International Importance’, ‘Special Use Forest’, ‘UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve’, ‘Wetland Protected Area’, and ‘World Heritage Site (natural or mixed)’.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

Content

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency – Earth Observation Research Center provides high-resolution land use and land cover maps products. The maps are comprising 7 land cover classes: Water, Built-up, Forest, Paddy, Orchards, Barren and Other crops.

Data source

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Earth Observation Research Center

Data quality

The land cover map is for 2018. The spatial resolution of the dataset is 50 m.

Data format

The maps were produced by using multi-temporal PALSAR-2/ScanSAR images, multi-temporal MODIS/NDVI images, and SRTM images.
The datasets of land use of Vietnam are provided as GeoTIFF files and can be downloaded on the website of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Earth Observation Research Center. In order to integrate the data into GRAS, data was transformed into vector file format.

Availability of the data

Data are available to the public on the website of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
A registration to a given URL is necessary in order to download the dataset. The dataset download site is: https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ALOS/en/lulc/data/index.htm

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Ukraine includes the following designations of protected areas: Forest Reserve, National Park, Ramsar Site – Wetland of International Importance, UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

Content

Global land cover maps of the years 2016-2018 from the Climate Change Initiative Land Cover (CCI_LC) provided by Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). The LC classes were defined using the Land Cover Classification System developed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Data source

The C3S Land Cover v2.1 (2916-2018) is a dataset produced by UCLouvain.

Data quality

The C3S LC project delivers the global LC maps at 0.002778° (approximately 300 m) spatial resolution for 2016 to 2018 (version 2.1).

Data availability

The C3S LC maps are available through the C3S Climate Data Store (CDS). The CDS provides open, free and unrestricted access to a wide range of quality-assured climate datasets. Available here.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

Content

Strict Nature Reserves and Wilderness Areas (IUCN Category Ia and Ib):
Strict Nature Reserves are strictly protected areas set aside to protect biodiversity and also possibly geological/geomorphological features, where human visitation, use, and impacts are strictly controlled and limited to ensure preservation of the conservation values. Such protected areas can serve as indispensable reference areas for scientific research and monitoring. Wilderness Areas are protected areas which are usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas, retaining their natural character and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, and which are protected and managed so as to preserve their natural condition.

National Parks (IUCN Category II):
National Park protected areas are large natural or near natural areas set aside to protect large-scale ecological processes, along with the complement of species and ecosystems characteristic of the area, which also provide a foundation for environmentally and culturally compatible spiritual, scientific, educational, recreational and visitor opportunities.

Natural Monuments or Features (IUCN Category III):
Natural Monument or Feature protected areas are set aside to protect a specific natural monument, which can be a land form, sea mount, submarine caverns, geological feature such as caves, or even a living feature such as an ancient grove. They are generally quite small protected areas and often have high visitor value.

Habitat/Species Management Areas (IUCN Category IV):
Habitat/species management protected areas aim to protect particular species or habitats and management reflects this priority. Many category IV protected areas will need regular, active interventions to address the requirements of particular species or to maintain habitats, but this is not a requirement of this category.

Protected Landscapes/Seascapes (IUCN Category V):
Protected landscape/seascape protected areas occur where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced an area of distinct character with significant ecological, biological, cultural, and scenic value.

Protected areas with sustainable use of natural resources (IUCN Category VI):
Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources are generally large, with much of the area in a more-or-less natural condition and where a proportion is under sustainable natural resource management, and where such exploitation is seen as one of the main aims of the area.

Other conservation areas:
Other conservation areas are protected areas with a GAP status 3, which are areas having permanent protection from conversion of natural land cover for the majority of the area, but which are subject to extractive uses of either a broad, low-intensity type (for example, logging, OHV recreation) or localized intense type (for example, mining). It also confers protection to federally listed endangered and threatened species throughout the area.

Data Source

U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Program (GAP). May 2016. Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), version 1.4 Combined Feature Class.

Data quality

The data from the Protected Areas Data Portal (PAD-US) is from 2016. The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in shapefile format and can be downloaded on the website of the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US).

Availability of data

The data set can be re-used freely.

Content

The map contains both legal and statistical American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian entities for which the Census Bureau publishes data. The legal entities consist of federally recognized American Indian reservations and off-reservation trust land areas, state-recognized American Indian reservations, and Hawaiian home lands (HHLs). The statistical entities displayed are Alaska Native village statistical areas (ANVSAs), Oklahoma tribal statistical areas (OTSAs), tribal designated statistical areas (TDSAs), and state designated tribal statistical areas (SDTSAs). Definitions of each area are provided here.

Data quality

2016

Source

U.S. Census Bureau, 2016. TIGER/Line shapefile, American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian Area (AIANNH). Washington, DC.

Content

The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) is managed by the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with support from IUCN and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).

It provides datasets on a global basis on protected areas, including national protected areas recognized by the government, areas designated under regional and international conventions, privately protected areas and indigenous peoples’ and community conserved territories and areas.

The dataset of Zambia includes the following designations of protected areas: National Park, Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance, Bird Sanctuary, Wildlife Sanctuary, Forest Reserve, Game Management Area, World Heritage Site.

Data source

United Nations Environmental Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)

Data quality

The protected areas have clearly defined borders which can be identified at any zoom level.

Data format

Data is provided in different formats, including ESRI shapefile format, and can be viewed and downloaded on the website of Protected Planet

Availability of data

GRAS implements and uses the dataset in agreement with UNEP-WCMC.

The map of Above Ground Biomass of Woody Vegetation was developed by Valerio Avitabile et al. (2016) and covers the pan-tropical areas. The authors have integrated two existing large-scale biomass maps (Saatchi et al., 2011; Baccini et al., 2012) with local high-quality biomass data into an improved pan-tropical aboveground biomass map of woody vegetation at 1 km resolution for the 2000’s. The values are given in t (dry mass)/ha. The data fusion approach uses bias removal and weighted linear averaging that incorporates and spatializes the biomass patterns indicated by the reference data.

The method and results are described in Avitabile et al. (2016). The data can be viewed and downloaded here.

• Avitabile Valerio, Herold M, Heuvelink G, Lewis SL, Phillips OL, Asner GP et al. (2016). An integrated pan-tropical biomass maps using multiple reference datasets. Global Change Biology, 22: 1406–1420. doi:10.1111/gcb.13139.