GLOBCOVER was launched in 2004 as an initiative of the
European
Space Agency (ESA) which aims to produce a new global land-cover database
based upon fine resolution (300m) images acquired over the full year
2005 by the MERIS sensor on-board the
ENVISAT
satellite.
Project Overview
The GLOBCOVER initiative is conducted by ESA and an international
network of partners, in particular:
FAO,
GOFC-GOLD,
IGBP,
JRC and
UNEP.
Meris coverage 2001-2005 (source ESA)
The thematic legend of the final product will be compatible with
the FAO-UNEP Land Cover Classification System (LCCS).
ESA, in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation,
presented in March 2008 at the 2nd GlobCover User Consultation workshop held in Rome,
Italy, the preliminary version of the map to scientists.
The next version of the GLOBCOVER database is estimated be available on July 2008.
