| Definition of Land Cover | Flexibility while mappability | Basic principle |

The common integrated approach adopted here defines land cover as the observed (bio)physical cover on the earth’s surface (see LCCS Definitions), but, in addition, it is emphasized that land cover must be considered a geographically explicit feature that other disciplines may use as a geographical reference (e.g. for land use, climatic or ecological studies).

Land is a basic source of mass and energy throughput in all terrestrial ecosystems, and land cover and land use represent the integrating elements of the resource base. Land cover, being the expression of human activities, changes with modifications in these activities. Therefore, land cover as a geographically explicit feature can form a reference basis for other disciplines.