SBTN Natural Lands
Description
This dataset classifies the land surface into natural and non-natural land cover classes for the year 2020, with global coverage at 30 m spatial resolution. Pixels are assigned one of 21 classes, alongside a binary index indicating whether it is natural or non-natural land.
bf249342…Usage notes
This dataset supports baseline assessments of natural land conversion for organisations setting science-based targets for nature (e.g. SBTN Land Target #1: no conversion of natural ecosystems). The dataset intentionally overestimates natural lands to protect from conversion. Variable spatial resolution of input data sources may create spatial artefacts at 30 m resolution. Some input data sources are also from earlier than 2020. A list of input datasets is found here (Appendix D).
Variables
binary_class
Description
Indicates whether a pixel is natural or non-natural land. Classifications are tied to land cover class assignments.
Usage notes
Binary class is suitable for baseline assessments against SBTN Land Target #1 (no conversion of natural ecosystems). Overall reported accuracy is 92.1%, with ~ 6% of natural pixels being misclassified as non-natural land and ~ 15% of non-natural pixels being misclassified as natural land.
| Index | Name |
|---|---|
| 0 | Non-natural |
| 0 | Natural |
class_value
Description
The index of the land cover class assigned to a pixel. The data is a composite of > 30 global and regional datasets combined through a decision tree analysis to delineate natural versus non-natural land cover classes.
Usage notes
Overall reported accuracy is 92.1%. Forest land cover classes follow Accountability Framework initiative definitions. Other classes follow definitions of respective input data sources, so may be inconsistent between regions or ecosystem types. Variable spatial resolution of input data sources may yield spatial artefacts at 30 m resolution. A minority of input data sources are also from earlier than 2020. Natural forests may be overestimated in temperate and boreal regions. Small-scale mixed/rotational agriculture may be misclassified as natural land cover classes.
| Binary class | Land cover class | Index | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | Forest | 2 | Areas of tree cover (> 5 m height, > 0.5 ha). Excludes planted forests and perennial tree crops. |
| Natural | Short vegetation | 3 | Areas of short stature vegetation (< 5 m height) dominated by grass or shrubs. Excludes cultivated grasslands, cropland, and short tree crops. |
| Natural | Water | 4 | Areas where surface water is present at least 20% of the year. |
| Natural | Mangroves | 5 | Areas dominated by mangrove forests. |
| Natural | Bare | 6 | Exposed rock, soil, or sand with less than < 10% vegetation cover. Excludes livestock, cropland, or tree crops. |
| Natural | Snow/Ice | 7 | Areas of persistent glaciers or snow. |
| Natural | Wetland forest | 8 | Natural forests with water-saturated soil, inundated either seasonally or permanently. |
| Natural | Peat forest | 9 | Natural wetland forests over peat. |
| Natural | Wetland short vegetation | 10 | Natural short vegetation with water-saturated soil, inundated either seasonally or permanently. |
| Natural | Peat short vegetation | 11 | Natural short vegetation over peat. |
| Non-natural | Cropland | 12 | Annual or perennial crop areas, including herbaceous crops, plantations, tree crops, pasture, and other agricultural land. |
| Non-natural | Built-up | 13 | Man-made surfaces for infrastructure, commercial, residential, and mining use. |
| Non-natural | Tree cover | 14 | Perennial tree crops and planted forests. Includes short and long rotation timber forest plantations. |
| Non-natural | Short vegetation | 15 | Cultivated short vegetation (< 5 m height), (e.g. pasture, plantation crops, cultivated grasslands). |
| Non-natural | Water | 16 | Artificial surface water (e.g. aquaculture areas, or artificial dams). |
| Non-natural | Wetland tree cover | 17 | Non-natural tree cover with water-saturated saturated soil, inundated either seasonally or permanently. |
| Non-natural | Peat tree cover | 18 | Non-natural wetland tree cover over peat. |
| Non-natural | Wetland short vegetation | 19 | Non-natural short vegetation with water-saturated soil, inundated either seasonally or permanently. |
| Non-natural | Peat short vegetation | 20 | Non-natural short vegetation over peat. |
| Non-natural | Bare | 21 | Exposed rock, soil, or sand areas with < 10% vegetation cover and a high density of ruminant livestock. |
Pricing
This dataset has no data acquisition cost.
Resources
Provider
WRI
www.wri.orgThe World Resources Institute (WRI) is a non-profit research organisation based in Washington DC. The WRI does research that addresses policy across food systems, land and water, energy, and cities to protect nature and mitigate climate change globally.
Land & Carbon Lab
landcarbonlab.orgThe Land & Carbon Lab is a joint venture by the WRI and Bezos Earth Fund. Land & Carbon Lab provides geospatial data and insights for ecosystems and land to improve landscape restoration and sustainable use of resources.