Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3.7
Types and descriptions of IGBP land cover classification scheme
Code
Type
Descriptions
1
Evergreen needleleaved
forest
Land is dominated by trees with a per cent canopy cover [60 %
and height [2 m. Almost all trees remain green all year.
Canopy is never without green foliage
2
Evergreen broadleaved
forest
Land is dominated by trees with a per cent canopy cover [60 %
and height [5 m. Almost all trees remain green all year
Canopy is never without green foliage
3
Deciduous
needleleaved forest
Land is dominated by trees with a per cent canopy cover [60 %
and height [2 m. Consists of seasonal Needleleaved tree
communities with an annual cycle of leaf-on and leaf-off
periods
4
Deciduous broadleaved
forest
Land is dominated by trees with a per cent canopy cover [60 %
and height [2 m. Consists of seasonal Broadleaved tree
communities with an annual cycle of leaf-on and leaf-off
periods
5
Mixed forests
Land is dominated by trees with a per cent canopy cover [60 %
and height [2 m. Consist of tree communities with
interspersed mixtures or mosaics of other four forest cover
types. None of forest types [60 % of landscape
6
Closed shrublands
Land with woody vegetation less than 2 m tall and with shrub-
canopycover [60 %. The shrub foliage can be, either
evergreen or deciduous
7
Open shrublands
Lands with woody vegetation less than 2 m tall and with shrub
canopy cover between 10-60 %. The shrub foliage can be
either evergreen or deciduous
8
Woody savannas
Land with herbaceous and other understorey systems and with
forest canopy between 30 and 60 %. The forest cover height
exceeds 2 m
9
Savannas
Land with herbaceous and other understorey systemsand with
forest canopy between 10 and 30 %. The forest cover height
exceeds 2 m
10
Grasslands
Land with herbaceous types of cover. Tree and shrub cover is
less than 10 %
11
Permanent wetlands
Land with a permanent mixture of water and herbaceous or
woody vegetation that cover extensive areas. The vegetation
can be present In either salt, brackish or fresh water
12
Croplands
Land is covered with temporary crops followed by harvest and a
bare soil period (e.g. single and multiple cropping systems).
Note that perennial woody crops will be classified as the
appropriate forest or shrubs land cover type
13
Urban and built-up
Land covered by buildings and other man-made structures. Note
that this class will not be mapped from the AVHRR imagery
but will be developed from populated places layer that is part
of Digital Chart of the World
14
Cropland/natural
vegetation mosaic
Land with a mosaic of croplands, forest, shrublands, and
grasslands in which no one component comprises more than
60 % of the landscape
15
Snow and ice
Lands under snow and/or ice cover throughout the year
(continued)
