The GlobCover initiative develops and demonstrates a service for the generation of a global land cover map for the year 2005/2006. The service is designed in a way that further updates of the land cover map are possible at recurrent cost to run the developed system. GlobCover uses as its main data source the Envisat MERIS fine resolution (300m) mode data acquired between end 2004 and mid 2006. For maximum user benefit the thematic legend is compatible with the UN Land Cover Classification System (LCCS).

This new product will update and complement other existing comparable global products, such as the global land cover map at 1 km resolution for the year 2000 (GLC2000) produced by the Joint Research Center (JRC). It is also improves such previous global products, in particular because of the finer spatial resolution (300m).

A regionally-tuned classification and the calibration/validation of the classification by a team of regional experts in land cover characteristics will assure the generation of an accurate global land cover map. This approach builds upon the GLC2000 experience as well as the comparison between the GLC2000 map and other similar products (IGBP DISCover, MODIS map). It is also expected that, once a validated GlobCover Land Cover Map exist, it will be easily possible to update such a map over an interval of five years by the reproduction of the processing steps and the use of the initial map as training dataset.

The GlobCover is an initiative of ESA that was launched in 2005. It is led by an international network of partners including EEA, FAO, GOFC-GOLD, IGBP, JRC, and UNEP.