Introduction

The main aim of the project targets at utilising most effectively both Earth Observation data and forest statistical information. It applies a previously developed calibration method to produce comprehensive and complete European maps on forest forest (and within the forest class the sub-classes coniferous and broadleaved) and non-forest/water at 1 x 1 kilometre resolution.

Project results can be accessed free of charge after completing a simple registration process. Please go to the registration page if you would like to get access to the GIS layers or high resolution jpg versions of the maps.

Background

The project "Forest tree groupings database of the EU-15 and pan-European area derived from NOAA-AVHRR data" (EU-JRC contract No. 17223-2000-12 FISC ISP FI) carried out by a consortium of University of Joensuu, VTT Information Technology and the European Forest Institute for the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.

Earth Observation (EO) data are regarded as a cost-efficient means for locating different types of vegetation cover at the ground level. Statistical data on forest area and its distribution for different forest classes are traditionally available through national forest inventory statistics and other national and international forest statistical sources. Such data permit in many cases the identification of the total share of a tree species in a particular country, region or province.

A project entitled "Combining Geographically Referenced earth Observation data and Forest Statistics for Deriving a Forest Map for Europe" (JRC Contract No. 15237-1999-08 FIEDISPFI) was implemented in 1999/2000. It studied the options of combining information from both remote sensing and forest inventory statistics. Forest inventory statistics provide for officially accepted information and remote sensing data allows for visualising a geographical distribution of information over the region within the scope of a particular statistic.

In 2000/2001 a follow-up study "Forest tree groupings database of the EU-15 and pan-European area derived from NOAA-AHVRR data (Contract No. 17223-2000-12 FISC ISP FI) used the calibration method for the pan-European area including the Russian Federation up to the Ural Mountains.

The European Forest Institute updated the statistical datasets since then, refined the timberline mask and distributed a questionnaire to European inventory experts to comment the map products from a national perspective. The result of the efforts was a set of comprehensive and complete European forest maps (and within the forest class the sub-classes coniferous and broadleaved forest) and non-forest/water at 1 x 1 kilometre resolution and the production of derived map products such as e.g. a pan-European map of coniferous forest as a percentage of total forest.

Methods

The methods are largely based on the previously implemented project ('Combining Geographically Referenced Earth Observation Data and Forest Statistics for Deriving a Forest Map for Europe').

Forest proportion

In the first phase, the percentage forest proportion was estimated for each AVHRR pixel, using CORINE land-use classification as training data to establish the link between five classes (forest, other wooded land, and within the forest class, coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forest classes) and AVHRR spectral response. In the second phase, the area of classes was calibrated to correspond to the utilised forest statistics within the given polygons.

Data compilation

Various sources of data were used to compile the map according to the availability of data: 1) National forest statistics and definitions were used at the sub-national level for all EU 15 countries (except Ireland and Greece), the European part of Russia, Norway, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and The FYR of Macedonia. 2) TBFRA 2000 data and definitions were used at the country level for Albania, Belarus, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.

Calibration

The area of the classes was then calibrated to correspond to the area of the classes broadleaved and coniferous forest within the NUTS areas. If diverging from the NUTS, national administrative boundaries were used. A timberline mask was implemented to exclude areas considered above the timberline from the calibration process. Such areas were automatically assigned a 0 value.

The process of data preparation and the calibration procedure is illustrated by the figure below (Click on the image to view a high resolution version). More detailed information on methodological aspects can be read from the EFI Technical Report no. 13.

Outputs

Images of the final project results are presented here. Images of higher resolution, suitable for including in presentation or publication (optimal printing on paper of size A3 or smaller) can be obtained from the download page.

· Calibrated Total Forest Map of Europe

· Calibrated Broadleaf Forest Map of Europe

· Calibrated Coniferous Forest Map of Europe

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Acknowledgement

This project was awarded by the European Commission, Joint Research Centre (Institute for Environment and Sustainability), to a consortium of organisations under the contract number: 17223-2000-12 F1SCISPFI. The project is linked to the Forest Information from Remote Sensing Project (FIRS) of the Joint Research Centre.

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