Land cover

"Land cover" is distinct from "land use", despite the two terms often being used interchangeably. Land use is a description of how people utilize the land and of socio-economic activity. Urban and agricultural land uses are two of the most common land use classes. At any one point or place there may be multiple and alternate land uses, the specification of which may have a political dimension. The origins of the "land cover/land use" couplet and the implications of their confusion are discussed in Fisher et al. (2005). == Types ==

with 17 classes. Class definition Color Code Following table is Land Cover statistics by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with 14 classes. == Mapping ==

Land cover change detection using remote sensing and geospatial data provides baseline information for assessing the climate change impacts on habitats, biodiversity, and natural resources in the target areas. Land cover change detection and mapping is a key component of interdisciplinary land change science, which uses it to determine the consequences of land change on climate. ;Application of land cover mapping • Local and regional planning • Disaster management • Vulnerability and Risk Assessments • Ecological management • Monitoring the effects of climate change • Wildlife management • Alternative landscape futures and conservation • Environmental forecasting • Environmental impact assessment • Policy development == See also ==