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A tool to support environmental initiatives

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Data product

The Global Ecosystems Atlas Basemap (gea_basemap) is a data product designed to support environmental initiatives by providing a consistent spatial dataset representing ecosystems worldwide. The development of the basemap involved the compilation and harmonization of existing, publicly available assets that are known to represent ecosystems and that meet stringent data quality standards. Key processes in the development of the basemap include data compilation, quality assurance, assigning map classes to their corresponding IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology class, and integration into a data product that can support a variety of use cases. 

The development of the basemap involved the compilation and harmonization of existing, publicly available assets that are known to represent ecosystems and that meet stringent data quality standards.

The Global Ecosystems Atlas Basemap is not static; it is designed for continuous updates to maintain relevance and accuracy. A versioning system allows for the continuous integration of new ecosystem spatial datasets, enabling the continuous submission of newly developed datasets from ecosystem mapping teams around the world.

ParameterDescription
Spatial Resolution100 meters per pixel
Coordinate SystemWGS 1984 (EPSG:4326)
Classification SystemIUCN Global Ecosystem Typology
Reclassification ToolArcGIS Reclassify Tool
Input Data SourcesExisting publicly available ecosystem datasets developed at national, global and regional extents that meet the GEO Ecosystems Atlas data quality standards
Input Data TypesThe Global Ecosystem Atlas ingests both raster and vector formats
Output FormatThe Global Ecosystems Atlas basemap is a set of Cloud Optimised GeoTIFFs consisting of 119 individual data layers that represent levels 1, 2, and 3 of the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology (synthesis products), 110 individual ecosystem functional groups (binary products), a set of data masks representing mapping effort (data masks) and quality assurance layers (QA layers) representing aspects of data quality and provenance.
Validation MethodsExpert review, comparison with reference data, spatial accuracy checks, and agreement metrics.
Update FrequencyContinuous, with a versioning system.
HowTo

Use the Data

The Global Ecosystems Atlas Basemap is designed to be a versatile resource for a wide range of applications like Environmental Monitoring, Conservation Planning, Academic Research, Policy Development.

Data specification

AttributeDescription
Data formatRaster
Data format detailCloud-optimised GeoTIFF
Data resolution (visual)Source resolution (varying resolution while zooming around the map)
Data resolution (for analysis)Resampled to a standard resolution (likely 100-m)
Spatial extentGlobal
Pyramid typeMode
ProjectionAdvice from ESRI - probably WGS 84
Minimum mapping unitDepends on source data - we serve source data with no MMU processing
Minimum mapping unit

Potentially 1 to 6/7, minimum likely 3:

  • efg_type (integer, pixel 1-110)
  • biome (integer, pixel 1-xxx)
  • realm (integer, pixel 1-10)
  • map_date (integer, 1900-2024) *
  • data_richness (integer, pixel 1-n)
  • qa_layer (not sure yet)
  • crosswalk_confidence (not sure yet)
  • input_scale (integer, 1-300; e.g. to allow a global heat map of the resolution of input data)

Additional data served as different datasets:

  • Possible: 110 binary occurrence maps
  • Possible: 25 binary biome maps
  • Possible: 10 binary realm maps
  • Possible: Raw input data in native classification and resolution
Band names

  • Synthesis product: ['efg_type', 'biome_type', 'realm_type', 'qa_data_date', 'qa_data_richness', 'qa_disagreement', 'qa_input_scale', 'crosswalk_confidence']

  • Binary product: ['t1_1', 't1_2', 't1_3',..., 'tf_1_7']

Minimum mapping unit
  • Title
  • Description
  • Version
  • Provider
  • Licence details (e.g CC-BY-NC)
  • EFG Class Names (list, 1-110)
  • EFG Class Palette (list, 1-110)
  • EFG Class values (list: Code Schema)
  • Biome Class Names
  • Biome Class Palette
  • Biome Class Values
  • Realm Class Names
  • Realm Class Palette
  • Realm Class Values
  • Date_range
  • Last_updated
TagsEcosystems, Land Cover, Global Ecosystem Typology.

Data specification

Data can be accessed here.

More info

Document

Caution notes

While the gea_basemap is a powerful data product for depicting the distribution of ecosystems worldwide, users should be aware of the following issues:

  • Data Updates: The basemap is continuously updated. Users should always verify that they are working with the latest version to ensure currency.

  • Ecosystem Classifications: The crosswalking process involves expert interpretation of different map classification schemes. While a variety of controls are included in the development approach to minimise classification errors, users should familiarise themselves with source data classes and the IUCN Globale Ecosystem Typology classes. We recommend propagating source class descriptions in any downstream use of the geo_basemap data.

  • Use in Specific Contexts: The gea_basemap is designed for global and regional analyses. For highly localized studies, the use of source datasets might be required.

  • Resolution Limitations: The data is provided at a 100-meter per pixel resolution. For applications requiring finer spatial detail, we recommend using the source datasets.

  • Temporal Issues. Any spatial dataset that integrates multiple inputs is likely to represent features over different time periods. The geo_basemap development approach limits this by rejecting datasets that represent changing ecosystems (such as those subject to deforestation or ongoing losses and gains) developed more than 2 decades ago. The data specification includes a data layer depicting the integer year that a source dataset was mapped, and we recommend the use of this layer to mask out areas where the data freshness of source data does not meet the needs of an intended analysis.

  • Standalone Ecosystem Functional Groups. The specification of the geo_basemap aims to develop a single raster layer representing ecosystem functional groups worldwide. However, several ecosystem functional groups in the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology are able to co-occur in a single location on Earth, when mapped in 2 dimensions from above. To address this issue, the geo_basemap depicts ecosystems that are on the ground or seafloor. A set of standalone layers for ecosystems which can co-occur with those on the ground or seafloor are provided and should be analysed together with the geo_basemap layer. Examples of these are cave systems, which can occur underneath terrestrial or marine ecosystems, or pelagic systems, which occur in layers above seafloor ecosystems.

A detailed list of known issues can be found [link]

How to Cite the Data

When using the Global Ecosystems Atlas Basemap in any publication, report, or project, please cite it as follows:

Citation Format

Global Ecosystem Atlas Basemap. Version [Version Number]. [Year]. Developed by [Developer Name or Organization]. Available from: [URL]. Accessed on [Date].

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