Land Cover

Land cover is the observed biophysical cover on the earth's surface. A thematic land cover map is commonly produced through classification of optical multi-spectral earth observation data (for example Landsat satellite imagery) using remote sensing image processing techniques. Examples of thematic classes include: Water, Exposed lands, Built-Up or Urban lands, Shrubland, Wetland, Grasslands, Forested lands, Agricultural lands including Annual Cropland, Perennial Crops and Pasture.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada compiles and makes available land cover data to support a range of agri-environmental applications, including:

• Land use decision making and monitoring
• Environmental farm planning and implementing best management practices
• Development of agri-environmental health indicators and monitoring
• Climate change monitoring, carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and biomass assessment
• Other contextual mapping and analysis applications.

Use and Restrictions

Use of the data from this site is subject to the AAFC Unrestricted Use Licence Agreement. The terms of this agreement govern your use and reproduction of the data instead of the copyright reproduction statements found in Important Notices.

Access Data

• Circa 2000 Land Cover for Agricultural Regions of Canada
  • A 30 meter resolution raster format land cover classification produced from Landsat satellite imagery. Mapping is complete for agricultural regions of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The Product is available based on corresponding UTM Zones or National Topographic System (NTS) map tiles. The geo-spatial data and metadata can be accessed through the GeoConnections Discovery Portal.
    
    
• Circa 1995 Generalized Land Cover for the Canadian Prairies
  • A seamless vector format land cover classification produced from Landsat satellite imagery. Mapping is available for agricultural regions of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and parts of British Colombia. The product was produced by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration to support the Western Grains Transition Payment Program. The geo-spatial data and metadata can be accessed through this site.
    
    
• Other land cover and classification products for Canada can be accessed through GeoGratis, GeoConnections, or SAFORAH.

Mapping

In developing these products, AAFC collaborates with other federal, provincial and private agencies to make and deliver information to Canadians; including:

• Natural Resources Canada
  • Canadian Forest Service, Earth Observation for Sustainable Development of Forests (EOSD) land cover mapping
  • Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing
  • GeoConnections
• GeoBase
• Environment Canada, the Canadian Wetland Inventory
• Canadian Space Agency
• Inter-Agency Committee on Geomatics (IACG) - Land Cover Community of Practice.
• Manitoba Remote Sensing Centre
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

Circa 2000 Land Cover for Agricultural Regions of Canada. A 30 meter resolution raster format land cover classification produced from Landsat satellite imagery.

Contact

For more information on land cover or classification mapping activities and the use of earth observation technologies within AAFC, please contact Agri-Environment Services Branch (AESB).