Biota Data

This layer was derived from three existing data layers: the Land Cover Database 2 (LCDB2) (MfE 2002); the Land Use Map (LUM) from the Land Use Carbon Analysis System (MfE 2008; Dymond et al. 2012); and EcoSat Forests (Shepherd et al. 2002). Indigenous forest classes from EcoSat Forests were combined with classes from LCDB2 to form basic ecosystems classes. Where indigenous forest was mapped by LCDB2, the type of forest was determined from the EcoSat Forests layer. The eight forest types of EcoSat Forests were reduced to three basic types: beech forest; podocarp-broadleaved forest; and mixed beech and podocarp-broadleaved forest. To produce a recent 2008 layer the LUM was used to update indigenous and exotic forest changes since 2002. The mapping was performed using 15 m pixels, which is equivalent to a mapping scale of approximately 1:50 000.

This data set (LCDB v4.1 Version Trace) allows users to track changes back to the previous version (v4.0), and to reconcile derived quantities, such as the total area of a class in a region, to those derived from the earlier LCDB version. Additionally the authority (and date) for mapping the change is recorded in this database where such a change has been manually mapped.

DO NOT use this dataset to assess real vegetation change over time. Rather use the latest available LCDB version which will contain vegetation cover for all timesteps. This Version Trace dataset is only provided to help reconcile with an analysis done on an earlier version of the LCDB.

Similar datasets were provided to trace LCDB2 ==> LCDB v3.0, LCDB v3.0 ==> LCDB v3.3, and LCDB v3.3 ==> LCDB v4.0. Note however, we previously called the dataset "Change" rather than "Version Trace", e.g. "LCDB v4.0 Change".