The data set combines the Corine based MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) ecosystem classes with the non-spatial EUNIS habitat classification for a better biological characterization of ecosystems across Europe (EEA-39). As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence for each MAES ecosystem type. The data set aims to combine spatially explicit land cover information with non-spatially referenced habitat information to improve our knowledge about ecosystems and their distribution across Europe. The work supports the MAES process, Target 2 Action 5 of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, established to achieve the Aichi targets of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The objective of the ecosystem data set produced by EEA and its Topic Centre ETC/SIA was to improve the biological description of land cover based ecosystem types. It represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence in ecosystem types at European level. Since it is not based on spatial explicit mapping the spatial and thematic accuracy is not of same quality as delineated maps. The MAES ecosystem typology differentiates three levels: whereas the level 2 of the MAES proposal follows closely the EUNIS level 1, the third level of the MAES typology corresponds to the EUNIS level 2. This level will be the base for the mapping approach.

The data set combines the Corine based MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) ecosystem classes with the non-spatial EUNIS habitat classification (LEVEL 1) for a better biological characterization of ecosystems across Europe (EEA-39). As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence for each MAES ecosystem type. The data set aims to combine spatially explicit land cover information with non-spatially referenced habitat information to improve our knowledge about ecosystems and their distribution across Europe. The work supports the MAES process, Target 2 Action 5 of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, established to achieve the Aichi targets of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The objective of the ecosystem data set produced by EEA and its Topic Centre ETC/SIA was to improve the biological description of land cover based ecosystem types. It represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence in ecosystem types at European level. Since it is not based on spatial explicit mapping the spatial and thematic accuracy is not of same quality as delineated maps. The MAES ecosystem typology differentiates three levels: whereas the level 2 of the MAES proposal follows closely the EUNIS level 1, the third level of the MAES typology corresponds to the EUNIS level 2. This level will be the base for the mapping approach.

The data set combines the Corine based MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) ecosystem classes with the non-spatial EUNIS habitat classification (LEVEL 1) for a better biological characterization of ecosystems across Europe (EEA-39). As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence for each MAES ecosystem type. The data set aims to combine spatially explicit land cover information with non-spatially referenced habitat information to improve our knowledge about ecosystems and their distribution across Europe. The work supports the MAES process, Target 2 Action 5 of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, established to achieve the Aichi targets of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The objective of the ecosystem data set produced by EEA and its Topic Centre ETC/SIA was to improve the biological description of land cover based ecosystem types. It represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence in ecosystem types at European level. Since it is not based on spatial explicit mapping the spatial and thematic accuracy is not of same quality as delineated maps. The MAES ecosystem typology differentiates three levels: whereas the level 2 of the MAES proposal follows closely the EUNIS level 1, the third level of the MAES typology corresponds to the EUNIS level 2. This level will be the base for the mapping approach.

The data set combines the Corine based MAES (Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services) ecosystem classes with the non-spatial EUNIS habitat classification (LEVEL 2) for a better biological characterization of ecosystems across Europe (EEA-39). As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence for each MAES ecosystem type. The data set aims to combine spatially explicit land cover information with non-spatially referenced habitat information to improve our knowledge about ecosystems and their distribution across Europe. The work supports the MAES process, Target 2 Action 5 of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, established to achieve the Aichi targets of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The objective of the ecosystem data set produced by EEA and its Topic Centre ETC/SIA was to improve the biological description of land cover based ecosystem types. It represents probabilities of EUNIS habitat presence in ecosystem types at European level. Since it is not based on spatial explicit mapping the spatial and thematic accuracy is not of same quality as delineated maps. The MAES ecosystem typology differentiates three levels: whereas the level 2 of the MAES proposal follows closely the EUNIS level 1, the third level of the MAES typology corresponds to the EUNIS level 2. This level will be the base for the mapping approach.

The data set is a secondary product accompanying the terrestrial part of the Ecosystem Type Map 2012 v3.1. It provides supplemental information: • estimated geometric reliability ranging from 1 – 10 (very low to very high) • estimated thematic reliability ranging from 1 – 10 (very low to very high) • Main original LC input data source: - Corine Land Cover - Urban Atlas - Riparian Zones - Natura 2000 (N2k) - High Resolution Layer Forest - High Resolution Layer Grassland - High Resolution Layer Imperviousness - High Resolution Layer Permanent Water Bodies - OpenStreetMap Roads - OpenStreetMap Landuse • MAES Level 2 (Urban, Cropland, Grassland, Woodland and Forest, Heathland and shrub, Sparsely vegetated land, Wetlands, Marine inlets and transitional waters)

Tracking land cover changes using remotely sensed data contributes to evaluating the impact of human activities on the environment. The first GlobCover map successfully demonstrated the usefulness of MERIS time series for operational land cover observation. Jointly supported by theEuropean Space Agency and the European Environment Agency, the GlobCorine project builds on the GlobCover findings and aims to make the full use of the MERIS time series for frequent land cover monitoring at the pan-European scale. Such an automated approach at 300 m will not identify landscape patterns as precisely as the Corine methodology, but it will significantly shorten the time response and expand the coverage. First, the automated GlobCover processing chain is adjusted towards a more land use oriented classification, compatible with the Corine typology. Second, an automated statistically-based algorithm is proposed to enable to monitor key land dynamics on a regular basis.