The data set aims to contribute to a better biological characterization of terrestrial ecosystems across Europe (EEA-39). As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS (EUropean Nature Information System) habitat presence at Level 2 (this corresponds to EUNIS level 3 for marine habitats). The map combines spatially explicit data on land cover information with non-spatially referenced habitat information of the EUNIS classification. The objective of the data set produced by EEA and its Topic Centre ETC/BD is to improve the biological description of land based ecosystem types and their spatial distribution across Europe. Since it is partly based on non-spatial explicit mapping the spatial and thematic accuracy is not of same quality as delineated maps. For terrestrial habitats the geometric and thematic accuracy is estimated in the reliability map 2012 v3.1 as secondary product. The work supports 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). It further ad-dresses the MAES process (Mapping and Assessing of Ecosystems and their Services). The MAES ecosystem typology differentiates three levels and with certain differences follows the EUNIS classification: whereas MAES level 2 the proposal corresponds to EUNIS level 1, MAES level 3 follows closely the EUNIS level 2. A representation of MAES level 2 is contained in the reliability map as secondary product.

Riparian zones represent transitional areas occurring between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterised by distinctive hydrology, soil and biotic conditions and strongly influenced by the stream water. They provide a wide range of riparian functions (e.g. chemical filtration, flood control, bank stabilization, aquatic life and riparian wildlife support, etc.) and ecosystem services. The Riparian Zones products support the objectives of several European legal acts and policy initiatives, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive. The delineation of Riparian Zones is based on a complex spatial modelling approach, making use of the Riparian Zones’ LC/LU classification, large-scale earth observation data and a range of additional geo-data sources, as well as derived spatially explicit indicators. Inputs are regionally parameterised and weighted according to relative importance in a fuzzy modelling approach. The zones provide a majority of riparian functions with a focus on ecosystem services. The production of the Riparian Zones products was coordinated by the European Environment Agency in the frame of the EU Copernicus programme.

Riparian zones represent transitional areas occurring between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterised by distinctive hydrology, soil and biotic conditions and strongly influenced by the stream water. They provide a wide range of riparian functions (e.g. chemical filtration, flood control, bank stabilization, aquatic life and riparian wildlife support, etc.) and ecosystem services. The Riparian Zones products support the objectives of several European legal acts and policy initiatives, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive. The delineation of Riparian Zones is based on a complex spatial modelling approach, making use of the Riparian Zones’ LC/LU classification, large-scale earth observation data and a range of additional geo-data sources, as well as derived spatially explicit indicators. Inputs are regionally parameterised and weighted according to relative importance in a fuzzy modelling approach. The zones provide a majority of riparian functions with a focus on ecosystem services. The production of the Riparian Zones products was coordinated by the European Environment Agency in the frame of the EU Copernicus programme.

Riparian zones represent transitional areas occurring between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterised by distinctive hydrology, soil and biotic conditions and strongly influenced by the stream water. They provide a wide range of riparian functions (e.g. chemical filtration, flood control, bank stabilization, aquatic life and riparian wildlife support, etc.) and ecosystem services. The Riparian Zones products support the objectives of several European legal acts and policy initiatives, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive. Land Cover/Land Use (LC/LU) classification is tailored to the needs of biodiversity monitoring in a tailored buffer zone along large and medium-sized European rivers (with Strahler levels 3-8 derived from EU-Hydro). LC/LU is extracted from VHR satellite data and other available data in a buffer zone of selected rivers. The classes follow the pre-defined nomenclature on the basis of MAES typology of ecosystems (Level 1 to Level 4) and Corine Land Cover, providing 80 distinct thematic classes with a Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) of 0.5 ha and a Minimum Mapping Width (MMW) of 10 m. The production of the Riparian Zones products was coordinated by the European Environment Agency in the frame of the EU Copernicus programme.

Riparian zones represent transitional areas occurring between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterised by distinctive hydrology, soil and biotic conditions and strongly influenced by the stream water. They provide a wide range of riparian functions (e.g. chemical filtration, flood control, bank stabilization, aquatic life and riparian wildlife support, etc.) and ecosystem services. The Riparian Zones products support the objectives of several European legal acts and policy initiatives, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive. Green Linear Elements (GLE) are ecologically significant, structural landscape elements which act as important dispersion vectors of biodiversity. GLEs comprise hedgerows and lines of trees and offer a wide range of ecosystem services: they are linked to both landscape richness and fragmentation of habitats, with a direct potential for restoration, and contribute also to hazard protection. Green linear elements form part of the Green Infrastructure and are specifically addressed in the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020. The GLE product provides reliable and detailed geospatial information on the occurrence and spatial distribution of: Small linear vegetation features such as hedgerows, scrub and tree rows with a minimum length of 100m and a width of up to 10m; Isolated patches of trees and scrub with a size between 500 m² and 0.5 ha. Green linear elements including trees and hedgerows with 100m minimum length and 500 m² Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU). The production of the Riparian Zones products was coordinated by the European Environment Agency in the frame of the EU Copernicus programme.

Riparian zones represent transitional areas occurring between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterised by distinctive hydrology, soil and biotic conditions and strongly influenced by the stream water. They provide a wide range of riparian functions (e.g. chemical filtration, flood control, bank stabilization, aquatic life and riparian wildlife support, etc.) and ecosystem services. The Riparian Zones products support the objectives of several European legal acts and policy initiatives, such as the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, the Habitats and Birds Directives and the Water Framework Directive. Land Cover/Land Use (LC/LU) classification is tailored to the needs of biodiversity monitoring in a tailored buffer zone along large and medium-sized European rivers (with Strahler levels 3-8 derived from EU-Hydro). LC/LU is extracted from VHR satellite data and other available data in a buffer zone of selected rivers. The classes follow the pre-defined nomenclature on the basis of MAES typology of ecosystems (Level 1 to Level 4) and Corine Land Cover, providing 80 distinct thematic classes with a Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) of 0.5 ha and a Minimum Mapping Width (MMW) of 10 m. The production of the Riparian Zones products was coordinated by the European Environment Agency in the frame of the EU Copernicus programme.

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)

The data set aims to contribute to a better biological characterization of marine and terrestrial ecosystems across Europe (EEA-39). As such it represents probabilities of EUNIS (EUropean Nature Information System) habitat presence at Level 2 for terrestrial habitats and corresponding Level 3 for marine habitats (including information on sea ice coverage). The map combines spatially explicit data on marine bathymetry and sea-bed and land cover information with non-spatially referenced habitat information of the EUNIS classification. The objective of the data set produced by EEA and its Topic Centres ETC/BD and ETC/ULS is to improve the biological description of marine and land based ecosystem types and their spatial distribution across Europe. Since it is partly based on non-spatial explicit mapping the spatial and thematic accuracy is not of same quality as delineated maps. For terrestrial habitats the geometric and thematic accuracy is estimated in the reliability map 2012 v3.1 as secondary product. The work supports 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). It further addresses the MAES process (Mapping and Assessing of Ecosystems and their Services). The MAES ecosystem typology differentiates three levels and with certain differences follows the EUNIS classification: whereas MAES level 2 the proposal corresponds to EUNIS level 1, MAES level 3 follows closely the EUNIS level 2. For terrestrial habitats a representation of MAES level 2 is contained in the reliability map as secondary product.