Environmental zones 2018 - version 1.0, June 2020

This dataset is based on the Environmental Stratification of Europe (EnS) dataset from the University of Edinburgh, a statistically derived land classification which provides a novel global spatial framework for the integration and analysis of ecological and environmental data (Metzger, Marc J. 2018). It provides a robust spatial analytical framework for the aggregation of local observations, identification of gaps in current monitoring efforts and systematic design of complementary and new monitoring and research. The version 8 of the source EnS dataset, used for the creation of this dataset, distinguishes 84 strata that are relatively homogeneous in environmental conditions and can be aggregated into 13 environmental zones: • Alpine North (ALN) • Boreal (BOR) • Nemoral (NEM) • Atlantic North (ATN) • Alpine South (ALS) • Continental (CON) • Atlantic Central (ATC) • Pannonian (PAN) • Lusitanian (LUS) • Anatolian (ANA) • Mediterranean Mountains (MDM) • Mediterranean North (MDN) • Mediterranean South (MDS) The original dataset (vector format, 1 km spatial resolution) has been rasterised into pixel size of 100m to align with Corine Land Cover. Its spatial coverage has been extended as follows: • Turkey is covered only partially in the original dataset. Missing parts are supplemented by a comparable national dataset provided by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Turkey. • The dataset is extended along the coastline to fully cover the spatial extent of CORINE Land Cover. • Canary Islands, Madeira archipelago and the Azores are not included in the original dataset and added as environmental zone “Macaronesia (MAC)”. • Iceland is not included in the original dataset and added as environmental zone “Arctic (ARC)”