Esri Living Atlas Data: World Terrestrial Ecosystems

Description

The World Terrestrial Ecosystems map classifies the world into areas of similar climate, landform, and land cover, which form the basic components of any terrestrial ecosystem structure. 

This map is important because it uses objectively derived and globally consistent data to characterize the ecosystems at a much finer spatial resolution (250-m) than existing ecoregionalizations, and a much finer thematic resolution (431 classes) than existing global land cover products.

• Cell Size: 250-meter 
• Source Type: Thematic
• Pixel Type: 16 Bit Unsigned
• Data Projection: GCS WGS84
• Extent: Global
• Source: USGS, The Nature Conservancy, Esri
• Update Cycle: None

What can you do with this dataset?

This map allows you to query of the land surface pixels and returns the values of all the input parameters (landform type, landcover/vegetation type, climate region) and the name of the terrestrial ecosystem at that location.

This layer can be used in analysis at global and local regions. However, for large scale spatial analysis, we have also provided an ArcGIS Pro Package that contains the original raster data with multiple table attributes. For simple mapping applications, there is also a raster tile layer. 

This layer can be combined with the World Protected Areas Database to assess the types of ecosystems that are protected, and progress towards meeting conservation goals. The WDPA layer updates monthly from the United Nations Environment Programme.

Developing the World Terrestrial Ecosystems

World Terrestrial Ecosystems map was produced by adopting and modifying the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approach on the definition of Terrestrial Ecosystems and development of standardized global climate regions using the values of environmental moisture regime and temperature regime. We then combined the values of Global Climate Regions, Landforms and matrix-forming vegetation assemblage or land use, using the ArcGIS Combine tool (Spatial Analyst) to produce World Ecosystems Dataset. This combination resulted of 431 World Ecosystems classes.

Each combination was assigned a color using an algorithm that blended traditional color schemes for each of the three components. Every pixel in this map is symbolized by a combination of values for each of these fields.

The work from this collaboration is documented in the publication:

Sayre et al. 2020.  An assessment of the representation of ecosystems in global protected areas using new maps of World Climate Regions and World Ecosystems - Global Ecology and Conservation  

More information about World Terrestrial Ecosystems can be in this Story Map. 

Accessing the dataset

To access and use the World Terrestrial Ecosystems dataset, please access the Esri platform at the following link: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=926a206393ec40a590d8caf29ae9a93e

Related links

Additional details