1. WG Land Use and Land Cover
Data Comparison
WG Land Use and Land Cover

2. It all began…
After the 2010 Working Group on Land Cover and Land Use, a request was sent to Member States to deliver information on Total Area and Total Land Area. The above table compares LUCAS Total Land Cover Area (which includes inland waters) to Countries Total Area (T00) as informed by MS in 2010.
T00 – Total Country Area (L00+G00)
L00 – Total Land Area (A00+B00+C00+D00+E00+F00+H00)
G00 – Water Areas (Inland)
A few differences became apparent… and the issue was raised once more: what is the total area of a country?

3. WG Land Use and Land Cover
Data Comparison
WG Land Use and Land Cover

4. So which area should we use?
TOTAL AREA (T00)
GIS data (GISCO 100K NUT0 LAEA)
Demographic data (DEMO R D3)
Crop Statistics (AGR R LANUSE L000)
Regional data (URT D3 AREA)
United Nations Statistical Department

11. Definitions (DEMO R D3 AREA)
Total area represents the total area of the region including inland waters; it is expressed in km2
Land area represents the total land area of the region; it is expressed in km2
These definition seems clear, but in fact hides many issues that must be clarified

12. Harmonization issues Total Area of territory (T00=L00+G00)
Islands
Overseas territories
Map data (Coordinate Systems; Scale & Precision)
Land (L00 = A00+B00+C00+D00+E00+F00+H00)
TOTAL Land or TOTAL Populated Area
Water (G00)
Inland waters
Glaciers/permanent snow (Land or Water?)
Lakes (Minimum size)
Coastal areas
Territorial waters
A00-Artificial
B00-Agriculture
C00-Forest
D00-Shrubland
E00-Grassland
F00-Bareland
H00-Wetland

13. Questions for Member States
What definitions are currently used for determination of Total / Land / Water areas in your country?
What is the methodology followed to obtain the values?
What is the responsible entity for providing the data?