Land Cover and Change
Tracking Land, From Past to Present
Land cover describes the physical material on Earth’s surface, such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, and urban areas. Tracking how these patterns shift over time helps us understand where, how, and why landscapes are changing. Using remote sensing and spatial data, the USGS documents both historical and current land changes and evaluates their effects on society and natural systems at local, regional, and national scales. This research supports better land management practices and informed decision-making for the future.
Annual National Land Cover Database
USGS Sagebrush Science
Mapping Grassland Bird Community Distribution
Rangeland Condition Monitoring, Assessment, and Projection (RCMAP)
Global Croplands Data
Land cover describes the physical material on Earth’s surface, such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, and urban areas. Tracking how these patterns shift over time helps us understand where, how, and why landscapes are changing. Using remote sensing and spatial data, the USGS documents both historical and current land changes and evaluates their effects on society and natural systems at local, regional, and national scales. This research supports better land management practices and informed decision-making for the future.