Layer for regionalized LCA data (LCI) and characterization factors (LCIA)

The data contains a shapefile with IDs in "Regionalization shapefile.zip" and a respective KML layer (for Google Earth) in "regionalization_layer_v1.kmz".

It is meant to be used to aggregate, store and share regionalized results from LCA and LCIA, as the layer covers the main features for impact assessment and policy level. It contains 50’626 units (48’612 terrestrial and 2'014 marine regions).

The ID description and correspondance to the original layer are provided in "Description shapefile layer.xlsx", incl. some additional information from the original layers. The information related to countries is in yellow, ecoregions in green, urban in grey and watersheds in light blue. Coastal marine ecoregions are in marked dark blue and fisheries purple.

Through the information in this layer, existing regionalized LCIA results such as recommended methods for land and water use can be directly linked. However, they can also be linked just based on ecoregions, watersheds, countries or urban areas using the original shapefiles used to compile this dataset through respective IDs.

The following 6 layers have been used:

- Urban areas:
Natural Earth, Urban Areas, version 4.0.0, 11877 Urban areas
Schneider, A., M. A. Friedl and D. Potere (2009) A new map of global urban extent from MODIS data. Environmental Research Letters, volume 4, article 044003.

- Country boundaries (subunits)
Natural Earth, Admin 0 – Details, version 4.1.0, 197 countries
https://www.naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10m-cultural-vectors/10m-admin-0-details/

- Ecoregions
Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World, WWF (2012), 867 terrestrial ecoregions
Olson, D. M., Dinerstein, E., Wikramanayake, E. D., Burgess, N. D., Powell, G. V. N., Underwood, E. C., D'Amico, J. A., Itoua, I., Strand, H. E., Morrison, J. C., Loucks, C. J., Allnutt, T. F., Ricketts, T. H., Kura, Y., Lamoreux, J. F., Wettengel, W. W., Hedao, P., Kassem, K. R. 2001. Terrestrial ecoregions of the world: a new map of life on Earth. Bioscience 51(11):933-938.

- Watersheds
Aware method: Input data (WaterGAP), 11049 watersheds; http://www.wulca-waterlca.org/aware.html
Müller Schmied, H., Eisner, S., Franz, D., Wattenbach, M., Portmann, F. T., Flörke, M., and Döll, P.: Sensitivity of simulated global-scale freshwater fluxes and storages to input data, hydrological model structure, human water use and calibration, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 3511-3538, doi:10.5194/hess-18-3511-2014, 2014

- Marine ecosystems:
Marine Ecoregions of the World, WWF (2007)
Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas (2007) Spalding M Fox H Allen G Davidson N Ferdaña Z et. al. BioScience
2007 vol: 57 (7) pp: 573-583

- Fishing areas:
FAO Statistical Areas for Fishery Purposes - FAO Statistical areas (Marine ) - No coastline (for use with custom coastline resolutions) - GIS data (WFS - SHP).
FAO (2019). FAO Statistical Areas for Fishery Purposes. In: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Department [online]. Rome.