Reference Land Cover Change in Caribbean 2000-2017 (vector) - version 1, August 2020

This metadata refers to the Land Cover Change vector data generated over Caribbean in the framework of the Copernicus Global Land Hot Spot Mapping (C-GL-HSM) contract under the coordination of JRC.
This area of interest is either mapped with the generic 8 classes dichotomus legend (CAR_01_lcc_a) or the detailed modular legend (CAR_01_lcc_b).

The mapped area of interest (AOI) represents a key landscape for conservation area (KLC).

The Caribbean has a long history of establishing protected areas (PA) with the first Caribbean PA’s being established more than 200 years ago. While PA development continued steadily throughout the 1950s to 1980s, there has been a rise in the number of sites declared since the 1990s. This increase resulted mainly from awareness raising and showcasing the benefits provided by PA’s. The objectives for PA development broadened in scope from watershed and wildlife protection to fisheries management, biodiversity protection, attractions for tourism, and education (http://parkscaribbean.net).

Reference time: 2000 - 2017