Importance of Land Cover and Biophysical Data in Landscape-Based Environmental Assessments

Land cover and other digital biophysical data play important roles in environmental assessments relative to a large number of environmental themes and issues. These data have become especially important given the pace and extent of land cover change across the globe and world-wide concern for issues such as global climate change. However, land cover and digital biophysical data by themselves are not sufficient for broad-scale environmental assessments. These data must be combined with in situ data collected from comprehensive research and monitoring programs to derive and interpret broad-scale environmental condition. I summarize important uses of land cover and other biophysical data in environmental assessments and emphasize the importance of spatially explicit integration of these data to address critical environmental issues. I also discuss the importance of comprehensive, regional and national in-situ data in the development of landscape indicators and models and the need to maintain and develop new in-situ monitoring programs.