Embedded Files
Land use and land cover (LULC) data describes how the Earth's surface is classified – distinguishing natural features such as forests, grasslands, and water bodies from human-modified areas like croplands and urban settlements. For water researchers and catchment managers, LULC is a foundational input: land cover directly influences runoff generation, infiltration, evapotranspiration, and sediment dynamics, meaning that changes on the landscape have measurable effects on streamflow, water quality, and ecological health. The resources below provide access to South African land cover datasets – including the National Land Cover database and protected area layers available through the WRO data portal – as well as global, high-resolution, near real-time data through Google Earth Engine's Dynamic World platform.
South Africa – National Datasets
South Africa – National Datasets
SA National Land Cover Datasets (SANLC) – DFFE Official source for all South African National Land Cover datasets (1990, 2013–14, 2018, 2020, 2022), produced using the CALC automated classification system and Sentinel-2 imagery at 20 m resolution. Includes 73-class products, change assessments, accuracy reports, and metadata. All datasets are published under an open licence.
DFFE E-GIS Data Downloads Direct download page for all SANLC raster and vector products, including the full 73-class datasets and the simplified 20-class change detection legend used for national reporting.
SANBI Biodiversity GIS (BGIS) The South African National Biodiversity Institute's spatial data portal, providing access to vegetation, land cover, and threatened ecosystem datasets alongside online mapping tools. Includes the Land Use Decision Support Tool (LUDS) for basic environmental assessment on land parcels.
SANBI National Vegetation Map (VEGMAP) South Africa's authoritative vegetation classification and mapping project, covering South Africa, Lesotho, and eSwatini. The National Vegetation Map (NVM) classifies vegetation types within nine biomes and is a foundational dataset for biodiversity management, environmental planning, and a broad range of land cover and catchment research. Updated versions available from SANBI BGIS.
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