forestcovered

Forest-covered is a term used to describe land areas where forest vegetation constitutes the dominant land cover. In geographic and environmental datasets, forest cover is typically defined by a minimum canopy cover threshold and area. A common standard is canopy cover greater than 10% with trees reaching a minimum height, though definitions vary by organization. Land meeting these criteria is labeled forest-covered, while areas not meeting them are classified as non-forest or other land cover types.

Forest-covered is determined primarily through remote sensing and ground surveys. Satellite imagery from sensors such as Landsat and MODIS supports the creation of global and national forest cover maps. These products quantify the extent and share of forested land, and track changes over time to reflect deforestation, afforestation, and natural disturbances. Data are used by international bodies, governments, and researchers to produce estimates of forest area and forest cover percentage.

The information is foundational for carbon accounting, climate modeling, biodiversity assessments, and conservation planning. Forest-covered data inform policies on sustainable management, land-use planning, and ecosystem service valuation, including carbon sequestration, water regulation, and habitat provision. They also support reporting toward international targets and national restoration commitments.

Definitions and classification thresholds vary among organizations, which can lead to different estimates of forest-covered area. Degraded forests, small patches, and plantation forests may be inconsistently classified. Despite these differences, the concept remains a central metric for understanding the spatial extent of forests and their changes over time.