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Computer assisted change detection of LC/LU between the reference years 2006 and 2012 extracted from VHR satellite data and other available data. The change mapping exercise between the reference years 2006 and 2012, based on the outputs of the status layers, occurred over an area of 631.800 km² across Europe (i.e. within the selected Natura2000 sites and including a 2 km buffer zone surrounding those). The change dataset only shows the areas that have changed between 2006 and 2012 and covers an area of 1.054.684 ha.

The classification provides 55 distinct thematic classes. The class definitions follow a pre-defined nomenclature based on the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) typology of ecosystems (at level 1) and are further harmonised with Corine Land Cover and adapted to the specific characteristics of grasslands habitats (levels 2 to 4). Each change polygon is identified with a change code that shows the initial class and the change class. The Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) is 0.5 ha and the Minimum Mapping Width (MMW) is 10 m. The positional accuracy is less than 5 m (according to geo-location accuracy of satellite imagery delivered by ESA: less than 5m RMSE). Producer’s accuracy assessment approach: stratified random point sampling. Interpretation of sampling points was performed on the best available reference data. The overall accuracy is higher than 80%.