Multipurpose Africover Database for Environmental resources

The Multipurpose Africover Database for Environmental Resources (MADE) is the baseline information for GIS users looking for environmental data.

MADE is a a set of detailed/homogeneous land cover and environmental information that can be used by a large community of specific end-users.

This database is functional to the new database management trends, reduces costs and improves efficiency at local, national and regional levels.

Get an insight on the structure and potentialities of MADE.

Why MADE can answer different information needs?

• Uniform level of detail for each aspect of land cover. As opposite to single discipline oriented data bases, the Africover database gives the same level of detail to all aspects of land cover (agriculture, forestry, rangelands etc) thanks to the LCCS classification system
  
• Neutral and unambiguous class definition. To answer the needs different information requirements, the definition of thematic classes avoids ambiguous or too much discipline-related terms (e.g. Primary forest, unproductive lands, rangeland etc.)
  
• Consistency. Production, storage and distribution of Africover land cover products will follow the same specifications and cartographic standards.
  
• Quality and reliability. The database must assure the same level of quality and thematic accuracy in any part of the country and between the countries themselves. Regional integration of the data bases possible to standardization of country data bases will answer the requirements of regional and global applications, bringing true multi scale value to the information.

MADEs now available

7 country data bases have been completed by the Africover Eastern Africa project so far.

See the list of all Africover data sets available or visit the individual country pages:

- Burundi
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Kenya
- Rwanda
- Somalia
- Tanzania

Visit the Technical insight section to explore the conceptual framework and the methodology of Africover