On April 9th, 2024, the Kick-Off Meeting (KOM) for the High Resolution Vegetated Land Cover Characteristics (VLCC) product marked the official start of the 2024 production cycle. This year’s KOM brings with it an exciting development: for the first time, the United Kingdom will be included in the VLCC production, expanding the product’s geographical coverage and harmonization across Europe.
The VLCC product is part of the CLMS high-resolution layer suite and provides detailed information on land cover characteristics, such as forest, grassland & grassland mowing and crop types & cropping patterns.
As pressures on land resources grow due to climate change, urbanization, and land-use competition, having consistent and detailed land data becomes increasingly vital. The VLCC product supports evidence-based policymaking and provides the foundation for:
EU biodiversity strategy monitoring and protection
Progress tracking toward the European Green Deal goals
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Urban planning and land-use management
Sustainable agriculture and forestry
By leveraging very high-resolution satellite imagery, the VLCC product delivers data with greater detail and accuracy, helping decision-makers, researchers, and local authorities monitor and analyze land dynamics across the EEA38+UK region.
The KOM convened technical experts, data producers, service managers, and representatives from the European Environment Agency (EEA). Key discussions included:
Planning and timeline for the 2024 VLCC data delivery
Integration of the UK into the production workflow
Updates on methodological improvements and quality assurance
The inclusion of the UK represents a major step forward, allowing for pan-European comparability and reinforcing the commitment to comprehensive land monitoring coverage under the Copernicus programme.
The 2024 VLCC production is now fully underway. Data processing and quality control phases will be followed by data release and public access through the CLMS platform later this year. The addition of the UK also lays the groundwork for future expansions and cross-border environmental cooperation.
For regular updates and access to CLMS products, visit the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service website (CLMS portfolio).
Stay tuned for more insights as the 2024 production progresses — and as the CLMS continues to evolve in support of a greener, more resilient Europe.
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