Tracking change from above: Land Cover Dynamics along the Engiz Stream, Turkey

The CLCplus Backbone, part of the European Environment Agency’s CLMS, provides detailed and harmonised land cover data across the EEA38 countries and the UK. The Engiz Stream in Samsun Province, northern Turkey, offers a clear example of how land cover evolves over time.

Between 2018 and 2021, satellite data reveals a notable increase in surface water coverage in this area, demonstrating the power of consistent EO data for detecting and analysing environmental change. Whether monitoring flood-prone zones, shifts in vegetation cover, or surface water dynamics, CLCplus Backbone enables informed decision-making across sectors.

The CLCplus Backbone offers: 

• Pan-European, high-resolution land cover information
• Temporal consistency for detecting change
• Reliable input for climate, ecosystem, and risk analyses

Earth Observation tools like this are critical for understanding how our landscapes are transforming and for responding with insight.

Together with its partners GAF AG (project lead), Telespazio Ibérica, and e-GEOS, GeoVille plays a crucial role in the CLCplus Backbone project, overseeing interannual calibration and post-processing. The team is also responsible for cloud-based data processing, as well as the storage and dissemination environment.