Shapefile / GeoJSON
IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology
IUCN's global ecosystem classification map showing functional groups and ecosystem distribution.
Ecosystem classification Biodiversity conservation
Vegetation & ecosystems
Vegetation & Ecosystem Data
Global vegetation indices, ecosystem classifications, and habitat datasets including MODIS NDVI, forest cover, and ecosystem layers.
Quick answer: compare official sources, download formats, coverage, licensing, and practical GIS workflows in this Vegetation & ecosystems directory.
NDVI EVI Ecosystem Forest cover Habitat MODIS
Downloadable datasets in this category
6
Each dataset page captures official source links, access notes, and related GIS workflows.
Official sources and direct access
Mixed delivery
Find provider portals, available file downloads and instructions for accessing each source.
Spatial data guidance
Choose a source
Compare geographic coverage, file formats and reuse terms before choosing data for your map or analysis.
Vegetation and ecosystem pages provide data for monitoring plant cover, ecosystem health, and habitat change at global to regional scales.
The category includes satellite-derived vegetation indices, ecosystem classification frameworks, and forest monitoring datasets.
Downloadable datasets in this category
Category directory
Open a dataset guide for source links, download steps and practical answers about working with the files.
Point (species observations)
4,354 georeferenced observations for six flagship species — giant panda, tiger, African bush elephant, blue whale, golden eagle, and monarch butterfly — pulled from GBIF and filtered to licences that allow commercial reuse.
Species distribution maps Conservation communication
GeoTIFF / HDF4 / WMTS
MODIS Vegetation Indices (NDVI/EVI)
MODIS 250m-1km global NDVI and EVI vegetation index data from 2000-present with 16-day composites.
Vegetation monitoring Drought detection
GeoTIFF / WMTS
VIIRS Nighttime Lights (NASA/NOAA)
Global artificial-light radiance at 15 arc-seconds (~500 m) from the VIIRS Day/Night Band — annual VNL composites from 2012 onward, previewed live through NASA GIBS.
Urbanization mapping Economic activity
HDF5 / GeoTIFF
GEDI Forest Canopy Height (NASA)
NASA GEDI lidar global forest canopy height and structure at 30m resolution from the International Space Station.
Forest carbon assessment Canopy height mapping
Shapefile / GeoJSON
WWF Terrestrial Ecoregions
WWF global terrestrial ecoregion boundaries classifying the world's land into 867 distinct biogeographic units.
Conservation planning Biodiversity analysis
Recommended vegetation workflow
How to choose a source
- Start with MODIS Vegetation Indices (NDVI/EVI) for long-running, consistent global vegetation monitoring.
- Use Global Forest Watch (Hansen) data for forest extent and change analysis.
- Combine vegetation data with climate and land cover layers for ecosystem modeling and change detection.
Category FAQ
Category FAQ
What is the difference between NDVI and EVI?
NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) is the classic index for vegetation greenness. EVI (Enhanced Vegetation Index) improves sensitivity in high-biomass regions and reduces atmospheric influences. Both are available from MODIS.
Is global forest cover data available for free?
Yes. The Global Forest Watch / Hansen dataset provides global tree cover extent and annual loss/gain data at 30m resolution since 2000.