South America Forest Cover Map from MODIS Satellite 2001

2001 forest cover data for all of South America derived from MODIS satellite imagery. The dataset contains a single GeoTIFF file where pixels are classified as forest, non-forest, or water based on a 40% canopy cover threshold. It was produced by the MODIS science team using the TERRA satellite platform.

Use Cases

• Mapping forest extent and distribution across South America for a baseline year.
• Analyzing land cover change by comparing this 2001 classification with later datasets.
• Validating or calibrating other forest cover or canopy density models.
• Assessing regional patterns of deforestation or forest fragmentation.

Strengths

• Provides continent-wide coverage for South America.
• Uses a standardized 40% canopy cover threshold (UNESCO 1973) for consistent forest definition.
• Derived from MODIS sensor data with a 500-meter pixel resolution.

Limitations

• Contains only a single snapshot from the year 2001, limiting temporal analysis.
• Conflicting last updated dates exist between platforms (2001-12-31 vs. 2026-03-13), suggesting metadata inconsistency.
• Specific column names and total row/pixel counts are not provided.

Provenance

Source

MODIS science team, TERRA (AM-1) satellite platform.

Collection Method

Satellite imagery from MODIS sensor reclassified into forest, non-forest, and water classes.

Time Range

2001

Freshness

2026-03-13 01:02:07.774980

Geography

South America