European Forest Types gridded dataset

Dataset This dataset provides the first standardized, pan-European gridded map of European Forest Types (EFTs), developed to support consistent forest monitoring, climate change impact assessment, and ecosystem management across Europe. The dataset is based on the European Forest Types classification scheme, which organizes forested areas into ecologically homogeneous units, enabling meaningful comparison of forest conditions, management practices, and biodiversity patterns across diverse climatic and edaphic gradients. The EFT map was generated using a shared rule-based expert system algorithm, designed to translate species-level information into forest type categories. The algorithm integrates 39 Relative Probability of Presence (RPP) maps of tree species, combined with multiple forest masks, to identify dominant species assemblages and assign forest types in a consistent and reproducible manner. Through this process, 14 distinct EFT categories were delineated across the European continent. The resulting dataset fills a critical gap in spatial forest monitoring by providing the first harmonized EFT map at pan-European scale, delivered as a gridded spatial product suitable for large-scale analyses. It supports baseline assessments, temporal change detection, and cross-regional comparisons, thereby facilitating international collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and forest managers. By offering standardized and comprehensive spatial information on forest types, this dataset enhances the capacity to analyze forest ecosystem dynamics, support biodiversity conservation planning, and inform adaptive management strategies. Ultimately, it contributes to a better understanding of the role of forest ecosystems in sustaining biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being under changing environmental conditions. Spatial Reference System and Resolution The dataset is provided at a spatial resolution of 100 m and is projected in the ETRS89-extended / LAEA Europe coordinate reference system (EPSG:3035). Legend and pixel value represent the categories of EFTs 1. Boreal forest2. Hemiboreal and nemoral coniferous and mixedbroadleaved-coniferous forest3. Alpine forest4. Acidophilous oak and oak-birch forest5. Mesophytic deciduous forest6. Beech forest7. Mountainous beech forest8. Thermophilous deciduous forest9. Broadleaved evergreen forest10. Coniferous forests of the Mediterranean, Anatolian and Macaronesian regions11. Mire and swamp forest12. Floodplain forest13. Non-riverine alder, birch or aspen forest14. Introduced tree species forest The zip file contain The dataset is provided as a GeoTIFF (TIF) raster map (EFTs_map-19-10-2025.tif) and includes an associated QGIS layout layer (QGis_layout_EFTsMap.qml) for visualization and cartographic representation.