Land Cover and Land Use in Uruguay Using Land Cover Classification System Methodology

Mapping land cover in Uruguay is essential to meet the growing demand for accurate data to support sustainable development policies and manage natural resources, while also addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other international conventions. In recent decades, collaboration between the FAO and the Government of Uruguay has led to the development of key products that strengthen the country’s planning processes, including a detailed, standardized national land cover database. By using the FAO’s Land Cover Classification System (LCCS), Uruguay has achieved a multitemporal national land cover database, through a legend specifically adapted to its national context and with classification accuracy improving from 85% in earlier products to 95% in the most recent ones. The use of LCCS has ensured semantic interoperability and provided reliable, up-to-date information on land cover distribution and change analysis. This progress has been supported by the enhancement of national capacities for change analysis, using international standards, remote sensing, and GIS technologies, integrated with national data. This article reviews the historical evolution and methodological advancements in the implementation of the LCCS in Uruguay, emphasizing the improvements in methodology and technology, and their impact on the sustainable management of the country’s territory.