GFC2020: A Global Map of Forest Land Use for year 2020 to Support the EU Deforestation Regulation

Abstract. Earth observation (EO) data are used to map tree cover extent, estimate canopy height, detect disturbances, and classify land cover and land use. However, comprehensive global information on forest cover, capturing both physical characteristics and land use components as defined by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), remains limited. Here, we present a harmonized and globally consistent map of forest presence or absence at 10 meter spatial resolution for the year 2020, hereafter referred to as GFC2020. Our approach combines multiple spatial datasets, primarily derived from EO, to harness their complementary strengths within a transparent, flexible, and open science framework. GFC2020 maps 4,562 million hectares (Mha) of forests globally, which is 12 % more than the estimate from latest FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA). Approximately 11 % (~578 Mha) of tree cover is excluded from forest area in GFC2020, primarily because it does not meet the height threshold or occurs on agricultural or urban land. Conversely, around 0.6 % (~25 Mha) of the area classified as forest in GFC2020 is unstocked, due to forest management practices or natural disturbances such as fire. Based on the reinterpretation of an existing reference set of 21,752 sample units, GFC2020 achieves an overall accuracy of 91 %, with 18 % probability of overestimating the forest area and 8 % for underestimation. Future improvements in EO products, such as better detection of trees in dry and open landscapes, distinguishing natural from human drivers of forest disturbance, mapping tree crops at high spatial resolution or identifying agroforestry systems, will contribute to enhancing future versions of GFC2020. The shift from tree cover to forest cover mapping is not only essential for ecological and climate related applications but also provides new opportunities to support policy needs. GFC2020 (https://forobs.jrc.ec.europa.eu/GFC) is one of many tools to inform the deforestation risk assessments under supply chain oriented regulations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This map is not mandatory, not exclusive and not legally binding.