Linking Mapping to Policy:
Land Cover
Land Cover
Land cover mapping divides the landscape according to its biophysical characteristics. The Action for Adaptation land cover mapping uses 9 classes including water, cropland, pasture/hay, shrubs, and broad leaved trees, which align with the classifications in the North American Land Change Monitoring System.
To identify different land cover types, our mappers at UBC Okanagan applied a machine learning model which pulls from high resolution Planet imagery (3 m) and LiDAR data. The model was trained initially through a desk top review using aerial photos, and then through field verification using community science and the Survey 123app.
Using mapping to see current types and quantities of natural land cover is a powerful way to inform planning that accounts for the cumulative effects of development. Comparing existing data with previous mapped layers can help reveal how and where land cover has changed over time.
This information can be used to make land use and zoning decisions that retain and enhance ecosystem services and that leverage opportunities for nature-based solutions, rather than further erode them.
To advance nature-based climate resilience and biodiversity protection, local governments should establish clear and long-term land use and environmental objectives that can be achieved through policies linked to targets and indicators.
Recommended policy objectives:
Use of Land Cover Mapping for Local Government Policy and First Nations Governance (BC)
|
Objective |
Local Government Policy |
First Nations Governance |
|
Supporting land use planning & zoning decisions |
• Identifies forests, wetlands, riparian areas, agricultural land, urban areas, and disturbed lands • Establishes a baseline of existing conditions to support zoning and land use designations |
• Identifies ecosystems alongside cultural and harvesting areas • Supports land use decisions grounded in stewardship responsibilities |
|
Protecting ecologically and culturally significant areas |
• Identifies Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs), wetlands, and riparian zones • Supports regulatory protection and development setbacks |
• Identifies culturally significant landscapes and priority stewardship areas • Supports Indigenous-led conservation and IPCAs |
|
Assessing cumulative effects |
• Tracks land cover change to inform development approvals • Supports evidence-based policy decisions |
• Demonstrates cumulative impacts on lands, waters, and cultural practices • Supports referrals, consultation, and negotiations |
|
Natural asset management |
· Integrating ecosystems into asset management plans (e.g., wetlands as stormwater infrastructure) · Identifying intact ecosystems and connectivity corridors |
·Integrating ecosystems into asset management plans (e.g., wetlands as stormwater infrastructure) ·Identifying intact ecosystems and connectivity corridors |
|
Climate change adaptation & resilience |
• Maps floodplains, wildfire interface areas, and urban heat zones • Supports climate adaptation and emergency planning |
• Identifies climate-resilient ecosystems critical for future generations • Guides long-term stewardship and restoration priorities |
|
Restoration & enhancement planning |
• Prioritizes restoration to reduce flood risk or meet regulatory objectives. • Tracking degradation and recovery over time |
• Prioritizes restoration linked to salmon habitat, water quality, forest stewardship and food security. • Tracking degradation and recovery over time |
|
Monitoring & compliance |
• Supports bylaw enforcement and monitoring of land disturbance |
• Supports Guardian programs and community-based monitoring |
|
Possible outputs |
· Zoning maps · Development Permit Area maps · Asset management inventories · Climate adaptation maps · Cumulative effects mapping · Council-ready figures and policy justifications. |
· Stewardship and cultural landscape maps · Cumulative effects maps · Territorial planning maps · Guardian monitoring dashboards · Negotiation and consultation materials |
|
Policy / Stewardship applications |
• Official Community Plans (OCPs) • Regional Growth Strategies • Parks Planning • Environmental Development Permit Areas |
• Land Use Plans (LUPs) • Community Land Use Plans (CLUPs) • Indigenous land stewardship frameworks |