Land cover and land use are known as a main factors explaining much of the so-called diffuse pollution of nutrients to the Baltic Sea. Detailed information on land cover and land use types are thus of considerable
interest to all concerned with eutrophication and the health of the Baltic Sea. The information is also of value for regional planning and analysis of other environmental issues.
The two projects making this information available to the public are the BALANS and BOING projects. The BALANS project, co-ordinated by Metria Miljöanalys, has recently completed a new GIS database on land cover derived primarily from medium resolution satellite imagery. The BOING project,
co-ordinated by GRID-Arendal, has developed a prototype Internet and indicator based information service dealing with eutrophication of the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Environmental Atlas has been developed as part of this project.
Different types of land cover information developed within the BALANS project have been made available. The interactive map allows users to overlay the land cover maps with other information and zoom into any region of interest in the region. For those in need of ready-to-use map graphics of the entire region this is also available. For the professional users data for use in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is provided.
For further information online, please visit:
http://maps.grida.no/baltic/
Interactive map of the Baltic Sea region
http://www.grida.no/baltic/htmls/related.htm
Ready-to-use maps & GIS data
http://balans.satellus.se
The BALANS Project
http://boing.fimr.fi
The BOING Information Service
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For additional information, contact
Birgitta Olsson, Metria Miljöanalys
birgitta.olsson@lm.se Tel +46 8 579 972 70
Hugo Ahlenius, GRID-Arendal
hugo.ahlenius@grida.no Tel +47 370 35713