The Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) is a partnership formed and directed by resource management entities as well as interested public and private entities in the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Desert and montane sky island regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Desert LCC science depends on access to transboundary base datasets. Given the importance of vegetation such as grasslands and riparian vegetation in conservation science, a bi-national, landscape-scale vegetation data layer with classes relevant to Desert LCC research is crucial. One objective of this project is to investigate appropriate methodologies and landscape scales to create a Desert LCC binational land cover map by exploring existing datasets and working with Desert LCC partners to define spatial needs. A case study pilot area will be selected that encompasses areas in both the US and Mexico to test methods and quantify accuracy of the selected approach. Deliverables include prototype classification and dataset over selected area, quality control methodology, and a report of outcomes and next steps.
