The FAO Land Cover Classification System software is due to be released in its third version; with it come four supporting volumes. The first of these is Classification Concepts, which lays the foundation for an understanding of the Land Cover Metalanguage (LCML) that is used to create classes for legends. The FAO LCCS is applicable to commercial use, national security, environmental protection, natural resource management, climate change mitigation and tracking of greenhouse gas emissions; and creates land classifications that are internationally transparent and comparable.