In recent years, the importance of accurate and up-to-date land cover information has become increasingly evident, especially in countries like Somalia that are grappling with environmental challenges, resource management, and sustainable development. Recognizing the critical role of geospatial technology in addressing these issues, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasizes the need for nations to adopt international standards and leverage advanced tools for land cover mapping. FAO Somalia in collaboration with FAO geospatial Unit strengthen technical capacities in using satellite imagery to assess land cover. One of the first step is about defining the land cover classification and identifying the classes to be associated to the land cover map. Creating a national land cover legend is a crucial step in the accurate mapping of land cover across Somalia. A land cover legend is a systematic classification scheme that defines and categorizes different types of land cover, including forests, croplands, urban areas, and water bodies among many others. To ensure consistency and interoperability of land cover data globally, it is imperative for Somalia to adopt international standards. The FAO endorsed standards such as the Land Cover Meta Language (LCML), and developed software such as the Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) version 3 and Land Characterization System (LCHS). FAO Somalia

In Somalia, this process involves collaboration between governmental agencies, research institutions, and experts to ensure comprehensive and contextually relevant classification that respond to the local objectives. On January 25 2024, FAO Somalia has provided a workshop on the Somalia Land cover legend.  The workshop provided a great opportunity to go through the various identified land cover class, visually interpreting the different satellite imageries for different land features, characterizing the different land cover classes based on participants expertise as well as available text, and photo of the different vegetation forms.

Preparing a national land cover legend in Somalia using international standards and FAO software is a significant step toward achieving accurate and reliable land cover mapping. By embracing these standards and tools, Somalia can contribute to global efforts in sustainable development, resource management, and climate change adaptation. FAO remains committed to supporting nations in their geospatial endeavors, providing the necessary expertise and technology to ensure a resilient and informed future.