The FAO Land Cover Classification System software is due to be released in its third version; with it come four supporting volumes. The second volume is the User Manual, which is a practical guide to all the features of the software, with examples of how to create various types of classes, e.g. for distinguishing managed and non-managed forest. 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.