The HWSD is a 30 arc-second raster database with over 16000 different soil mapping units that combines existing regional and national updates of soil information worldwide (SOTER, ESD, Soil Map of China, WISE) with the information contained within the 1:5 000 000 scale FAO-UNESCO Soil Map of the World (FAO, 19711981). The resulting raster database consists of 21600 rows and 43200 columns, which are linked to harmonized soil property data. The use of a standardized structure allows for the linkage of the attribute data with the raster map to display or query the composition in terms of soil units and the characterization of selected soil parameters (organic Carbon, pH, water storage capacity, soil depth, cation exchange capacity of the soil and the clay fraction, total exchangeable nutrients, lime and gypsum contents, sodium exchange percentage, salinity, textural class and granulometry). An iterative calculation procedure has been implemented to estimate land cover class weights, consistent with aggregate FAO land statistics and spatial land cover patterns obtained from (the above mentioned) remotely sensed data, allowing the quantification of major land use/land cover shares in individual 5’ by 5’ latitude/longitude grid cells. The estimated class weights define for each land cover class the presence of respectively cultivated land and forest. Starting values of class weights used in the iterative procedure were obtained by cross-country regression of statistical data of cultivated and forest land against land cover class distributions obtained from GIS, aggregated to national level. The percentage of urban/built-up land in a grid-cell was estimated based on presence of respective land cover classes as well as regression equations relating built-up land with number of people and population density. Remaining areas were allocated to: grassland and other vegetated areas (excluding cultivated land and forest); barren or very sparsely vegetated areas, and water bodies according to indicated land cover classes. Barren or very sparsely vegetated areas (class (ii) above) were delineated from (i) using the respective land cover information in GLC 2000 and a minimum bio-productivity threshold. The resulting seven land use land cover categories shares are: Rain-fed cultivated land; Irrigated cultivated land; Forest; Pastures and other vegetated land;Barren and very sparsely vegetated land; Water; andUrban land and land required for housing and infrastructure.

The HWSD is a 30 arc-second raster database with over 16000 different soil mapping units that combines existing regional and national updates of soil information worldwide (SOTER, ESD, Soil Map of China, WISE) with the information contained within the 1:5 000 000 scale FAO-UNESCO Soil Map of the World (FAO, 19711981). The resulting raster database consists of 21600 rows and 43200 columns, which are linked to harmonized soil property data. The use of a standardized structure allows for the linkage of the attribute data with the raster map to display or query the composition in terms of soil units and the characterization of selected soil parameters (organic Carbon, pH, water storage capacity, soil depth, cation exchange capacity of the soil and the clay fraction, total exchangeable nutrients, lime and gypsum contents, sodium exchange percentage, salinity, textural class and granulometry). An iterative calculation procedure has been implemented to estimate land cover class weights, consistent with aggregate FAO land statistics and spatial land cover patterns obtained from (the above mentioned) remotely sensed data, allowing the quantification of major land use/land cover shares in individual 5’ by 5’ latitude/longitude grid cells. The estimated class weights define for each land cover class the presence of respectively cultivated land and forest. Starting values of class weights used in the iterative procedure were obtained by cross-country regression of statistical data of cultivated and forest land against land cover class distributions obtained from GIS, aggregated to national level. The percentage of urban/built-up land in a grid-cell was estimated based on presence of respective land cover classes as well as regression equations relating built-up land with number of people and population density. Remaining areas were allocated to: grassland and other vegetated areas (excluding cultivated land and forest); barren or very sparsely vegetated areas, and water bodies according to indicated land cover classes. Barren or very sparsely vegetated areas (class (ii) above) were delineated from (i) using the respective land cover information in GLC 2000 and a minimum bio-productivity threshold. The resulting seven land use land cover categories shares are: Rain-fed cultivated land; Irrigated cultivated land; Forest; Pastures and other vegetated land;Barren and very sparsely vegetated land; Water; andUrban land and land required for housing and infrastructure.

Terrestrial boundaries of Canada's Ecozones. The country was grouped according to very broad physiographic and ecological similaritie into 15 ecozones. The ecozone dataset is part of The State of Canada's Ecosystems in Maps data collection. Ecozone boundaries were developed as part of the National Ecological Framework for Canada, a cooperative product by teh Ecosystems Science Directgorate, Environment Canada, and the Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (1999).

Terrestrial boundaries of Canada's Ecozones. The country was grouped according to very broad physiographic and ecological similaritie into 15 ecozones. The ecozone dataset is part of The State of Canada's Ecosystems in Maps data collection. Ecozone boundaries were developed as part of the National Ecological Framework for Canada, a cooperative product by teh Ecosystems Science Directgorate, Environment Canada, and the Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada (1999).

The distribution of Arctic char species complex, sensu stricto, and the location of introduced populations.

Dataset created to facilitate analysis of areas undergoing anthropogenic disturbance throughout Canada. The dataset combines roads, mines and reservoirs across Canada. Furthermore all anthropogenic featues across Canada which are visible on Landsat imagery (at 28.5m resolution) are included. Examples of these features include linear features such as pipelines, powerlines an seismic lines, and polygon features may include areas distgrubed due to forest harvesting, oil/gas wells and conversion to agricultural/settlement areas. The description of the anthropgenic change feature is not identified in the dataset.

Combines "key ecological values" witin intact forest landscapes in order to idenfify the most valueable areas from an ecological perspective. Results are very broad landscape-scale illustratio of focal areas that may warrant enhanced conservation and stewardship attention. It is not exhaustive. 7 key ecological values are mapped in 1-kilometre grid cells for all Canada's intact forest landscapes: soil organic carbon; net biome productivity; wetlands; lakes and rivers; potential old-growth; species diversity (reptiles and amphibians, birds, mammals, trees); and key focal species (woodland caribou).

Contained within the 3rd Edition (1957) of the Atlas of Canada is a plate that shows 20 condensed maps with ranges of important inland fish of commercial value found within Canada compiled from information supplied by the Department of Inland Fish. The ranges, for the most part, indicate present and usual distribution. Rare or occasional occurrences have not been shown. As there is still much to be learned about the fish species in some parts of Canada, some range limits are hypothetical. It should not be assumed that all species may be found throughout their respective ranges as indicated on these maps. Distribution within their broad ranges is frequently limited to particular but discontinuous habitats.

Contained within the 3rd Edition (1957) of the Atlas of Canada is a map that shows 20 condensed maps with the more popular game birds in Canada compiled from information supplied by the Canadian Wildlife Service. The ranges, for the most part, indicate present and usual distribution. Rare or occasional occurrences have not been shown. As there is still much to be learned about the bird species in parts of northern Canada, some range limits are hypothetical. It should not be assumed that all species may be found throughout their respective ranges as indicated on these maps. Distribution within their broad ranges is frequently limited to particular but discontinuous habitats.

Contained within the 3rd Edition (1957) of the Atlas of Canada is a map that shows 20 condensed maps with only mammals that are well-known to Canada compiled from information supplied by the Canadian Wildlife Service. The ranges, for the most part, indicate present and usual distribution. The rare or occasional occurrences have not been shown. As there is still much to be learned about the fauna in parts of northern Canada, some range limits are hypothetical. It should not be assumed that all species may be found throughout their respective ranges as indicated on these maps, distribution within their broad ranges is frequently limited to particular but discontinuous habitats.