This vector layer represents the Okavango Delta System Ramsar site within the Okavango River Basin. Source: The RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands. This dataset is part of the GIS Database for the Environment Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango River Basin project (EPSMO). Detailed information on the database can be found in the “GIS Database for the EPSMO Project” document produced by Luis Veríssimo (FAO consultant) in July 2009, and here available for download.

Soil and terrain suitability for maize dataset, at about 1 km resolution, investigates soil suitability and both soil and terrain suitability for maize, under rain-fed condition, with high and low inputs. The Soil and terrain suitability for crops datasets are part of the GAEZ v4 Theme 1 Land and Water Resources, Soil Suitability sub-theme. In the GAEZ v4 the Soil Suitability assessment sub-theme, soil qualities are evaluated for each crop and input/management level and for different water supply systems (rain-fed and irrigated). The results are crop and input level specific soil suitability ratings, which are used for the crop suitability and attainable yield assessment presented in Theme 4. Terrain suitability is also estimated according to terrain-slope classes and location-specific rainfall amounts and rainfall-concentration characteristics to account for soil erosion risks related to crop cover dynamics. Soil and terrain suitability are combined in an edaphic rating factor by crop, water supply type and input level, which is an important input for the estimation of agro-ecological crop suitability and attainable yields presented in Theme 4. For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.

The quality and availability of land and water resources, together with socio-economic conditions and institutional factors, are essential to assure sustainable food security. GAEZ provides a framework for establishing a spatial inventory of land resources. Global environmental datasets provide the spatial characteristics required for land productivity assessments concerning location-specific agro-ecological conditions. The land resources inventory contains spatial layers of climate, land cover, soil, elevation and terrain slopes, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value, administrative units, watersheds, population and livestock distribution. Theme 1: Land and Water Resources provides selected layers of the GAEZ v4 land resources database organized in several sub-themes of (1) Agro-ecological Zones, (2) Land Cover, (3) Soil Resources, (4) Soil Suitability, (5) Terrain Resources, (6) Exclusion Areas, (7) Water Resources, and (8) Selected Socio-economic Data. Results of this theme are presented in a regular raster format of 5 arc-minute (about 9 x 9 km at the equator) grid cells. Selected maps related to AEZ classification, soil suitability, terrain slopes and land cover are provided at 30 arc-second (0.9 x 0.9 km) resolution. The GAEZ v4 update includes 2010 baseline data comprising land cover, a harmonized global soil database and terrain data, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value. Climatic conditions are based on a time series of historical data of 1961-2010 and a selection of future climate simulations (30-year average of years 2011-2040, 2041-2070, and 2070-2099) using recent IPCC AR5 Earth System Model (ESM) outputs for four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs). GAEZ methodology development, data base compilation, production of results and establishing the Data Portal were accomplished in close technical collaboration and with inputs of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.

Moisture regime classification at about 9 km resolution at the equator, using different climate data source and based on different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) according to the time period as follows: - climate data source CRUTS32 based on historical data for the time period 1981-2010; - climate data source ENSEMBLE based on the Representative Concentration Pathway RCP8.5 for time periods 2041-2070 and 2071-2100. The Moisture regime classification dataset is part of the GAEZ v4 Theme 1 Land and Water Resources, Agro-Ecological Zones sub-theme. The agro-ecological zones classification provides a characterization of bio-physical resources relevant to agricultural production systems. AEZ definitions and map classes follow a rigorous methodology and an explicit set of principles. The inventory combines spatial layers of thermal and moisture regimes with broad categories of soil/terrain qualities. It also indicates locations of areas with irrigated soils and shows land with severely limiting bio-physical constraints including very cold and very dry (desert) areas as well as areas with very steep terrain or very poor soil/terrain conditions. For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.

Thermal regime classification at about 9 km resolution at the equator, using different climate data source and based on different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) according to the time period as follows: - climate data source CRUTS32 based on historical data for the time period 1981-2010; - climate data source ENSEMBLE based on the Representative Concentration Pathway RCP8.5 for time periods 2041-2070 and 2071-2100. The Thermal regime classification dataset is part of the GAEZ v4 Theme 1 Land and Water Resources, Agro-Ecological Zones sub-theme. The agro-ecological zones classification provides a characterization of bio-physical resources relevant to agricultural production systems. AEZ definitions and map classes follow a rigorous methodology and an explicit set of principles. The inventory combines spatial layers of thermal and moisture regimes with broad categories of soil/terrain qualities. It also indicates locations of areas with irrigated soils and shows land with severely limiting bio-physical constraints including very cold and very dry (desert) areas as well as areas with very steep terrain or very poor soil/terrain conditions. For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.

Simplified AEZ classification (33 classes) at about 1 km resolution at the equator, using different climate data source and based on different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) according to the time period as follows: - climate data source CRUTS32 based on historical data for the time period 1981-2010; - climate data source ENSEMBLE based on the Representative Concentration Pathway RCP8.5 for time periods 2041-2070 and 2071-2100. The Simplified AEZ classification dataset is part of the GAEZ v4 Theme 1 Land and Water Resources, Agro-Ecological Zones sub-theme. The agro-ecological zones classification provides a characterization of bio-physical resources relevant to agricultural production systems. AEZ definitions and map classes follow a rigorous methodology and an explicit set of principles. The inventory combines spatial layers of thermal and moisture regimes with broad categories of soil/terrain qualities. It also indicates locations of areas with irrigated soils and shows land with severely limiting bio-physical constraints including very cold and very dry (desert) areas as well as areas with very steep terrain or very poor soil/terrain conditions. For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.

This map shows the Geographic Information System (GIS) ancillary information used to prepare thematic posters for the FAO-Nile Basin project. They are: -administrative units; -basin boundary; -boundary above water bodies; -country boundaries; canals&tunnels; -cities; -irrigated areas; -protected areas; -rivers; urban areas; -water bodies; -SRTM. Sources and information for each layer can be found in the "FAO Nile Information Products Synthesis Report" here available in the Distribution section of this metadata form.

AEZ classification by climate, soil, terrain and land cover (57 classes) at about 1 km resolution at the equator, using different climate data source and based on different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) according to the time period as follows: - climate data source CRUTS32 based on historical data for the time period 1981-2010; - climate data source ENSEMBLE based on the Representative Concentration Pathway RCP8.5 for time periods 2041-2070 and 2071-2100. The AEZ classification by climate, soil, terrain and land cover dataset is part of the GAEZ v4 Theme 1 Land and Water Resources, Agro-Ecological Zones sub-theme. The agro-ecological zones classification provides a characterization of bio-physical resources relevant to agricultural production systems. AEZ definitions and map classes follow a rigorous methodology and an explicit set of principles. The inventory combines spatial layers of thermal and moisture regimes with broad categories of soil/terrain qualities. It also indicates locations of areas with irrigated soils and shows land with severely limiting bio-physical constraints including very cold and very dry (desert) areas as well as areas with very steep terrain or very poor soil/terrain conditions. For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.

Dominant AEZ classification (33 classes) at about 9 km resolution at the equator, using different climate data source and based on different Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) according to the time period as follows: - climate data source CRUTS32 based on historical data for the time period 1981-2010; - climate data source ENSEMBLE based on the Representative Concentration Pathway RCP8.5 for time periods 2041-2070 and 2071-2100. The Dominant AEZ classification dataset is part of the GAEZ v4 Theme 1 Land and Water Resources, Agro-Ecological Zones sub-theme. The agro-ecological zones classification provides a characterization of bio-physical resources relevant to agricultural production systems. AEZ definitions and map classes follow a rigorous methodology and an explicit set of principles. The inventory combines spatial layers of thermal and moisture regimes with broad categories of soil/terrain qualities. It also indicates locations of areas with irrigated soils and shows land with severely limiting bio-physical constraints including very cold and very dry (desert) areas as well as areas with very steep terrain or very poor soil/terrain conditions. For further details, please refer to the GAEZ v4 Model Documentation.