Land Disturbance Alert Classification System

The Land Disturbance Alert Classification System (LDACS) is a global data set that enhances NASA's 30-meter resolution DIST-ALERT system by integrating fire, water, cropland, and natural ecosystem data. It classifies vegetation disturbances into four categories: potential land conversion, fire-related, water-related, and cropland dynamics. This system specifically addresses monitoring gaps for non-forest ecosystems like grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and wetlands. Global 2023 data indicates that cropland dynamics represent one-third of classified disturbances, while potential land conversion accounts for 4%. Initial validation in Brazil's Cerrado biome demonstrated an 87% accuracy rate for classified alerts.

• LDACS classifies vegetation disturbances into four specific categories: potential land conversion, fire-related, water-related, and cropland dynamics, filling a monitoring gap for non-forest ecosystems such as shrublands, savannas, grasslands, and wetlands.
• Global data from 2023 shows that cropland dynamics constitute one-third of all classified disturbances, whereas potential land conversion represents only 4% of alerts.
• Initial validation of the system in the Cerrado biome of Brazil resulted in an 87% accuracy rate for classified alerts.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Land Disturbance Alert Classification System. https://www.wri.org/research/land-disturbance-alert-classification-system

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Land Disturbance Alert Classification System. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/land-disturbance-alert-classification-system.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Land Disturbance Alert Classification System |url=https://www.wri.org/research/land-disturbance-alert-classification-system |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendland, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Land Disturbance Alert Classification System}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/land-disturbance-alert-classification-system}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }