The global map of forest types for year 2020 (GFT 2020) combines available global datasets (wall-to-wall or global in their scope) that indicate or are proxies for the four main forest types (primary forest, naturally regenerating forest, planted forest, plantation forest) that are set out by the EU Regulation on deforestation-free supply chains (EUDR, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115). The definitions in this regulation generally follow definitions on forest characteristics and specific forest categories from the FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment.
Data for deriving a harmonized, globally consistent representation of forest types are scarce, and mapping of the respective forest types from Earth Observation data is challenging.
The base layer for mapping these forest types is the extent of forest cover of version 3 of the Global Forest Cover map for year 2020 (GFC 2020). The definition of forest degradation under the EUDR implies that it is only necessary to assess the presence of primary forests, naturally regenerating forests (other than primary forests) and planted forests in the year 2020. As the GFT 2020 map is intended for the phase of risk assessment only, the plantation forests are not identified as sub class within planted forests. Moreover “other wooded land” exists only outside the extent of forest cover and is therefore not mapped in GFT 2020.
The main data layers that are used to delineate primary forests in GFT 2020 are (i) the Forest Landscape Integrity Index in 2019, (ii) map of undisturbed tropical mangroves in 2020 and degradation and deforestation in tropical moist forests from 1990 to 2020 (from JRC-TMF), (iii) map of Intact Forest Landscapes 2020, (iv) World Database on Protective Areas, (v) the European Primary Forest Dataset from Sabatini et al. 2021, (vi) global tree cover loss from 2001 to 2020 in combination with the map of drivers of global forest loss, (vii) tree cover loss alerts from RADD up to end of 2020 and (viii) a map on global mining land use. The main layers to map planted forests (including plantation forests) are (i) the WRI Spatial Database on Planted Trees (version 3.0), (ii) the updated IIASA Forest Management classes for year 2020 on planted/plantation forest, (iii) the Global Forest Canopy Height dataset in 2019, (iv) global tree cover in 2000 and loss from 2001 to 2020, (v) global drivers of forest loss and (vi) global natural forests in 2020.
The global input layers and mapping approach of GFT 2020 version 1 will be described in a separate technical report, expected to be released by March 2026. A technical report describes the mapping approach for the preliminary version (version 0) of GFT 2020.
The following tables show a non-exhaustive list of issues that have not been corrected in the map. The table “by region” lists issues of broader, more general nature. Specific issues are listed in the table “by coordinates”, where the coordinates point approximately to the centre location where the issue was found. Occasionally, these lists may be updated. Improvements of the map (higher versions) will aim to alleviate some of the known issues
| Region | Description of the issue |
|---|---|
| Brazil, San Paolo Province | General underestimation of planted |
| South Sumatra, North Giacarta | General inderestimation of planted |
| Benin | Blocky pattern in Plantations class |
| Longitude | Latitude | Description of the issue | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.199304 | 2.221388 | Underestimation of Primary Forest/ Overestimation of Plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 113.41495 | 2.9669 | Underestimation of Primary Forest/ Overestimation of Plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 117.050925 | 3.561305 | Underestimation of plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 103.07056 | 2.56017 | Artifacts/geometries due to used layers | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 103.04839 | 3.29307 | Underestimation of Naturally Regeneration Forest | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 133.0034 | -13.3238 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 131.0969 | -14.1547 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 132.5196 | -13.8093 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 114.1037 | -8.1119 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 104.10638 | -1.61761 | Underestimation of Plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 110.07993 | -0.51967 | Underestimation of Plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 117.06378 | 3.56266 | Underestimation of Plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 99.210577 | 2.289352 | Underestimation of Plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| -55.3357 | -6.0989 | Underestimation Primary | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| -66.8538 | -2.2601 | Underestimation Primary | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| -72.93033 | 1.30284 | Underestimation Primary | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 32.59053 | -26.86506 | Blocky pattern artifacts | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 14.1254 | -1.3262 | Underestimation Primary | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 18.66558 | 5.89449 | Strange Primary-Naturally regenerating artifact effect | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 20.7107 | -13.3478 | Strange Primary-Naturally regenerating artifact effect | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 26.7344 | -14.0132 | Strange Primary-Naturally regenerating artifact effect | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 144.1075 | -14.9738 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 34.2387 | -8.9176 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| -38.49091 | -9.57275 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 23.78031 | -33.87235 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 29.2564 | -31.18968 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 33.9318 | -21.6816 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 114.525 | -8.7201 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 117.2316 | 0.2568 | Artifacts | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 115.77125 | 4.62272 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| 116.50653 | 5.18477 | Blocky pattern | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| -10.993549 | 6.759046 | Overestimation plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| -40.174387 | -18.91453 | Underestimation plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
| -47.74617 | -18.86391 | Underestimation plantations | 26/01/2026 | Producer |
The global map of forest types for year 2020 version 1 is available for download by 10°x10° tiles. The tiling starts at 180°W and 80°N with tile ID “N80” and “W180”, respectively. Tiles over the ocean are not provided. The file format is GEOTIFF.
The naming convention is as follows JRC_GFT2020_V1_[lat]_[lon].tif, where:
Map coordinates are in latitude and longitude, referenced to the WGS84 datum.
Click on the tile in the image below to start the download.
The previous versions of the global forest type map of 2020 are available here:
Each of the downloadable files can be displayed in desktop GIS tools. The table below contains symbology files to display the colourmap and labels for the values in QGIS and ArcGIS.
| Dataset | QGIS | ArcGIS |
|---|---|---|
| Global forest types map 2020, Version 1 | JRC_GFT2020_V1.qml | JRC_GFT2020_V1.lyr |
The files for download are geolocated (latitude and longitude with WGS84 datum) but do not contain any metadata information. Please right-click in the table below to download the metadata file.
| Dataset | ISO 19139 Metadata file |
|---|---|
| Global map of forest types 2020, Version 1 | JRC_GFT2020_V1.xml |
Interactive visualization of the global forest type map along with frequently asked questions and other information can be found at the EU Observatory on deforestation and forest degradation website.
The global forest type map of 2020 can also be viewed in other websites or GIS clients as WMS (Web Map Service). They are not suitable for analysis as the data are represented only as RGB images. The WMS URL is: https://ies-ows.jrc.ec.europa.eu/iforce/gft2020/wms.py? Note: link will not open correctly in a web browser. For guidance on adding WMS services to a GIS software, see this report
The Global map of forest types for year2020 (Version 0) can also be accessed and used in the Google Earth Engine platform: https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/JRC_GFC2020_subtypes_V1
The Global Forest Types Map 2020 (Version 1) is also available for download as a single global mosaic in TIFF
format from the Big Data Analytics Platform: https://jeodpp.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ftp/jrc-opendata/FOREST/GFT2020/LATEST/
Note: This is a service for advanced users. The file is large (circa 50-GB compressed TIFF) and intended
for global-scale forest studies. Users should be in possession of specialized software to read and analyse
large data volumes. The JRC will not provide further support or advice.
All data here are produced under studies funded by the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission through the Dev-ForObs and DevForObs2 projects. All data are provided free-of-charge, without restriction of use. For the full license information see the Copernicus Regulation of the European Commission.
Publications, models and data products that make use of this dataset must include proper acknowledgement, including citing dataset as in the following citation:
Bourgoin, Clement; Ameztoy, Iban; Verhegghen, Astrid; Carboni, Silvia; Achard, Frederic; Colditz, Rene (2026): Global map of forest types 2020 - version 1. European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) [Dataset] PID: http://data.europa.eu/89h/45182662-3015-4a25-8d1e-aa857d75235d
The designations employed and the presentation of material on this map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the European Union concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
