DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17079487
title: Trends.Earth SDG Indicator 15.3.1 Datasets

description: This file contains the globally calculated SDG 15.3.1 indicator dataset for the 2000-2015 baseline time period and for the 2015-2019 and 2019-2023 UNCCD reporting periods, using the default data in the Trends.Earth tool (i.e. ESA CCI land cover, Trends.Earth land productivity dynamics, ISRIC SoilGrids). The file is saved as a cloud-optimized geotiff (COG) using 16-bit integers.

Each band follows the standard conventions used in Trends.Earth. See the documentation of Trends.Earth for further information on how to interpret the values contained within each band. The datasets were processed in alignment with the Good Practice Guidance for SDG Indicator 15.3.1, and in particular the Addendum to the Good Practice Guidance, which provides guidance on how to assess status of land relative to a baseline.

The included QGIS map file can be used to view the tiff in QGIS with the standard Trends.Earth symbology applied to each layer.

These data products are made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). The boundaries and names used, and the designations used, in Trends.Earth do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by Conservation International Foundation, or its partner organizations and contributors.

Changelog



Version 1.1. Released September 8, 2025. Applies updated MODIS product MOD13Q1 version 6.1; Fixes errors in calculation of bands 10, 11, and 14 due to use of deprecated MODIS dataset.

Version 1.0. Released July 29, 2025


Bands



Band 1: SDG Indicator 15.3.1 for baseline (2000-2015)

Band 2: Land Productivity Dynamics (using Trends.Earth method) for 2001 - 2015

Band 3: Land cover degradation for 2000 - 2015

Band 4: Soil organic carbon degradation for 2000 - 2015

Band 5: SDG Indicator 15.3.1 for 2004-2019

Band 6: Land Productivity Dynamics (using Trends.Earth method) for 2004 - 2019

Band 7: Land cover degradation for 2015 - 2019

Band 8: Soil organic carbon degradation for 2015 - 2019

Band 9: SDG Indicator 15.3.1 status in 2019 (compared to 2000-2015 baseline)

Band 10: SDG Indicator 15.3.1 for 2008-2023

Band 11: Land Productivity Dynamics (using Trends.Earth method) for 2008-2023

Band 12: Land cover degradation for 2015 - 2023

Band 13: Soil organic carbon degradation for 2015 - 2023

Band 14: SDG Indicator 15.3.1 status in 2023 (compared to 2000-2015 baseline)


Band coding

SDG 15.3.1 Indicator








Value



Meaning







-32768



No data





-1



Degradation





0



No change





1



Improvement






SDG 15.3.1 Indicator (status)








Value



Meaning







-32768



No data





1



Degradation (persistent)





2



Degradation (recent)





3



Degradation (baseline)





4



Stability





5



Improvement (baseline)





6



Improvement (recent)





7



Improvement (persistent)





Land Productivity Dynamics








Value



Meaning







-32768



No data





1



Declining





2



Moderate decline





3



Stressed





4



Stable





5



Increasing





Land cover (degradation)








Value



Meaning







-32768



No data





-1



Degradation





0



No change





1



Improvement






Soil organic carbon (degradation)








Value



Meaning







-32768



No data





Any other value



Percentage change in soil organic carbon content (0 - 30 cm depth) from baseline to target year. Positive values indicate increase, negative values indicate decrease.