coastTrain: A Global Reference Library for Coastal Ecosystems

Estimating the distribution, extent and change of coastal ecosystems is essential for monitoring global change. However, spatial models developed to estimate distribution land cover types require accurate up-to-date reference data support model development, training validations. Owing labor-intensive tasks required develop datasets, often requiring intensive campaigns image interpretation and/or field work, availability sufficiently large quality well distributed datasets has emerged as a major bottleneck hindering advances in continental global-scale ecosystem mapping. To enhance our ability distributions globally, we dataset 193,105 occurrence records seven types—muddy shorelines, mangroves, coral reefs, saltmarshes, seagrass meadows, rocky shoreline, kelp forests—suitable supporting current next-generation remote sensing classification models. coastTrain version 1.0 contains curated collected by several mapping initiatives, including Allen Coral Atlas, Global Tidal Flats, Mangrove Watch Wetlands Change. facilitate use consistency across studies, been harmonized International Union Conservation Nature’s (IUCN) Ecosystem Typology. an ongoing collaborative initiative designed sharing ecosystems, expected novel promote validations independently products enable improved rapidly changing environments worldwide.