The Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) is a comprehensive, standardized a priori classification system designed to meet specific user requirements, and created for mapping exercises, independent of the scale or means used to map. It enables a comparison of land cover classes regardless of data sources, thematic discipline or country. The LCCS method enhances the standardization process and minimizes the problems of dealing with a very large number of pre-defined classes. The manual accompanies version 2 of the LCCS software, which has been developed based on the experience gained from numerous United Nations, international and country mapping activities, including the Africover East Africa Project and the Global Land Cover 2000 initiative. The new version of the LCCS software is fully compatible with the previous version, thus ensuring continuity of past and future LCCS mapping activities. [Minimum system requirements: Pentium processor; 8MB RAM (16 MB or more recommended); Hard disk with at least 60 MB of free space; Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP]