Remote sensing provides us with a continuous and constant source of information about the Earth, and  geographic information systems (GIS) are a methodology for handling all of this geographic data. This allows us to carry out large scale analyses of the surface and, at the same time, provide increasingly detailed knowledge on many planetary variables and improve our understanding of its functioning.  These analyses are essential for decision-making on the sustainable management of natural resources, designing networks of protected areas, and addressing the threats of global change.