To assess the accuracy of global land cover products, a high quality reference dataset was globally compiled by a ground survey. However, on a global scale, the on-site collection of such data is very difficult to achieve. In this study, a reference dataset was produced using land cover information from the Degree Confluence Project (DCP), which is a volunteer-based project that aims to collect land cover information at the intersection of the world's integer latitude and longitude degree lines. This article aims to serve as a descriotion manual for the production of a reference dataset using DCP information to assess the accuracy of global land cover products.