An ecoregion is an area with major physiographic and minor macroclimatic or oceanographic variation. There are 43 ecoregion in British Columbia of which 39 are terrestrial. Ecodivsions are meant to be mapped at 1:500,000 for regional strategic planning

Ecosections are areas with minor physiographic and macroclimatic or oceanographic variations. There are 114 ecosections in British Columbia varying from pure marine units to pure terrestrial units. Ecosections are meant to be mapped at small scales (1:250,000) for resource emphasis and area planning

Ecodivisions are areas of broad climatic and physiographic uniformity, defined at the continental level.

Ecodomains are areas broad climatic uniformity, defined at the global level

The “Terrestrial Ecoprovinces of Canada” dataset provides representations of ecoprovinces. An ecoprovince is a subdivision of an ecozone and is characterized by major assemblages of structural or surface forms, faunal realms, and vegetation, hydrology, soil, and macro climate. For example, the Newfoundland ecoprovince (no. 6.4) is one of six ecoprovinces within the Boreal Shield Ecozone

The “Terrestrial Ecoregions of Canada” dataset provides representations of ecoregions. An ecoregion is a subdivision of an ecoprovince and is characterized by distinctive regional ecological factors, including climate, physiography, vegetation, soil, water, and fauna. For example, the Maritime Barrens ecoregion (no. 114) is one of nine ecoregions within the Newfoundland ecoprovince.

Ecoregion - Seven New Brunswick Ecoregions delineate areas that are different with regard to climate (precipitation and temperature), based principally on elevation above sea level and marine influences. Ecodistrict - Ecodistricts are nested subdivisions of Ecoregions based on geomorphologic and lithologic differences. The correct way to quote an ecodistrict number is to quote both its ecoregion and ecodistrict numbers, separated by a dash, e.g.: 2-1 denotes the Upsalquitch Ecodistrict in the Northern Uplands Ecoregion. Ecosection - Ecosections are nested subdivisions of Ecoregions based on topographic and relief differences. The correct way to quote an ecosection number is to quote its ecoregion, ecodistrict, and ecosection numbers, each separated by a dash, e.g.: 2-1-3 denotes Ecosection 3 of the Upsalquitch Ecodistrict in the Northern Uplands Ecoregion. Ecosite - Ecosites capture individual landforms that in theory outline a single forest ecosystem type at the 1:50,000 mapping scale. They are more-or-less uniform with regard soil moisture regime, soil nutrient regime, and topoclimate. Within ecoregions, each ecosite may be presumed to have similar vegetation potential in terms of native species composition, forest cover type, and timber growth rate (although the situation on the ground often deviates from what is mapped due to mapping imprecision and/or vegetation disturbance). To most narrowly describe an ecosite’s landscape context, the correct way to label it is to quote its ecoregion, ecodistrict, ecosection, and ecosite numbers, each separated by a dash, e.g.: 2-1-3-7 denotes Ecosite 7 in Ecosection 3 of the Upsalquitch Ecodistrict (1) in the Northern Uplands Ecoregion (2). For more information, see Department of Natural Resources 2007. Our landscape heritage [electronic resource] : the story of ecological land classification in New Brunswick. General editor: Vincent F. Zelazny. -- 2nd ed.

The Geomorphic Wetlands Cervantes Coastal dataset displays the location, boundary and geomorphic classification of wetlands in the Cervantes Coastal area. Wetlands are classified according to their host landform and hydroperiod. Evaluation of conservation significance is part of this dataset. Formally Geomorphic Wetlands Cervantes Coastal (DPAW-050)

The Forest Inventory Zone(s) (FIZ) were developed to provide a broadly based ecological classification of the forest land in British Columbia. FIZ closely follow the early biogeoclimatic zones developed by Dr. Krajina. The province of British Columbia is split into 12 FIZ zones.

Ecoregions by EPA region were extracted from the seamless national shapefile. Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. They are designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, management, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem components. These general purpose regions are critical for structuring and implementing ecosystem management strategies across federal agencies, state agencies, and nongovernment organizations that are responsible for different types of resources within the same geographical areas. The approach used to compile this map is based on the premise that ecological regions can be identified through the analysis of patterns of biotic and abiotic phenomena, including geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and hydrology. The relative importance of each characteristic varies from one ecological region to another. A Roman numeral hierarchical scheme has been adopted for different levels for ecological regions. Level I is the coarsest level, dividing North America into 15 ecological regions. Level II divides the continent into 52 regions (Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, 1997). At Level III, the continental United States contains 104 regions whereas the conterminous United States has 84 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005). Level IV ecoregions are further subdivisions of Level III ecoregions. Methods used to define the ecoregions are explained in Omernik (1995, 2004), Omernik and others (2000), and Gallant and others (1989). Literature cited: Commission for Environmental Cooperation Working Group, 1997, Ecological regions of North America- toward a common perspective: Montreal, Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 71 p. Gallant, A. L., Whittier, T.R., Larsen, D.P., Omernik, J.M., and Hughes, R.M., 1989, Regionalization as a tool for managing environmental resources: Corvallis, Oregon, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/600/3-89/060, 152p. Omernik, J.M., 1995, Ecoregions - a framework for environmental management, in Davis, W.S. and Simon, T.P., eds., Biological assessment and criteria-tools for water resource planning and decision making: Boca Raton, Florida, Lewis Publishers, p.49-62. Omernik, J.M., Chapman, S.S., Lillie, R.A., and Dumke, R.T., 2000, Ecoregions of Wisconsin: Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters, v. 88, p. 77-103. Omernik, J.M., 2004, Perspectives on the nature and definitions of ecological regions: Environmental Management, v. 34, Supplement 1, p. s27-s38. Comments and questions regarding Ecoregions should be addressed to Glenn Griffith, USGS, c/o US EPA., 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (541)-754-4465, email:griffith.glenn@epa.gov Alternate: James Omernik, USGS, c/o US EPA, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333, (541)-754-4458, email:omernik.james@epa.gov