Ministry of Environment Endangered Species and Ecosystems

Known Locations of Species and Ecosystems

What is an Occurrence, or an Element Occurrence?

An element occurrence is an area of land and/or water in which a species or ecological community is or was present. The number of known occurrences for a element may be an important factor in determining its Conservation Status Rank. An element occurrence record is the spatial representation of a species or ecological community at a specific location. An element occurrence generally delineates a species population or ecological community stand, and represents the geo-referenced biological feature that is of conservation management interest.

Why are some locations considered "sensitive"?

Some locations are particularly vulnerable to human disturbance and some species have commercial value. Examples are falcon aeries, rattlesnake dens, and bat 'hibernacula' or roost sites. The CDC will not disclose the locations of sensitive occurrences, or those on private property if the owner does not want the location disclosed. Regional Rare and Endangered Species biologists can authorize the CDC to release sensitive information on a need to know basis. For more information on obtaining sensitive data, contact the CDC.

How can I learn about known locations of Red- and Blue-listed species and ecological communities in BC?

Search for the species or ecological community in BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. From the results page, click on the globe icon. This will link you to Google Maps where you will see mapped known locations. Alternatively, visit the Mapped Known Locations page.

How can I find out if there are Red- or Blue-listed species or ecological communities at a particular location?

Visit the Mapped Known Locations page.