B.C. Conservation Data Centre: What's New

November 2009

An enhanced version of BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer is now available. Improvements include:

  • Conservation Framework Priorities and Actions groups are now available for many species and ecosystems. Conservation Framework outputs can be found in 3 places on BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer:
    • the highest CF Priority is displayed on the Search Results page;
    • Action groups and priorities for each Goal are available by using the Export button on the Search Results page; and
    • a Conservation Framework Summary Report is available through the Reports and References page.

    Click here (PDF 568KB) for more information on how to use BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer to obtain Conservation Framework outputs.

    For more information about the Conservation Framework, please visit the website at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/conservationframework.

  • MOE Region and Regional District maps for species and ecological communities, and an Ecosection map for ecological communities have been added alongside the distribution search boxes.

  • The BC Species Summary which you link to from the Reports and References page now includes a detailed table for each distribution category indicating the species':
    • occurrence status for that area (confident, predicted or possible);
    • origin status (native, introduced or re-introduced);
    • migrant status (breeding and residency status of migrant species).

    Distribution information for species is based upon a combination of expert opinion, observation records, and literature. If you find any errors or omissions, please let us know.

  • Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM), Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM) and Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI) reports have been added for ecological communities. These are available on the Reports and References page.

  • Additions and revisions to the Explorer help tabs and pop-up help windows on the search and results pages.

May 2009

Revisions and additions to data:

Species Data

The 2009 CDC changes in taxonomy and provincial status ranks for species are now available through BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. Changes are summarized in documents on the Endangered Species and Ecosystems 2008/09 Changes page.

Note that BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer is the provincial RISC standard for scientific names, English names and RISC codes for animals (vertebrates and invertebrates).

Ecological Community Data

Details of changes to ecological community data are listed in a spreadsheet available on the Endangered Species and Ecosystems 2008/09 Changes page. Changes include:

  • Provincial and Global Conservation Status has changed for several ecological communities .
  • Conservation Status reports are available for several more ecological communities through BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer.
  • Distribution data (Biogeoclimatic unit, Forest District, Ecosection, Ministry of Environment Region and Regional District) have been refined for some ecological communities.
  • Range maps have been revised to be consistent with distribution refinements and some new range maps have been added.

May 2008

An enhanced version of BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer is now available. Improvements include:

  • The capability to expand or collapse search criteria groups, to suit individual users.
  • The capability to search for species by RISC code and synonyms.
  • The capability to select more than one Forest District within a single search.
  • The addition of Ministry of Environment Region and Regional District as search criteria for red, blue and legally designated species, and all ecological communities.
  • The addition of Ecosystem Group as a search criterion for ecological community elements.
  • Links to Google Maps to view known locations of species/ecological communities at risk.
  • Bibiographic links to new documents including status reports, recovery plans and best management practices.
  • Links to the new Cross-Linked Information Repository (CLIR) and Habitat Wizard.