Ministry of Environment EcoCat: The Ecological Reports Catalogue

Searching EcoCat

Users can search for EcoCat reports using three different methods. These are:

• a basic text search


• an advanced text search to limit the number of returns


• a map search tool

The Basic search tool uses "Keywords" to search the following fields in EcoCat to return reports: Title, Author, Short Description and Long Description. The search results are returned on a new web page that has the Title, Author, Date of Report and Short Description for each item returned. Each title on the returned search results page is a web link to a full individual project web page that has a more extensive description of each project . It is also the page that any associated files are downloaded or viewed from. Projects that relate to all of British Columbia or multiple geographical areas can be searched on the keywords "province wide".

The Advanced search allows users to query the data base using multiple search criteria such as species, business area (fish & fish habitat, water inventory and terrestrial information). When using the advanced search tool, select the Boolean "AND" "OR" button when selecting multiple search subjects. Selecting "AND" will only return reports that contain all subject areas queried. For example, asking for reports with cougar and deer will only return reports that have both species listed. Selecting "OR" will return all reports or projects with cougars OR deer listed. Once submitted, the query results function exactly the same as the keyword results. The advanced search is most often used for limiting the number of reports returned for very common keywords such as "water".

The Map search allows users to search for reports by defining an area of interest on a map of British Columbia. Identified points indicate the approximate centres of each study area. A list of all EcoCat reports in the user defined area will then be produced. Click on each link in the list to bring up the full web page about that specific project. Projects that relate to all of British Columbia or multiple geographical areas show their location as being in the approximate middle of the Province at this time (Prince George).

Return to EcoCat Launch page.