State of Environment Reporting

Ecosystem Classification in British Columbia

B.C.’s terrestrial and marine ecosystems are described by a multi-level classification scheme. This provides a framework for evaluating natural resources and for planning and managing the activities that take place in the environment. Some environmental indicators use this ecosystem classification.

The B.C. Ecoregion Classification has five levels of detail:

  1. Ecodomain
  2. Ecodivision
  3. Ecoprovince
  1. Ecoregion
  2. Ecosection

The three lowest levels, ecoprovinces, ecoregions and ecosections are most commonly used in natural resource planning. Each provides an increasing level of detail on areas of similar climate, physiography, oceanography, hydrology, vegetation and wildlife potential. Marine ecosystems are further characterized by areas of similar temperature, salinity, sea-bed configuration and water depth.

Ecoregions of B.C.
Ecosections of B.C.
Click on images for larger pdf versions.

The Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification system is nested within the ecoregion classification, defining in even greater detail specific soils, plant and animal communities and aquatic systems. It is particularly useful for managing forested ecosystems.

Most British Columbians have an intuitive feeling for the Province’s regional ecosystems. People from the Interior often travel to the "Coast" to do their shopping. You hear other expressions such as "up north" ... and the "Cariboo". These are not imaginary places or strictly administrative areas: they have their basis in an Ecoregion framework. ... "up north" is really those cold mountains, plains and plateaus which are usually under the influence of a cold Arctic air mass during the winter ... and the "Cariboo" is an area of rolling hills that are interspersed with wetlands, aspen groves and stunted Douglas-fir forests...

Dennis Demarchi, An Introduction to the Ecoregions of British Columbia