Vancouver Island Region Ecosystems

The biodiversity of Vancouver Island is uniquely linked to its climate and geomorphology. The island lies within British Columbia’s Southern Hypermaritime climatic type that supports ecosystems within the Coastal Douglas-fir, Coastal Western Hemlock and Mountain Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Units. Influenced by the long winter rainy season, together with water deficits experienced during the summer (especially on the southeastern coastline), these ecosystem complexes represent some of the highest concentration of biodiversity in the province.

The island’s mild climate, picturesque landscapes and charismatic wildlife attracts many recreational visitors and new residents to the island. Strong urban and rural growth and upland resource extraction however have contributed to the loss and degradation of some of Canada’s rarest ecosystems. 

To encourage careful stewardship of these finite and fragile resources, the Vancouver Island Regional Ecosystem Section conducts outreach and monitoring aimed at raising public awareness about the island’s ecological values and the potential impacts of human activities on the landscape, while collaborating on community-led planning processes to minimize these impacts. 

The Ecosystems Section develops, interprets and implements provincial and regional strategies to protect, conserve and restore biological and physical diversity native to the region.  It provides expertise in the integration of fish and wildlife habitat and ecosystem conservation requirements into forest management, and urban, rural, and industrial land us.The Section also provides conservation expertise to Parks and Protected Areas staff, maximizing our opportunities to conserve our ecological heritage. (PHOTO)