1.4 Biodiversity in British Columbia

BC is more ecologically diverse than any province or territory in Canada. Biodiversity in BC reflects the complex topography and climate. 

• BC has 14 biogeoclimatic zones (large geographic areas with a broadly homogeneous climate).
• BC has nine terrestrial eco provinces (areas of similar climate, topography and geologic history).
• BC contains 6 of the 10 forest regions in Canada, as well as a variety of grasslands, meadowlands, wetlands, rivers and lakes, and inter-tidal and sub-tidal zones.

For example, a variety of habitat types or successional stages are required to maintain a range of native mammals.

In British Columbia, there are:

• 454 bird species — this is more than 70% of all Canadian bird species. About one third of these breed only in BC
• 143 mammal species — this is nearly 80% of the total or Canada. 25 of these species occur only in BC
• 20 amphibians species (frogs, salamanders)
• 80 species of birds, mammals and amphibians depend on wildlife trees for some component of their life history requirements (feeding, nesting, denning, shelter, perching)
• 19 reptile species

Conservation efforts and management in British Columbia

• B.C.'s Red, Blue and Yellow lists
• Conservation status ranks
• Protecting B.C.'s biodiversity