EcoRegion

Revision Note: Please note that this dataset has been revised and is available from the Land Information Ontario (LIO) Warehouse.

Eco Regions are areas of land within which the response of vegetation to the features of landform follows a consistent pattern. An ecoregion (ecological region) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than an ecozone.

Various systems exist to delineate natural regions based on ecological factors. MNR defines ecological units on the basis of bedrock, climate, physiography and corresponding vegetation, creating an Ecological Land Classification (ELC) system.

The ELC of Ontario was revised by the ELC Working Group in 2000 to better reflect the ELC system originally developed by Angus Hills (1959 and later revisions). This dataset was revised to take account new information and new technology, while maintaining Hills's original concepts. For further information on the rationale for the revisions, refer to Ecoregions of Ontario Modifications to Angus Hills Site Regions and Districts, Revisions and Rationale, Crins and Uhlig 2000 . In 2002, the spatial data was updated using NRVIS drainage polygon data including islands from Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, and Ottawa River, and more detailed shoreline data. NTS mapping was also used to delineate the northern, eastern (Quebec border), and western (Manitoba border) boundaries of the province. In 2006, the shorelins of the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, and Ottawa River were removed and the effected polygon boundaries were extended out over the water bodies to the extent of the provincial boundary. This modification was undertaken to provide a more generic data layer which is intended to be used as a selection tool, and as a backdrop upon which evolving and multi scalar hydorology layers may be overlain or intersected.