Biodiversity in B.C.
British Columbia occupies 95 million hectares, with
a diverse physiography, climate, flora and fauna. Three
of the four broad continental climatic regions are represented
here - dry, humid temperate, and polar. The interaction
of these three systems, combined with the province's
land systems, creates 14 distinct climates. The variety
of the wildlife resource, one of the richest in North
America, arises from this interrelationship of land
and climate. See our Biodiversity
in BC brochure (201KB PDF)
There are 1138 species of vertebrates in BC, comprised
of the following:
- 488 species of birds
- 468 species of fish
- 142 species of mammals
- 22 species of amphibians
- 18 species of reptiles
Three-quarters of Canada's mammal species are found
in British Columbia, and 24 of those species are exclusive
to our province. Additional species of vertebrates are
regularly recorded here, perhaps as a result of the
expansion of home ranges, and of more intensive searching
by professional biologists and naturalists.
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Over 250 bird species breed in the province, 162 of
those (55%) breed nowhere else in Canada. Invertebrate
species probably number between 50,000 and 70,000, including
35,000 species of insects.
British Columbia has an estimated 2790 native vascular
plants species, (nearly 27% are considered species
at risk). Approximately 1000 bryophytes (mosses
and liverworts), 1600 lichens, 522 species of attached
algae and well over 10,000 species of fungi are present
in the province.
Canada is a signatory country to the Convention
on Biological Diversity. The Canadian Biodiversity
Strategy was prepared as part of Canada's commitment
to the convention.
Descriptions of the ongoing efforts to conserve biodiversity
in B.C. may be found in the Province's response to the
Canadian Biodiversity Strategy: Initiatives for the
Conservation of Biodiversity in British Columbia.
The new website: Endangered Species in British Columbia
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/
provides links and detailed information for species
at risk in British Columbia. Create lists by species
group(s), at risk status, and/or forest district for
Red- and Blue-listed species in British Columbia, and
link to species summaries and relevant publications
and references.
To learn more about the Biodiversity
and Wildlife in B.C. and related subjects - choose from
the list at left. Check out Other Links for additional
information on biodiversity, conservation and more.
![leaves](/web/20061229030159im_/http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/images/leaf.gif)
Illustrations by D. Gunn
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