Environment Canada
www.ec.gc.ca
Home > Nature > Ecosystems and Habitats
An ecosystem is a self-sustaining community that consists of a dynamic set of living organisms interacting with each other and with their environment. Canada is the steward of many globally important ecosystems, including 25 per cent of the world's wetlands and boreal forests. Habitat describes the location and environmental conditions in which a particular organism normally lives.
This section provides information on where plants and animals live and on Environment Canada's efforts to support healthy and diverse wildlife populations through the preservation of wilderness areas.
Explore the exhibits and activities presented by the Biosphère to learn about water, climate change and the sustainable development of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence ecosystem.
Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial or coastal ecosystems that are internationally recognized within UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature.
This venture is part of a unique collaborative wildlife conservation and management strategy in Quebec.
This program has enabled individual and corporate landowners to protect their cherished piece of nature forever by donating ecologically sensitive land to an environmental charity or government body.
Find information here about the Ecological Gifts Program in Ontario.
Find information here about the Ecological Gifts Program in Quebec.
Find information here on how organizations and individuals involved in ecological monitoring in Canada work together to detect, describe and report on ecosystem changes.
Here you will find information related to ecosystems in the Pacific and Yukon Region. This includes state of the environment reporting, environmental indicators, and programs and reports on ecosystem science, monitoring and research.
Here you will find information about different types of ecosystems: arctic, boreal, prairie and others.
Here you will find information about different types of ecosystems: Arctic, Boreal, Prairie and others.
Environment Canada considers habitat protection vital to conserving wildlife and is making efforts to preserve the remaining wilderness areas that support healthy and diverse wildlife populations.
This section contains links related to habitat conservation in the Prairies and Northern Region.
This is one of the three main federal funding programs focussed on the protection and recovery of species at risk.
Find information here on migratory bird sanctuaries in Alberta, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Here you will find links to migratory bird sanctuaries in Quebec.
This section offers information on migratory bird sanctuaries located in South-western Nova-Scotia namely, Port Joli, Port Hebert, Sable River and Haley Lake.
Find links here to national wildlife areas located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nunavut of the Prairie and Northern Region.
This section contains links to national wildlife areas in Quebec.
This initiative is the result of an agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States to facilitate the conservation of North American native bird species.
This section contains information on marine and terrestrial ecozones and ecoregions in the Pacific and Yukon Region.
Find links here to the Protected Areas Network located in Ontario.
The St. Lawrence Centre is a federal research and development centre devoted entirely to the river ecosystem and involved in studies and research program aimed at better understanding how the ecosystems function.
This section presents overviews of important environmental issues, designed to translate science and data into information and knowledge that can be used by decision-makers. Resources and tools for indicator and reporting practitioners are also included.
This network has become an active and successful conservation program, working to identify and protect key shorebird areas and provides support to the reserves.
Through this database, you can find out where and when a particular goose was collared and you can help collect scientific data by entering your observations.
WILDSPACE lets you explore Ontario's species and spaces --- particularly birds and their habitats on the web. Find extensive data here including life histories, habitat information, images, sounds and maps. WILDSPACE also provides an analytical and mapping tool for researchers.