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List of ecoregions in Canada (WWF) facts for kids

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This page is about WWF classifications. For an alternate classification system, see Ecozones of Canada.
Terrestrial ecoregions CAN
Terrestrial ecoregions of Canada

Imagine Canada as a giant puzzle! This article lists the different "puzzle pieces" called ecoregions in Canada. An ecoregion is a large area of land or water. It has its own special mix of plants, animals, and ecosystems. These areas are identified by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). They help us understand and protect nature.

Land Ecoregions: Canada's Natural Zones

Canada has many different land ecoregions. They are all part of a bigger area called the Nearctic realm. This realm covers most of North America. The Nearctic realm, along with the Palearctic realm in Europe and Asia, forms the Holarctic realm. This huge area covers the northern half of the world.

British Columbia is Canada's most diverse province. It has 18 different ecoregions! These regions spread across four main types of natural areas, called biomes. On the other hand, Prince Edward Island is much smaller. It has only one ecoregion. This single ecoregion, called the Gulf of St. Lawrence lowland forests, covers the whole island.

What are Biomes?

A biome is a very large natural area. It has a specific climate, plants, and animals. Think of it as a major type of habitat. Canada has several biomes, from cold tundras to vast forests.

Canada's Terrestrial Ecoregions by Biome

Here's a look at the different land ecoregions you can find in Canada. They are grouped by their main biome type.

Biome Ecoregion Province/Territory
Boreal forests/taiga Central Canadian Shield forests Ontario, Quebec
Boreal forests/taiga Eastern Canadian forests New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec
Boreal forests/taiga Eastern Canadian Shield taiga Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec
Boreal forests/taiga Interior Alaska–Yukon lowland taiga Yukon
Boreal forests/taiga Mid-Continental Canadian forests Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan
Boreal forests/taiga Midwestern Canadian Shield forests Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
Boreal forests/taiga Muskwa–Slave Lake forests Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories
Boreal forests/taiga Newfoundland Highland forests Newfoundland and Labrador
Boreal forests/taiga Northern Canadian Shield taiga Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan
Boreal forests/taiga Northern Cordillera forests British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Yukon
Boreal forests/taiga Northwest Territories taiga Northwest Territories, Yukon
Boreal forests/taiga South Avalon–Burin oceanic barrens Newfoundland and Labrador
Boreal forests/taiga Southern Hudson Bay taiga Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec
Boreal forests/taiga Yukon Interior dry forests British Columbia, Yukon
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Eastern forest–boreal transition Ontario, Quebec
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Eastern Great Lakes lowland forests Ontario, Quebec
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Gulf of St. Lawrence lowland forests New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests New England–Acadian forests New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Southern Great Lakes forests Ontario
Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests Western Great Lakes forests Manitoba, Ontario
Temperate coniferous forests Alberta Mountain forests Alberta, British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Alberta–British Columbia foothills forests Alberta, British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests British Columbia mainland coastal forests British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Cascade Mountains leeward forests British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Central British Columbia Mountain forests British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Central Pacific coastal forests British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Fraser Plateau and Basin complex British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Haida Gwaii forests British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests North Central Rockies forests Alberta, British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Northern transitional alpine forests British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Okanagan dry forests British Columbia
Temperate coniferous forests Puget lowland forests British Columbia
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Canadian aspen forests and parklands Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Montana valley and foothill grasslands Alberta
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Northern mixed grasslands Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Northern short grasslands Alberta, Saskatchewan
Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Northern tall grasslands Manitoba
Tundra Alaska–St. Elias Range tundra British Columbia, Yukon
Tundra Arctic coastal tundra Northwest Territories, Yukon
Tundra Baffin coastal tundra Nunavut
Tundra Brooks–British Range tundra Northwest Territories, Yukon
Tundra Davis Highlands tundra Nunavut
Tundra High Arctic tundra Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Tundra Interior Yukon–Alaska alpine tundra Yukon
Tundra Low Arctic tundra Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec
Tundra Middle Arctic tundra Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec
Tundra Ogilvie–MacKenzie alpine tundra Northwest Territories, Yukon
Tundra Pacific Coastal Mountain icefields and tundra British Columbia, Yukon
Tundra Torngat Mountain tundra Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec

Marine Ecoregions: Canada's Ocean Zones

Canada is special because it touches three huge ocean areas. These are called marine realms. They include the Arctic Ocean, the Temperate Northern Atlantic, and the Temperate Northern Pacific.

These large ocean realms are divided even further. They contain three main types of marine biomes. Within these biomes, there are fifteen unique marine ecoregions. These divisions are based on the distinct types of sea life found in each area.

Did you know that Quebec is the only province that touches two different ocean realms? It borders both the Arctic and the Temperate Northern Atlantic realms!

Canada's Marine Ecoregions by Biome

Here are the different marine ecoregions found in Canada's waters. They are grouped by their main ocean biome.

Biome Ecoregion Province/Territory
Arctic Baffin Bay-Davis Strait Nunavut
Arctic Beaufort - Amundsen - Viscount Melville - Queen Maud Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Arctic Beaufort Sea continental coast and shelf Northwest Territories, Yukon
Arctic High Arctic Archipelago Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Arctic Hudson Complex Manitoba, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec
Arctic Lancaster Sound Nunavut
Arctic Northern Grand Banks - Southern Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador
Arctic Northern Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut
Cold temperate northeast Pacific North American Pacific Fjordland British Columbia
Cold temperate northeast Pacific Oregon, Washington, Vancouver coast and shelf British Columbia
Cold temperate northeast Pacific Puget Trough/Georgia Basin British Columbia
Cold temperate northwest Atlantic Gulf of Maine - Bay of Fundy New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
Cold temperate northwest Atlantic Gulf of St. Lawrence - Eastern Scotian Shelf New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
Cold temperate northwest Atlantic Scotian Shelf Nova Scotia
Cold temperate northwest Atlantic Southern Grand Banks - South Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador

See also

  • Canadian Arctic tundra
  • Forests of Canada
  • List of ecoregions in the United States (WWF)
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