Bioregion


A bioregion is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a biogeographical realm, but larger than an ecoregion or an ecosystem, in the World Wildlife Fund classification scheme. There is also an attempt to use the term in a rank-less generalist sense, similar to the terms "biogeographic area" or "biogeographic unit".
It may be conceptually similar to an ecoprovince.
It is also differently used in the environmentalist context, being coined by Berg and Dasmann.
A bioregion is also a land and water territory defined by the geographical limits of communities and ecological systems, but it is also defined by its people. It must include a unique cultural identity and be a place wherein local residents have the main right to establish their own development, although the main right does not, nonetheless, suggest an absolute right. Instead, it means that the livelihoods, claims, and interest of the local communities must both be the starting point and the standards for regional development and conversation. Within the framework, various state, investor, and other economic interests should be coped with.

WWF bioregions

The WWF scheme divides some of the biogeographic realms into bioregions, defined as "geographic clusters of ecoregions that may span several habitat types, but have strong biogeographic affinities, particularly at taxonomic levels higher than the species level." The WWF bioregions are as follows: