Ecoregionalization
Ecoregionalization is the process of dividing a landscape into ecologically homogeneous units called ecoregions. Each ecoregion is defined by patterns of climate, geology, soils, landforms, and biotic communities that together produce a relatively uniform set of ecological characteristics. The purpose is to organize ecological information for conservation planning, land-use management, and ecological research, and to provide a framework for comparing regions that share similar ecological dynamics across space. The concept is widely used in conservation planning, including the WWF's Ecoregions of the World framework.
Methods combine spatial data and analysis. Analysts assemble environmental layers (climate variables, topography, geology, soils), vegetation
Outputs include ecoregion maps and descriptive metadata detailing typical climate ranges, dominant habitat types, characteristic species,
Limitations and considerations: ecoregionalization is a simplification of complex, continuous landscapes; boundaries are inherently fuzzy and