bioregion

A bioregion is a geographically defined area characterized by a distinctive combination of natural features and living systems. It is determined by the interactions of climate, geology, soils, hydrology, vegetation, and wildlife, along with the ecological processes that connect them. Bioregions emphasize ecological integrity and the networks that sustain ecosystem services rather than political or cultural boundaries.

Boundaries of a bioregion are often nested and may cross administrative borders. They are typically delineated using natural features such as watersheds, river basins, soil types, and patterns of habitat distribution. In practice, bioregions are identified through maps of ecoregions, biodiversity patterns, and landscape connectivity. The concept is used across disciplines to describe regions that share common ecological characteristics and management needs.

Bioregions have several practical applications. They guide conservation planning by focusing on habitat networks and species ranges; they inform land-use planning, restoration projects, and protected-area design; and they support indigenous and local stewardship by aligning management with ecological realities and traditional knowledge. They also provide a framework for climate adaptation and sustainable development, by focusing on ecological resilience and ecosystem services.

Various schemes define bioregions. In Australia, the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) delineates bioregions used for conservation planning. Globally, ecologically informed frameworks such as WWF's ecoregions or basin-scale classifications serve similar purposes, recognizing that a bioregion can correspond to a drainage basin or a characteristic biome boundary. Bioregions are distinct from biomes, which classify large climate-vegetation zones; bioregions emphasize local ecological diversity and processes within and across biome boundaries.