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          1. About the Arctic

Arctic ecoregions

What is an ecoregion?

Biodiversity is not spread evenly across the Earth but follows complex patterns determined by climate, geology and the evolutionary history of the planet. These patterns are called ecoregions. WWF defines an ecoregion as a large unit of land or water containing a geographically distinct assemblage of species, natural communities, and environmental conditions.
In 1997, WWF introduced ecoregion conservation which entails working in areas that are characterized by a distinctive climate, topographical features, plants and animals, or ecoregions as they are known.

WWF is working in a selected number of focal ecoregions in the Arctic to conduct programmes. There are 200 ecoregions and 11 of these are in the Arctic.

  1. Fenno-Scandia Alpine Tundra and Taiga - Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden
  2. Barents-Kara Seas - Norway, Russia
  3. Taimyr and Siberian Costal Tundra - Russia
  4. Eastern Siberian Taiga - Russia
  5. Chukote Coastal Tundra - Russia
  6. Bering-Beaufort-Chukchi Seas - Canada, Russia, USA
  7. Muskwa / Slave Lake Boreal Forests - Canada
  8. Alaskan North Slope Costal Tundra - Canada, USA
  9. Canadian Boreal Forest - Canada
  10. Canadian Low Arctic Tundra - Canada
  11. Lena River Delta - Russia
Arctic ecoregions map.

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