Environmental Thematic Maps and Graphics: Accounting for ecosystem change, 2021

Canada is a vast country with a wide variety of terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems shaped by varying characteristics. The country is bordered by three oceans, which have an important role in both the culture and economy of several provinces and territories. Changing climate patterns have an impact on ecosystem condition and functioning.

This product provides thematic maps associated with Human Activity and the Environment, 2021, covering various aspects of ecosystem accounts, including ecosystem extent and condition. The maps are based on the principles of ecosystem accounting as described in the Canadian System of Environmental Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounts and use multiple datasets from a variety of sources. For details of the methodology behind these maps please see Appendix A of Human Activity and the Environment 2021: Accounting for ecosystem change in Canada.

Data are recorded by ecoprovince,^{Note 1} by drainage region^{Note 2} and by marine ecoregion,^{Note 3} which are labelled on the map (Table 1).

Land extent and landscape condition maps

This group of maps shows the location and extent of different ecosystems and average climate characteristics by ecoprovince, including temperature, precipitation, evapotranspiration and potential evapotranspiration. Also included are maps showing average annual water yield (an estimate of renewable freshwater production), forest fire and forest harvesting areas, maps presenting indicators illustrating cumulative effects of human activity on the terrestrial landscape and freshwater ecosystems, and terrestrial and marine areas of the country that are conserved through protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.

• Terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem extent (map)
• Average annual temperature, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016 (map)
• Average annual precipitation, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016 (map)
• Average annual evapotranspiration, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016 (map)
• Average annual potential evapotranspiration, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016 (map)
• Average annual water yield per area, by ecoprovince, 1971 to 2014 (map)
• Forest fire and harvesting (map)
• Human landscape modification index, 2011 (map)
• Human landscape modification index, highly modified regions, 2011 (map)
• Human freshwater landscape influences index, by drainage region (map)
• Protected and conserved area extent, by ecoprovince and marine ecoregion depth class, 2020 (map)

Marine and coastal maps

The second group of maps relates to marine and coastal ecosystems within Canada’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The first five maps show depth classes and elevation features, selected ecosystems, substrates and anthropogenic modifications in Canada’s marine ecoregions. Also included is a map of Canada’s fishing sector-based communities. The final series of maps show sea surface temperature and salinity changes within Canada’s EEZ, by depth class in each ecoregion and at a quarter degree grid.

• Marine and coastal extent by depth class, elevation features and marine ecoregion (map)
• Marine and coastal extent, ecosystems and substrate
  • Northern British Columbia Coast (map)
  • Southern British Columbia Coast (map)
  • Gulf of St. Lawrence (map)
• Marine and coastal modifications: aquaculture sites and oil licenses, circa 2016 to 2020 (map)
• Population size and variation of 2016 fishing and seafood sector-based communities, Pacific and Atlantic coasts, 2001 to 2016 (map)
• Average sea surface temperature departures (2005 to 2017) from the climate normal
  • Annual and all seasons (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Annual (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Spring (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Summer (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Fall (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Winter (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
• Average sea surface salinity departures (2005 to 2017) from the climate normal reference period
  • Annual and all seasons (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Annual (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Spring (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Summer (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Fall (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)
  • Winter (Ecoregion map, Gridded map)

Ecosystem change maps

The third group of maps highlights some of the changes that ecosystems have experienced over time. The first seven maps represent the long-term trend of temperature departures (1948 to 2016) from the 1961 to 1990 climate normal. Also included are six maps showing annual and seasonal precipitation change over the period from 1979 to 2016. The final map shows the annual total water storage change, which is an estimate of water stored in the environment as groundwater, soil moisture, surface water, snow and ice.

• Temperature change, by ecoprovince, 1948 to 2016
  • Annual and all seasons (map)
  • Annual (map)
  • Spring (map)
  • Summer (map)
  • Fall (map)
  • Winter (map)
• Winter temperature increase greater than 5°C, northwestern Canada, 1948 to 2016 (map)
• Precipitation change, by ecoprovince, 1979 to 2016
  • Annual and all seasons (map)
  • Annual (map)
  • Spring (map)
  • Summer (map)
  • Fall (map)
  • Winter (map)
• Annual total water storage change, by ecoprovince, 2002 to 2016 (map)