Bioregionalisation for the SW Pacific and Indian oceans
Biogeographic regionalisation – or bioregionalisation for short – is a process by which the physical and biological variability in the environment is analysed, classified and mapped into spatial units, each with distinct biological, ecological and physical properties. The process simplifies the complex spatial organisation in nature (e.g., habitats) and represents it on a map to improve understanding and inform decision making. Biogeographic maps of naturally defined and distinct provinces are an essential tool for the sustainable use and conservation of marine biodiversity (e.g., for developing an ecologically representative and coherent network of marine protected areas).
Objectives
- To develop a bioregionalisation for the western South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
- To promote connectivity and ecological coherence in spatial management.
Bioregionalisation for the SW Pacific and Indian oceans
