Learn about the ecoregion data in Transect.
Ecoregions provide valuable insights into the potential for renewable energy development. A comprehensive assessment also requires considering factors like solar radiation, land use, environmental constraints, infrastructure, and economic conditions.
A note from our Environmental Experts: Understanding ecoregions within your AOI can further illustrate the physical characteristics that the landscape may contain. Ecoregions are vital for land development because they provide a framework for understanding the baseline natural environment and its ecosystems within a Major Land Resource Area (MLRA), which is further subdivided into Land Resource Regions (LRRs).
In this article, we’ll review:
What are Ecoregions?
Ecoregions are areas with similar environmental resources. They are defined by studying patterns of living things (biotic) and non-living things (abiotic), like geology, landforms, plants, weather, soil, how land is used, animals, and water. The importance of each factor can vary between different ecoregions.
A numbering system (Roman numerals) is used to classify ecoregions at different levels. Levels III and IV are the most useful. The continental United States has 105 Level III ecoregions. Level IV ecoregions are smaller parts of Level III ecoregions. Click here to review descriptions of Level III and IV ecoregions by state.
A note from our Environmental Specialists: Ecoregions can impact the following:
- Biodiversity:
Ecoregions can help developers understand the flora and fauna diversity within their AOI and how to better mitigate potentially impacting protected species. - Soil and Water Management:
Ecoregions have distinct soil types and water availability. Understanding these factors ensures that land use practices do not lead to erosion, degradation, or water scarcity. - Climate Adaptation:
Ecoregions reflect climatic conditions that influence what types of vegetation and wildlife can thrive. This information helps in selecting appropriate plant species for landscaping and agriculture, making development more sustainable. - Ecosystem Services:
Healthy ecoregions provide ecosystem services through their functions like water supply, raw materials, food production, recreation, and esthetic values. Recognizing these services can guide development in a way that maximizes benefits and minimizes harm.
Viewing Ecoregions in the Report Map
After running a Report, you can apply the Ecoregions layer to visualize the data associated with your area of interest.
Viewing Ecoregion Data in a Report
You can also navigate to Supporting Docs & Resources > Setting > Ecoregions for a full breakdown of your area’s findings. Within the data table, you can select a specific ecoregion to visualize it on the Map.
