B.C. Ministry of Forests Forest Science Program
		Abstract for Working Paper 09

		Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrates of British Columbia: Priorities for Inventory and Descriptive Research
		Author or Ministry Contact: G.G.E. Scudder
		Branch: Research
		Subject: Biodiversity
		Series:  Working Paper
		Other details:  Published 1996

Abstract

British Columbia, Canada's most westerly province, has a bounty of biological diversity. Its mountains, lakes and rivers, rain forests, wetlands and arid grasslands, and long, rugged coast provide habitats for more species of living organisms than are found anywhere else in Canada. However, this very diversity means that there is much to be discovered about these organisms—their distribution, abundance, habitat requirements, and interrelationships with their environments. Increasing our knowledge of this biodiversity will help us with the complex task of sustainably managing our land and waters.

In 1992 the Provincial Government initiated a co-operative biodiversity research program with funding from the Corporate Resource Inventory Initiative; the British Columbia Ministries of Forests (Research Branch), Environment, Lands and Parks (Wildlife and Habitat Protection Branches), and Tourism and Culture (Royal British Columbia Museum); and the Forest Resource Development Agreement (FRDA II). One goal of this research program is to extend information to scientists, resource managers, and the public through biodiversity publications. These publications are intended to increase awareness and understanding of biodiversity, promote the concepts and importance of conserving biodiversity, and communicate provincial government initiatives related to biodiversity. We hope that they will be used as tools for the conservation of British Columbia's rich, living legacy.

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