In the oceans, as on land, biodiversity does not conform to political boundaries. Much work in terrestrial conservation has used a system of biogeographic realms and ecoregions to support representative conservation planning and priority setting.

The marine environment has long lacked an equivalent comprehensive and widely accepted biogeographic classification. Working with WWF and with partners from multiple conservation organisations TNC has developed a system of marine ecoregions, nested within broader biogeographic provinces and realms. This system is forming the basis for new conservation planning by TNC and various partners.

A draft version was released and circulated amongst all member states of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Spalding, MD et al. 2007. Marine Ecoregions of the World: A Bioregionalization of Coastal and Shelf Areas. BioScience 57(7) 573-583.

This paper, plus updated maps and references can be viewed on www.wwfus.org/MEOW.

For more information, please contact the team at conservationgateway@tnc.org