The Broad Ecosystem Inventory (BEI) Classification provides broad regional information about the distribution of ecosystems throughout the province and the value of these ecosystems to wildlife. This work is done in order to facilitate the use of wildlife information in broad provincial and regional land and resource planning initiatives. Broad Ecosystem Units are mapped based on imagery of the provincial land base generally captured at a scale of 1:250,000. BEI mapping represents forest conditions from approximately 1995 to 2000. The BEI Classification was used to produce wildlife habitat capability and suitability mapping following Provincial Wildlife Habitat Ratings (WHR) Standards (Resource Inventory Committee 1999). Habitat classifications were based on BEI units. BEI units were evaluated and rated to determine the habitat potential (capability) and current habitat conditions (suitability) for selected wild ungulates and furbearers within each seral stage within each Broad Ecosystem Unit (and related site modifier variation) within the framework of Ecosections and Biogeoclimatic Sub-zone/Variants for their ability to supply the species’ necessary life requisites. Regional Wildlife and Habitat biologists, technicians, Forest Ecosystem Specialists, and consulting species experts provided species habitat ratings for each region of the province. Wildlife habitat capability and suitability mapping was completed for the following wild ungulates and furbearers: Northwestern Moose, Alaskan Moose, Shiras' Moose, Bison, Rocky Mountain Elk, Roosevelt Elk, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Rocky Mountain Mule Deer, Sitka Black-tailed Deer, White-tailed Deer, Dakota White-tailed Deer, Northwestern White-tailed Deer, Boreal Woodland Caribou, Mountain Woodland Caribou, Northern Woodland Caribou, Lynx, Bobcat, and American Badger. Habitat mapping followed Provincial Wildlife Habitat Ratings (WHR) Standards (Resource Inventory Committee 1999).

Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI) Detailed Polygons (STE_SEI_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SVW) contains SEI inventory polygons with key and amalgamated (concatenated) attributes derived from the Resource Inventory Standards Committee (RISC) standard attributes. This layer is derived from the [STE_TEI_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SP](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/f2cd2cc3-5f58-481c-bf3c-64934acb6fad) layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE attribute. Project types include: SEI, TEMSEI, TEMSET, SEIWHR and NEMSEI. SEI identifies and maps rare and fragile terrestrial ecosystems. Ecosystems mapped may include (but are not limited to) older forests, woodlands, coastal bluffs, herbaceous and sparsely vegetated ecosystems, grasslands, riparian ecosystems and wetlands. SEI methods include manual air photo interpretation or theming of other Ecosystem Mapping, each supported by selective field checking. SEI Detailed Polygons should be used in conjunction with [SEI Project Boundaries](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/5a5680fa-29e0-4ad2-b2ce-ff0dabc1f666) which contain boundaries (study areas) and attributes describing each project (project level metadata), plus links to the locations of other data associated with the project (e.g., reports, polygon datasets, plotfiles, legends). SEI inventory polygons with full RISC attributes can be accessed through the [Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Data Distribution Packages](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/8fd15e4e-e7b1-4566-81d1-1ff8947bfd46). **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) and Wildlife Habitat Ratings (WHR) project boundaries (STE_WLD_PROJECT_BOUNDARIES_SVW) contain boundaries (study areas) and attributes describing each project (project level metadata), plus links to the locations of other data associated with the project (e.g. reports, WHR polygon datasets, plotfiles). This layer is derived from the [STE_TEI_PROJECT_BOUNDARIES_SP](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/1313fac7-2ea1-4c6b-995b-bd421b7ec3c6) layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE attribute. Project types include: WHR, SDM, PEMWHR, PEMSDM, TEMWHR, TEMSDM, TEMPRW, NEMPRW, BEIWHR, BEISDM, SEIWHR, SDM, SOILSW, BEMWHR and NEMWHR. SDM and WHR project boundaries should be used in conjunction with SDM and WHR detailed inventory polygons. SDM predicts the suitability of different environments for occupation by particular species, and the likelihood that those suitable habitats are occupied. WHR are also known as wildlife habitat interpretations and most commonly use TEM data as a means to identify specific habitats. SDM and WHR inventory polygons with full Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC) attributes can be accessed through the [Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Data Distribution Packages](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/8fd15e4e-e7b1-4566-81d1-1ff8947bfd46). **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Project Boundaries contain boundaries (study areas) and attributes describing each project (project level metadata), plus links to the locations of other data associated with the project (e.g., reports, polygon datasets, plotfiles, legends). TEI project boundaries should be used in conjunction with TEI detailed inventory polygons which describe the physical and biological attributes of ecosystems. TEI currently includes six broad project types: Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM), Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM), Terrain Mapping (TER), Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI), Soil Mapping (SL), and Wildlife Mapping (WLD). TEI inventory polygons with full Resources Information Standards Committee (RISC) attributes can be accessed through the [Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Data Distribution Packages](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/8fd15e4e-e7b1-4566-81d1-1ff8947bfd46). TEI inventory polygons with simplified and amalgamated (concatenated) RISC attributes can be accessed through the [Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Detailed Polygons with Short Table Attribute Table](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/f2cd2cc3-5f58-481c-bf3c-64934acb6fad). **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) Detailed Polygons (STE_TEM_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SVW) contains TEM inventory polygons with key and amalgamated (concatenated) attributes derived from the Resource Inventory Standards Committee (RISC) standard attributes. This layer is derived from the [STE_TEI_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SP](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/f2cd2cc3-5f58-481c-bf3c-64934acb6fad) layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE attribute. Project types include: TEM, NEM, TEMNSS, NEMNSS, TEMPRE, NEMPRE, TEMSEI, TEMSET, TEMTSM, TEMWHR, TEMSDM, TEMPRW, NEMPRW, NEMSEI and NEMWHR. TEM divides the landscape into units according to a variety of ecological features including climate, physiography, surficial material, bedrock geology, soils and vegetation. TEM methods include manual air photo interpretation supported by selective field checking. TEM Detailed Polygons should be used in conjunction with [TEM Project Boundaries](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/b6b86630-26c0-4b6d-a4b0-6633d7f00c7a) which contain boundaries (study areas) and attributes describing each project (project level metadata), plus links to the locations of other data associated with the project (e.g., reports, polygon datasets, plotfiles, legends). TEM inventory polygons with full RISC attributes can be accessed through the [Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Data Distribution Packages](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/8fd15e4e-e7b1-4566-81d1-1ff8947bfd46). **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

Terrain Mapping (TER) Polygon Attributes (STE_TER_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SVW) contains TER inventory polygons with key and amalgamated (concatenated) attributes derived from the Resource Inventory Standards Committee (RISC) standard attributes. This layer is derived from the [STE_TEI_POLY_ATTRIBUTES_SP](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/f2cd2cc3-5f58-481c-bf3c-64934acb6fad) layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE attribute. Project types include: TEM, TEMNSS, TEMPRE, TEMSEI, TEMSET, TEMTSM, TSM, TSMREC, TSMDET, TIM, TBS, TBT, TIMSOI, TEMWHR, TEMSDM, TEMPRW, and PEMTBT. TER divides the landscape into units according to surficial materials, landforms and geomorphological processes using the Terrain Classification System for British Columbia. TER methods include manual air photo interpretation supported by selective field checking. Mapping criteria vary considerably between the terrain inventory, bioterrain, and terrain stability mapping projects contained in this layer. TER Polygon Attributes layer should be used in conjunction with [TER Project Boundaries](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/ad2f6d1e-cb53-4308-9263-e8deb731b996) which contain boundaries (study areas) and attributes describing each project (project level metadata), plus links to the locations of other data associated with the project (e.g., reports, polygon datasets, plotfiles, legends). TER inventory polygons with full RISC attributes can be accessed through the [Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Data Distribution Packages](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/8fd15e4e-e7b1-4566-81d1-1ff8947bfd46). **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

STE_TEI_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SP contains Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) polygons with key and amalgamated (concatenated) attributes derived from the RISC (Resource Inventory Standards Committee) standard attributes. These describe the physical and biological characteristics of ecosystems at a landscape level. TEI currently includes Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM), Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM), Sensitive Ecosystems Inventory (SEI), Terrain Mapping (TER), Wetland Mapping (WET) and Soil Mapping (SOIL). Mapping methods include manual air photo interpretation and modeling supported by limited field checking. **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

Terrain Stability Mapping (TSM) Detailed Polygons (STE_TER_STABILITY_POLYS_SVW) contains TSM polygons with key and amalgamated (concatenated) attributes derived from the Resource Inventory Standards Committee (RISC) standard attributes. This layer is derived from the [STE_TEI_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SP](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/f2cd2cc3-5f58-481c-bf3c-64934acb6fad) layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE attribute. Project types include: TEMSET, TEMTSM, TSM, TSMREC, TSMDET, TBW, and TBS. TSM uses air photo interpretation and select field checking to divides the landscape into units using the Terrain Classification System for British Columbia and stability criteria. Polygon attributes include (but are not limited to) surficial material, surface expression, geomorphological processes, drainage class, slope range and stability class. TSM methods include manual air photo interpretation and setting stability criteria supported by selective field checking. TSM Detailed Polygon layer should be used in conjunction with [TER Project Boundaries](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/ad2f6d1e-cb53-4308-9263-e8deb731b996) which contain boundaries (study areas) and attributes describing each project (project level metadata), plus links to the locations of other data associated with the project (e.g., reports, polygon datasets, plotfiles, legends). TSM inventory polygons with full RISC attributes can be accessed through the [Terrestrial Ecosystem Information (TEI) Data Distribution Packages](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/8fd15e4e-e7b1-4566-81d1-1ff8947bfd46). **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

STE_TEM_50K_POLYS_SVW contains Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM) polygons with key and amalgamated (concatenated) attributes derived from the RISC (Resource Inventory Standards Committee) standard attributes completed at a scale of 1 to 50,000 or smaller (i.e. 1 to 100,000). TEM divides the landscape into units according to a variety of ecological features including climate, physiography, surficial material, bedrock geology, soils and vegetation. TEM methods include manual air photo interpretation supported by selective field checking. This layer is derived from the STE_TEI_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SP layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE and PROJECT_MAP_SCALE attributes. Project types include: TEM, NEM, TEMNSS, NEMNSS, TEMPRE, NEMPRE, TEMSEI, TEMSET, TEMTSM, TEMWHR, TEMSDM, TEMPRW, NEMPRW, and TEMSEW. Project map scale equals 50000. Current version: v11 (published on 2024-10-03) Previous versions: v10 (published on 2023-11-14), v9 (published on 2023-03-01), v8 (published on 2016-09-01)

TEM_ GT20K contains TEM polygons with key and amalgamated (concatenated) attributes derived from the RISC (Resource Inventory Standards Committee) standard attributes completed at a scale greater than 1:20 000 (i.e. 1:10 000 or 1:5 000). TEM divides the landscape into units according to a variety of ecological features including climate, physiography, surficial material, bedrock geology, soils and vegetation. TEM methods include manual air photo interpretation supported by selective field checking. This layer is derived from the STE_TEI_ATTRIBUTE_POLYS_SP layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE and PROJECT_MAP_SCALE attributes Current version: v11 (published on 2024-10-03) Previous versions: v10 (published on 2023-11-14), v9 (published on 2023-03-01), v8 (published on 2016-09-01)