Ecological Subregions: Provinces, Sections, and Subsections of the Conterminous United States
First Approximation
The 2007 Section and Subsection map and associated data issued by the USDA Forest Service Washington Office-Ecosystem Management Coordination staff are our official inventory of ecological units at the subregional scale and refine our inventory at the regional scale. Polygon descriptions are presented for the delineated 190 section ecological units. Brief descriptions of the section map units provide an abstract primarily of the climate, physiography, and geologic substrate that combine to form ecosystems with distinctive vegetation and other unique ecological characteristics.
To view the geospatial coverage metadata click here.
Data for download
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Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous US (download zip)
Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous United States
Compiled at 1:500,000 to 1:1,000,000 scales in participation with Federal and State agencies and nongovernmental partners by David T. Cleland, Jerry A. Freeouf, James E. Keys, Jr., Gregory J. Nowacki, Constance A. Carpenter, and W. Henry McNab.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
Eastern Region, Milwaukee, WI
Rocky Mountain Region, Lakewood, CO
Washington Office, Washington, DC
Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry, Durham, NH
Southern Research Station, Ashville, NC
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Delineation, Peer Review, and Refinement of Subregions of the Cont US (download zip)
GTR-WO-76A
#1_ReadMe_Process.pdf
This paper "Delineation, Peer Review, and Refinement of Subregions of the Conterminous United States" was prepared to describe the background of the National Hierarchy of Ecological Units and the methods used for delineating subregions, sections, and subsections. Since November 5, 1993, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service has been implementing the four levels of the Hierarchy (ecoregions, subregions, landscapes, and land units). Regional subregion products were produced and recompiled into the 2007 map presentation contained on this CD-ROM. This guidance provides for scientific review and continuous refinement of ecological units and associated data at the subregion scale of the USDA Forest Service national hierarchical framework. "Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous United States" is an official agency inventory and represents current information for the subregions inventory.
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Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous US (download zip)
GTR-WO-76B
#1_ReadMe_SecDesc.pdf
This document provides brief descriptions of sections with information about the climate, physiography, geologic substrate, soils, and vegetation that integrate to form ecosystems with unique characteristics important for resource management. Map unit descriptions are presented for 36 provinces and 190 sections depicted on the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 2007 map "Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous United States." The information represents a first approximation and will be refined as better information becomes available.
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Ecological Subregions Attributes (download zip)
GTR-WO-76C-2
#1_ReadMe_SubregAtt.pdf
Files:
#1_ReadMe_SubregAtt.pdf
Climate_ReadMe.pdf
CONUS_Soils_ReadMe.pdf
National_Land_Cover_Data_ReadMe.pdf
Physiography_ReadMe.pdf
Potential_Natural_Vegetation_ReadMe.pdf
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Ecological Subregions Coverage (download zip)
GTR-WO-76C-1
#1_ReadMe_SubregCov.pdf
This folder contains the polygon coverage, map unit names, and codes in ARCInfo format. The map is in Albers Equal Area Projection. See metadata within the ARC files or the metadata.htm file for additional information.
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Ecological Subregions Presentation (download zip)
GTR-WO-76D
#1_ReadMe_SubregPres.pdf
This folder contains a 1:3,500,000 presentation of "Ecological Subregions: Sections and Subsections of the Conterminous United States" in PDF format. Development of the national map and the basis of map units are briefly described. The map can be printed on a plotter and made available to users.
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Entire Dataset