ecoregionn.
/ˈiːkəʊˌriːdʒ(ə)n/, /ˈɛkəʊˌriːdʒ(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈɛkoʊˌridʒ(ə)n/, /ˈikoʊˌridʒ(ə)n/ Any of a number of ecogeographical regions that may be distinguished on the basis of environmental conditions and habitat types within a country, continent, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > region of the earth > zone or belt > [noun] > biogeographical zone
range1830
realm1854
ecoregion1962
1962 O. L. Loucks in Proc. Nova Scotian Inst. Sci. 25 91 A descriptive term to denote regions recognized by vegetation in relation to these environmental criteria may be obtained by applying the prefix ‘eco-’ to the term ‘region’... The large size of the Ecoregion necessitates geographically limited subdivisions.
1987 M. H. Bouchet Polit. Econ. of Internat. Debt vi. 179 Notions of eco-development and self-reliance..refer to a development style that requires specific solutions in each ecoregion.
2005 National Geographic (Nexis) 1 Sept. 16 [Africa] can also be parsed into 104 terrestrial ecoregions..[which] range from the Succulent Karoo, in western South Africa and Namibia, to the Saharan Halophytics in northern Algeria.
Derivatives
ecoˈregional adj.
ΚΠ
1967 Lat. Amer. Res. Rev. 2 10 What is required are efforts to achieve sound eco-regional divisions founded upon meaningful quantitative data.
2001 Nature Conservancy Sept.–Oct. 5/2 Here we also share how the Conservancy is factoring climate change into our ecoregional and site conservation plans.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1962