Region delineation
Region
Definition
Relatively large area that contains characteristic assemblages of natural communities and species that are the product of broad influences of climate, relief, tectonic processes, etc.
Delineation
At this scale, no delineation is strictly necessary, since most catchments will fall within a single biogeographic region (various regionalisations are available, but the European Environment Agency’s regionalisation is recommended as a general classification, and www.globalbioclimatics.org for a more detailed hierarchical classification). However some large or steep catchments may encompass more than one biogeographical region or subregion, and this information is likely to help to confirm delineation at the landscape unit scale, where factors within the catchment, such as topography, have a significant impact on biogeographical character.