An Element Occurrence (EO) is an area of land and/or water in which a species or ecological community is, or was, present. An Element is either a species (or subspecies taxa) or an ecological community, the Occurrence is the documented location. The EO concept is part of NatureServe methodology. This methodology is used throughout the NatureServe network. EOs are created based on the Element Occurrence Data Standard and are a derived product developed from submitted observations. An EO should have practical conservation value for the Element as evidenced by potential continued (or historical) presence and/or regular recurrence at a given location. For Species Elements, the EO often corresponds with the local population, but when appropriate may be a portion of a population (e.g., for long distance dispersers) or may be a group of nearby populations (e.g., metapopulation). For Ecological Community Elements, the EO may represent a stand or patch of a natural community, or a cluster of stands or patches of a natural community. This dataset contains Sensitive EOs. Sensitive EOs are occurrences of species that are rare (or of conservation concern) and in these cases the precise location details cannot be distributed without due cause. In most cases these locations are not freely available because the species are legally listed (for example, under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act) or are of particular concern to the Alberta government, thus Sensitive EO data in this layer is hazed (generalized) to the Alberta Township System Township (ATS) polygons (v4.1). This data updates on a daily basis.

An Element Occurrence (EO) is an area of land and/or water in which a species or ecological community is, or was, present. An Element is either a species (or subspecies taxa) or an ecological community, the Occurrence is the documented location. The EO concept is part of NatureServe methodology. This methodology is used throughout the NatureServe network. EOs are created based on the Element Occurrence Data Standard and are a derived product developed from submitted observations. An EO should have practical conservation value for the Element as evidenced by potential continued (or historical) presence and/or regular recurrence at a given location. For Species Elements, the EO often corresponds with the local population, but when appropriate may be a portion of a population (e.g., for long distance dispersers) or may be a group of nearby populations (e.g., metapopulation). For Ecological Community Elements, the EO may represent a stand or patch of a natural community, or a cluster of stands or patches of a natural community. This dataset contains Non-sensitive EOs. Non-Sensitive EOs are locations (i.e. occurrences) of species or communities that are rare (or of conservation concern for some other reason) and for which there are no restrictions regarding public access to location data (beyond agreeing to the Terms and Conditions detailed below). This data updates on a daily basis.

A Fisheries Sensitive Watershed (FSW) is a mapped area with specific management objectives intended to guide development activities which may adversely impact important fish values . FSWs within this set of data are currently in the review and consultation stage of the area designation process. As FSWs are designated they will be moved into the [Approved Fisheries Sensitive Watersheds](http://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/fisheries-sensitive-watersheds) dataset and thus often this dataset is empty.

Boundary of Rose Swanson sensitive area within the Vernon Forest District

Acid-Sensitive LakesNine hundred and thirty-three lakes located in Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories were sampled to establish current acidification status. Of the 933 lakes, 244 (or 26%) are considered acid sensitive, almost always because of naturally low calcium and magnesium (or "base cation") concentrations. The most acid-sensitive lakes (i.e., those with extremely low base cation concentrations) are located on the Canadian Shield in both Alberta and Saskatchewan and east of the oils sands development area.Fifty-one of the 244 acid-sensitive lakes were sampled twice annually (spring and fall) to identify chemical changes through trend analyses. Results revealed that 55% of these lakes had concentrations of some metals in excess of Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment guidelines. Of the 291 samples taken in the 51 lakes, iron concentrations were greater than guidelines in 36% (105 samples), aluminum in 33% (97 samples), lead in 0.3% (1 sample) and copper in 0.3% (1 sample). The metals in these lakes occur naturally and are expected to be found in a wide range of concentrations given the geology and physiography of the Canadian Shield. It remains to establish the relationship between acid sensitivity, geology and high metal concentrations.

The dataset contains approved legal boundaries for fisheries sensitive watersheds. A FSW is a mapped area with specific management objectives intended to guide development activities which may adversely impact important fish values

The B.C. Conservation Data Centre spatial layer that displays a generalised area that masks the precise locations of secured occurrences of species and ecosystems at risk. These are masked for public viewing and download. The occurrences may be secured due to the species or ecosystems being susceptible to persecution or harm, or for proprietary reasons. For information or to obtain details about Masked Occurrence Records, please contact the CDC at cdcdata@gov.bc.ca and provide projects details including precise location information and activities expected to occur on site or other reasons for requiring the information. Release of details of secured occurrences is subject to the signing of a Confidentiality and Non-reproduction Agreement and a demonstrated "need-to-know".

This 'Current' spatial data layer is publicly viewable and downloadable, contains the most current Legal Old Growth Management Area (OGMA) polygons and excludes any sensitive information. This data represents legally established and spatially defined areas of old growth forest that are identified during landscape unit planning or an operational planning process. Forest licensees are required to maintain legally established OGMAs when preparing FSPs. OGMAs, in combination with other areas where forestry development is prevented or constrained, are used to achieve biodiversity targets. This spatial view will show the most current polygons and excludes sensitive information. This data is viewable in iMapBC by 2 layers: Legal Old Growth Management Areas - Current, Old Growth Management Areas - Legal. Please see the Additional Information and Object Description Comments below.

The wildlife values area and site datasets represent the consolidation of 13 wildlife data classes collected by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The data estimates locations used by wildlife for various reasons, including: * breeding * calving and fawning * denning * feeding * staging * nesting * wintering * general habitat areas * nurseries * travel corridors Locations are represented as points (site) or polygons (area) and may be related to a specific species or described more generally. Wildlife values data is most often used to support policy and legislation associated with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The data may also be used to inform a wide range of resource management activities and decisions. There are additional sensitive features related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of the open data package. Sensitive features are subject to licensing and approvals and may be requested by contacting [geospatial@ontario.ca](geospatial@ontario.ca).

The wildlife values area and site datasets represent the consolidation of 13 wildlife data classes collected by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The data estimates locations used by wildlife for various reasons, including: * breeding * calving and fawning * denning * feeding * staging * nesting * wintering * general habitat areas * nurseries * travel corridors Locations are represented as points (site) or polygons (area) and may be related to a specific species or described more generally. Wildlife values data is most often used to support policy and legislation associated with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The data may also be used to inform a wide range of resource management activities and decisions. There are additional sensitive features related to provincially tracked species and species at risk that are not available as part of the open data package. Sensitive features are subject to licensing and approvals and may be requested by contacting [geospatial@ontario.ca](geospatial@ontario.ca).