Ecological considerations include the maintenance and re-establishment of natural processes, the achievement of ecological balance, the goal of native-species composition, and the consideration of genetic integrity.

Ecoregions - are relatively large units of land and water delineated by the biotic and environmental factors that regulate the structure and function of ecosystems within it. These are generally the Ecological Regions of North America.

Ecosystems refer to the dynamic and interrelating complex of plant and animal communities and their associated non-living environment. (e.g. a reef, lake, rainforest, etc). 

Endemic - species native to, and restricted to a particular geographical region.

Ex situ conservation - the conservation of components of biodiversity outside their natural habitats.

Exotic - species that have been moved beyond their natural range as a result of human activity.

Extant - existing or living at the present time.

Extinction - elimination of a taxon (e.g., species)

Extirpated –no longer in existence in a particular region, but still living in other areas of the world.

Functions / Functional –A functional site, of whatever size, maintains the target species, community or ecosystem, and their supporting ecological processes within their natural ranges of variability. Standard assessments of the viability of discrete populations of species or occurrences of community types are intended to address questions of whether they will function sustainably into the future.

Habitat –the locality, site and particular type of local environment occupied by an organism.

Habitat fragmentation –the process of dividing a continuous habitat into non-continuous, smaller sub-units.

In situ conservation –the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings.

Indigenous / native - species and communities which occur naturally, not as accidental or deliberate introductions, in an area.

Interventions include valid management of species composition or of ecological processes in order to repair, restore or replace functioning ecosystems. Interventions could include burning, grazing or other techniques that favour particular target species or communities over others.

Introduced species –see exotic species 

Migration – periodic or seasonal movement of an organism or group from one habitat or location to another, typically of relatively long distance from one area to another.  

Native species –indigenous; living naturally within a given area.

Natural area –A natural area is a physical and biological unit in as near a natural condition as possible, which exemplifies typical or unique vegetation and associated biotic, edaphic, geologic and aquatic features. The unit is maintained in a natural condition by allowing physical and biological processes to operate, usually without direct human intervention.

Natural heritage –natural resources that are passed on to future generations. 

Nature’s (or natural) diversity of a site includes its features, its structures and its ecological functions, at the scales of genes, species, communities and landscapes. Its interactions operate within species and between species, influenced by climate, landforms and other abiotic factors.

Permitted uses and activities are those that a stewardship statement indicates are appropriate to the feature and functions of a site, or are needed to manage a site properly. For example, while hunting or the use of herbicides may be considered inappropriate activities at some sites, they can also be necessary in natural areas where the levels of browse or the impacts of non-native plant species are considered detrimental to a site’s conservation values.  

Population –a group of organisms of one species, occupying a defined area and usually isolated to some degree from other similar groups. 

Population trend –an estimate of the change in the number of individuals over time. 

Portfolio refers to the documented set of sites, which, if conserved, would ensure the long-term survival of viable native species and community types of the ecoregion. 

Portfolio design refers to standard methods of developing Conservation Blueprints, such as those outlined in partnership agreements used by the Global IT Services - Nature Conservancy, and in Designing a Geography of Hope (The US Nature Conservancy, 1997). These methods reflect principles of functionality, inclusiveness, tolerance, quality and efficiency.  

Prohibited uses and activities are those that may have negative effects on the species, vegetation, landforms or site conditions, that are prohibited to safeguard the natural features and ecological functions for which the site is considered significant.  

Represent –A portfolio is representative of an ecoregion when it includes its full range of natural diversity. 

Site registry refers to a standard managed-area file that records site descriptions, location, mapping, size, stewardship responsibility, information sources, elements of biological diversity, etc.  

Sites are selected and defined on the basis of the ecological requirements of and the threats to target species, communities and landscapes. They are selected independent of current ownership or land use but current protection of sites, either on public or private lands, will influence the selection of representative sites.  

Species –group of organisms formally recognized as distinct from other groups. 

Species richness –the absolute number of species in a given area. 

Stewardship - caring for our natural areas, so they sustain and protect, into the future, the natural ecosystems that define them. 

Stewardship statements set the stewardship goals and practices for sites, based on inventory, assessments and community discussion. Standard formats are used; these include brief interim statements that can be rapidly deployed for new sites. Statements can also take the form of those used by partners who are acting as the stewards of sites. 

Strategic ecological themes are flagship ecosystems of the regions in which they occur. For example, Great Lakes coastal ecosystems (dunes, sloughs, beaches, bluffs, alvars) would be recognizable as uniquely important ecosystems from a global perspective. 

Viable is used to refer to the ability of a species or community type to persist successfully in situ.

Vulnerable describes a condition suggesting extinction if no conservation action is taken. Standard status ranks for species and communities are used, based on evidence of decline, threat of decline, and rarity. A range of compatible classifications of vulnerability is used.