Ecosystems are communities of plants and animals and the non living things of their environment (such as air, water and soil) interacting as a system. The diversity of ecosystems - the unique combinations of plants, animals and their physical environment – defines the beauty and richness of the natural world. Maintaining this natural diversity is key to preventing species extinctions and is a critical aspect of maintaining natural resilience into the future. The CVRD contains a range of rare and sensitive ecosystems that have very high ecological and social values. Our ecosystems can be grouped as: