Request Data & Information from the Conservation Data Centre

Use these online tools to find data and information about species and ecosystems in B.C.:

• BC Species & Ecosystems Explorer
• CDC iMap

If you require more information about a species or ecosystem, please contact cdcdata@gov.bc.ca with details of your request. The normal response time is within14 days.

Secure Data

Some mapped element occurrences are secured:

• to protect the species or ecosystem from harm
• for proprietary reasons

These records fall under the exemption provisions of the Freedom of Information Act and will not be released in response to routine data requests. Secured records are either for internal use only or are released on a need-to-know basis.

• Find out more about secure data and information

Secure data can be requested. Examples include a project overlapping a masked secured element occurrence polygon, or interest in a data related to a species susceptible to harm. Each individual that will be viewing the data will need to:

• Demonstrate their need for the data, which will be assessed against the Need-to-Know criteria as set out in the Species and Ecosystems Secure Data and Information Procedures.
• Sign a Species and Ecosystems Data and Information Security Confidentiality Agreement (provided by email).
• Complete the Data Security Training Module (provided by email).

Send a Request for Secure Data

Send your request for secure data to cdcdata@gov.bc.ca and include the following:

Contact information:

• Name
• Organization
• Client name / organization (if applicable)

Project location: Please provide a detailed description of your project area – Shapefile, address or coordinate is preferred. If an image is provided, please ensure the map is labelled with location information.

Project details:

• Development: Please include project timing and activities that may occur onsite. If known, include search area (e.g. element occurrences within 5 km of project area)
• Conservation initiative: Include how information will be used
• Academic study: Include how information will be used

Data format: Indicate if you would prefer shapefile or file geodatabase format – let us know if you cannot utilize either of these formats so that an alternate one can be provided.