Explore the Bering to Baja Bioregion at Bioregiones.org — trace the coastal, ecological, and cultural corridors stretching from Alaska’s Arctic fjords to the deserts and reefs of Baja California, guided by Indigenous stewardship, marine biodiversity, and climate resilience.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Bioregion Name | Bering to Baja (Pacific Coastal Corridor) |
| Location | Western North America — from the Bering Sea (Alaska) through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, to Baja California in Mexico |
| Approximate Extension | ~6,000 km of coastline; ~2,000,000 km² terrestrial and marine combined |
| Primary Indigenous Cultures | Yup’ik, Iñupiat, Tlingit, Haida, Coast Salish, Chinook, Pomo, Ohlone, Chumash, Kumeyaay, Seri, Cochimí, Paipai |
| Dominant Ecosystems | Temperate rainforests, kelp forests, marine upwelling zones, coastal prairies, chaparral, fog deserts, intertidal zones |
| Endangered Species | Southern Resident orca, sea otter, abalone, marbled murrelet, leatherback turtle, California condor, vaquita |
| Representative Fungi | Morel, chanterelle, amanita, oyster mushroom, turkey tail, lion’s mane |
| Representative Mammals | Gray whale, sea otter, black bear, elk, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, harbor seal |
| Representative Birds | Bald eagle, California condor, marbled murrelet, snowy plover, pelican, peregrine falcon |
| Representative Reptiles | Western pond turtle, desert tortoise, gopher snake, rattlesnake, alligator lizard |
| Representative Plants | Redwood, Douglas fir, sagebrush, ceanothus, manzanita, oak, agave, jojoba |
| Traditional Foods & Medicinals | Acorns, camas root, pine nuts, seaweed, abalone, kelp, sage, yerba mansa, piñon, bay laurel, prickly pear |
The Bering to Baja Bioregion Library spans a stunning gradient of ecological zones, cultures, and marine currents along the Pacific coast of North America. It stretches from the ice-laden waters of the Bering Sea and tundra of Alaska, through the lush temperate rainforests of British Columbia, down the rugged coastline of the Pacific Northwest, into the Mediterranean-climate chaparral of California, and finally the coastal deserts and reef systems of Baja California.
The region is a critical climate corridor, hosting some of the most biologically rich marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere, including kelp forests, estuaries, fog deserts, and ancient redwood groves.
Culturally, it is the homeland of hundreds of Indigenous nations whose lifeways are intimately tied to the ocean, salmon runs, oak woodlands, and mountain-coast ecotones. These communities practiced complex systems of landscape burning, shellfish mariculture (clam gardens), seasonal migrations, and marine conservation long before colonization.
Key biodiversity includes:
- Mammals: Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus), sea otter (Enhydra lutris), black bear, bighorn sheep, harbor seal
- Birds: Marbled murrelet, snowy plover, bald eagle, California condor, peregrine falcon
- Reptiles and Amphibians: Western pond turtle, desert tortoise, Pacific tree frog, alligator lizard
- Fungi: Morel, chanterelle, oyster mushroom, turkey tail, amanita
- Plants: Redwood, oak, ceanothus, sagebrush, prickly pear, manzanita, jojoba
- Medicinals and Foods: Kelp, sea lettuce, camas, acorns, sage, bay laurel, mesquite, pine nuts
The Indigenous ecological practices of this bioregion emphasize controlled burning, estuarine management, sustainable fishing, plant tending, and cultural fire. The use of canoe-based trade routes, shell middens, and acorn granaries reflects millennia of relational land practices.
The Bering to Baja Bioregion Library provides access to:
- Ethnoecological and marine biology studies
- Coastal First Nations’ land and marine use maps
- Storytelling and language revitalization resources
- Migratory corridor studies (birds, whales, salmon)
- Sea level rise and ocean acidification research
- Multimedia archives of ceremonies, songs, and place-based cosmologies
This bioregion is especially vital in the context of climate adaptation, where the loss of kelp forests, salmon runs, and fog-fed forests threatens biodiversity and food systems. Conservation efforts range from Indigenous-led marine protected areas, condor rewilding, and coastal estuary restoration, to binational collaborations on sea turtle and whale migration corridors.
Bering to Baja is a bioregion of edges—between ocean and land, fog and sun, forest and desert—and of powerful continuities, where Indigenous memory and ecological vision guide us toward long-term resilience and kinship with place.
Key Features
:
- Location: Pacific coast of North America — from Bering Sea (Alaska) to Baja California (Mexico)
- Ecosystems: Temperate rainforests, kelp forests, marine estuaries, chaparral, fog deserts, montane woodlands
- Cultural Heritage: Tlingit, Haida, Coast Salish, Chinook, Ohlone, Chumash, Kumeyaay, Seri, and others
- Keystone Species: Gray whale, sea otter, redwood, kelp, condor, salmon, abalone
- Conservation Themes: Marine protected areas, Indigenous mariculture, biocultural corridors, fire stewardship, binational climate policy
Bibliography and References
:
- Ecotrust. (2020). Indigenous Knowledge and Coastal Stewardship in the Pacific Northwest. https://ecotrust.org
- Hakai Institute. (2022). Kelp Forests and Coastal Resilience. https://hakai.org
- California Indian Basketweavers Association. (2023). Cultural Fire and Plant Knowledge. https://ciba.org
- NOAA. (2022). Marine Biodiversity and Upwelling Zones. https://www.noaa.gov
- First Nations Fisheries Council of BC. (2021). Salmon Stewardship and Sovereignty. https://fnfisheriescouncil.ca
- InterTribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council. (2023). Marine Protected Areas and Tribal Governance. https://www.californianature.ca.gov
- The Nature Conservancy. (2020). Baja Marine Conservation Initiatives. https://www.nature.org
- National Park Service. (2022). California Condor Recovery Program. https://www.nps.gov
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. (2021). Sea Level Rise along the Pacific Coast. https://serc.si.edu
- Pacific Peoples’ Partnership. (2023). Bering to Baja Cultural Corridors Report. https://pacificpeoplespartnership.org