World biomes map
This map groups the terrestrial ecoregions of RESOLVE Ecoregions 2017 into their broad biome types. The legend distinguishes forest, grassland, desert, tundra and other land biomes.
How to read this map
A biome describes a broad ecological pattern, especially vegetation and climate. An ecoregion is a more specific geographical unit with a characteristic natural community. Grouping ecoregions by biome makes the global pattern easier to see.
These boundaries describe the ecological classification in the 2017 source. They do not show current forest cover, agricultural fields, city growth or recent fire damage. A tropical forest biome can contain land that has since been cleared, so biome area should not be read as remaining habitat.
RESOLVE’s classification contains 846 terrestrial ecoregions in 14 biomes. Rock and ice, where provided in the source distribution, are shown separately. Oceans are outside this terrestrial dataset.
Features and names
| Reference | Name or description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests |
| 2 | Tropical & Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests |
| 3 | Tropical & Subtropical Coniferous Forests |
| 4 | Temperate Broadleaf & Mixed Forests |
| 5 | Temperate Conifer Forests |
| 6 | Boreal Forests/Taiga |
| 7 | Tropical & Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands |
| 8 | Temperate Grasslands, Savannas & Shrublands |
| 9 | Flooded Grasslands & Savannas |
| 10 | Montane Grasslands & Shrublands |
| 11 | Tundra |
| 12 | Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands & Scrub |
| 13 | Deserts & Xeric Shrublands |
| 14 | Mangroves |
| 15 | Rock and ice |
Data sources and license
- RESOLVE Ecoregions 2017 (Dinerstein et al.); Esri distribution: CC BY 4.0.
- Natural Earth: Public domain.
Map design and rendered images: Atlas of Maps, CC BY 4.0. Source databases retain their own licenses; the map license does not replace them.
Frequently asked questions
Does the map show today’s vegetation?
No. It shows the ecological biome classification in RESOLVE Ecoregions 2017, rather than a current satellite land-cover image.
Are biomes and climate zones the same?
No. Climate influences biomes, but a biome also describes natural vegetation and ecological communities. Climate-zone classifications use different criteria and boundaries.
Use this map
You can download, print and share this map for free, in class, in school projects, in presentations and on websites, as long as you credit the source: World biomes map · Atlas of Maps (atlasofmaps.com), license CC BY 4.0.