Understanding the Science and Art of Ecoregionalization

Although the need for unique spatial entities-regions-is generally agreed on within the discipline of geography, the philosophy and practice of regionalization-the process of identifying and demarcating regions and their borders-is still subject to great debate. To some, regionalization is a strict science, subject to demands for rigorous, rational, and replicable rules that make the process as objective and deductive as possible; to others, it is a subjective art that requires perspicacity, perseverance, and cultivation of inductive skills. This commentary reviews the concepts and uses of ecoregions and the process of ecoregionalization to illustrate and illuminate rich and varied traditions and philosophies within the discipline of geography.