xi STATUS OF THE PRAIRIE FALCON IN THE CHILCOTIN-CARIBOO REGION, BRITISH COLUMBIA by

xii British Columbia, Canada’s most westerly province, has a bounty of biological diversity. British Columbia’s snowclad peaks, rain-drenched forests, arid grasslands, all sizes of rivers, lakes, and wetlands, and a long and rugged coast provide habitats for more species of living organisms than are found anywhere else in Canada. However, this very diversity means that there is much to be discovered about these organisms — their distribution, abundance, habitat requirements, and interrelationships with their environment. Increasing our knowledge of this biodiversity will help us with the complex task of sustainably managing our land and waters