List of Biodiversity Hotspots in the World

What are biodiversity hotspots?

• The term ‘biodiversity hotspot’ was first coined by Norman Myers (1988).
• He recognized 10 tropical forests as “hotspots” according to the level of plant endemism and high level of habitat loss. It, however, did not have any quantitative criteria for designating a region’s ecological hotspot.
• Two years later, he added eight more hotspots, which increased the number of hotspots in the world increased to 18.
• Conservation International (CI), subsequently, associated with Myers and made the first systematic update of the hotspots.
• CI then introduced the following two strict quantitative criteria, for a region to qualify as a hotspot:
  • At least 1,500 species of vascular plants should be present (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as endemics;
  • Should have lost ≥ 70% of its original native habitat.

Biodiversity hotspots in the world

• According to Conservation International, there are 36 biodiversity-rich areas in the world that have been qualified as hotspots.
• These regions represent just 2.5% of the earth’s land surface but support over 50% of the world’s endemic plant species.
• It includes nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species as endemics.

List of biodiversity hotspots in the world

Read UPSC favorite topics

Sharing is caring!