Biodiversity Hotspots Of The World And Their Significance

There are 36 recognized biodiversity hotspots in the world. These regions are rich in unique plant and animal life but face serious threats.

• An area must meet two specific conditions to be considered a biodiversity hotspot:
• It must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants that exist only in that area (endemic species).
• It must have lost at least 70% of its original natural vegetation.

Many hotspots surpass these criteria. For instance, the Sundaland Hotspot in Southeast Asia and the Tropical Andes Hotspot in South America each have around 15,000 endemic plant species. In some cases, up to 95% of the original vegetation has been destroyed.

The Evolution Of The Biodiversity Hotspots Concept

• The concept of biodiversity hotspots began in 1988 when British ecologist Norman Myers identified 10 tropical forest hotspots.
• These areas were marked by high numbers of unique plant species and significant habitat loss.
• In 1989, Conservation International adopted Myers’ hotspots as a guide for its conservation efforts.
• In 1996, the organization decided to reassess the concept, ensuring no important areas were missed.
• By 1999, a global review introduced clear criteria for defining biodiversity hotspots, leading to the recognition of 25 such regions.
• In 2005, further analysis by nearly 400 experts increased the number of hotspots to 34.
• In 2011, the Forests of East Australia was added as the 35th hotspot by researchers from CSIRO and Conservation International.
• Finally, in February 2016, the North American Coastal Plain became the 36th recognized biodiversity hotspot.

The Importance Of Biodiversity Hotspots

More than 40% of animal species in biodiversity hotspots are at high risk of extinction, with nearly 25% at very high risk due to climate change.

Biodiversity loss is a major threat to both the planet and humanity. Biodiversity hotspots are crucial as they help conservation efforts focus on areas most vital for protecting the Earth’s biodiversity.

These hotspots are home to thousands of native plants and animals, as well as about 2 billion people, including some of the poorest communities. These communities depend on healthy ecosystems for survival and livelihoods.

Hotspots provide essential ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, food, clean water, fertile soil, pollination, and shade. They supply over one-third of the ecosystem services critical to the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Additionally, 80% of global biodiversity exists in lands and waters managed by Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Biodiversity is essential for the survival of all species. Animals depend on each other for food, and some act as ecosystem engineers, creating habitats for others. Plants rely on animals for pollination and fertilization, just as animals depend on plants for food.

Every species in an ecosystem is connected. Without biodiversity, ecosystems cannot function properly. Protecting and preserving these hotspots is essential for sustaining life on Earth.

Why Are Biodiversity Hotspots In Danger?

Biodiversity hotspots face numerous threats, most of which stem from human activities.

One major issue is habitat loss and fragmentation. Roads, agriculture, and urban development reduce large natural areas into small, isolated patches. This separation makes it difficult for animals to find resources and survive.

Habitat degradation is another serious threat. Activities like logging and hunting damage ecosystems, even in protected areas where resource extraction is illegal. Poaching and other unlawful actions often lead to further harm.

Climate change poses a significant risk as well. Rising temperatures threaten up to one million species worldwide. Additionally, climate change causes more frequent and severe disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, droughts, and floods. These events can displace, isolate, and endanger many species.

Biodiversity Hotspots In North And Central America

California Floristic Province

This hotspot, located in California and adjacent mountainous areas, has a Mediterranean climate with most rainfall occurring in winter. The northern part is home to the world’s tallest trees, like Douglas-fir and oak. In the Mediterranean biome, many plants and animals are adapted to hot summers and cool winters.

Caribbean Islands Hotspot

The West Indies Islands host diverse ecosystems, from montane cloud forests to cactus shrublands. However, these ecosystems have been heavily affected by deforestation for agriculture, grazing, and other human activities.

Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands

Located along the USA-Mexico border, this hotspot features rugged mountains, deep gorges, and canyons. Summers are hot and dry, with significant daily temperature variation, but nights are generally pleasant. This region stretches across Mexico, the Baja Peninsula, and southern U.S. states.

Meso-American Forests

Spanning Central America, this is the world’s third-largest biodiversity hotspot. It is home to many unique species, including quetzals, howler monkeys, and around 17,000 plant species.

North American Coastal Plain

Designated as the 36th biodiversity hotspot in 2016, this region stretches from northern Mexico along the Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Massachusetts. It hosts over 1,500 endemic vascular plant species, including the critically endangered Florida yew (Taxus floridana). Over 70% of its habitat has been lost due to human activities.

Despite its flat terrain, it supports diverse ecosystems like fire-dependent pine savannas, which are essential for maintaining its biodiversity.

Biodiversity Hotspots in South America

Atlantic Forests of Brazil

The Atlantic Forest, or “selvas,” is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots globally, with over 20,000 plant species, 40% of which are endemic. These evergreen forests maintain their leaves year-round, with dark, waxy foliage that can last for years.

Brazil’s Cerrado

The Cerrado covers 21% of Brazil, making it a significant part of South America’s savannah biome. It is home to a wide variety of endemic plants and animals.

Chilean Winter Rainfall (Valdivian) Forests

This hotspot spans the Andes Mountains, the Atacama Desert, and Chile’s coastal lowlands along the Pacific Ocean. It is rich in unique species of both flora and fauna.

Tumbes-Choco-Magdalena

Bordered by the Meso-American hotspot to the north and the Tropical Andes to the east, this region is highly diverse in plant and animal life.

Tropical Andes

Although one of the smallest biodiversity hotspots, the Tropical Andes is incredibly rich in endemic species. It extends across the equatorial Andes, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, housing many unique plants and animals.
Biodiversity Hotspots in Europe and Central Asia

Caucasus Region

This hotspot spans the mountainous areas of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. It is rich in endemic plant species, but human interference has posed significant threats to the unique flora and fauna of the region.

Iran-Anatolia Region

Covering the Anatolian Plateau (Turkey), Kurdistan (northern Iraq), Elburz Mountains, and central Dasht-e-Kavir Desert (Iran), this region is home to many endemic plants and animals that exist nowhere else in the world.

Mediterranean Basin and Eastern Coastal Region

This hotspot boasts over 22,500 endemic plant species and a variety of unique animal species, making it one of the most biologically diverse regions.

Mountains of Central Asia

This region includes the Pamir Plateau, Tien Shan, Kun-Lun, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges. It has an exceptional variety of plant and animal species.

Biodiversity Hotspots In Africa

South Africa’s Cape Floristic Hotspot

Located in southern South Africa, this shrubland is home to a remarkable variety of endemic plants and animals, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa

This small region along Africa’s eastern coast is rich in plant species that are unique to the area.

Eastern Afro-Montane

Stretching across the eastern mountains of Africa, from Saudi Arabia and Yemen in the north to Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe in the south, this hotspot’s climatic and altitudinal diversity supports a wide range of plants and animals.

The Guinean Forests of Western Africa

The lowland forests of West Africa host more than a quarter of Africa’s mammals, including over 20 primate species.

Horn of Africa

The arid Horn of Africa, including Somalia, is rich in unique plants and animals and has been a significant source of biological resources for thousands of years.

Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands

Madagascar and nearby island groups are home to eight plant families, four bird families, and five primate families found nowhere else on Earth.

Maputoland-Podoland-Albany Hotspot

Located along the east coast of southern Africa, below the Great Escarpment, this region is an important hub for plant endemism.

Succulent Karoo

Spanning Namibia and South Africa, the Karoo Desert is notable for its rich diversity of unique plants and animals.

East Melanesian Islands

Although geographically extending into Southeast Asia, this hotspot includes over 16,000 islands north of New Guinea. These islands are abundant in endemic plants and animals.

Biodiversity Hotspots in the Himalayas, East Asia, and South-East Asia

Himalayan Hotspot (Formerly Eastern Himalayan Hotspot)

This hotspot stretches across the Himalayas, covering Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and eastern states of India. It is home to many of the world’s highest peaks and features altitudinal zonation of ecosystems.

Human activities like deforestation, urbanization, industrialization, and agriculture have heavily impacted its ecosystems. Many species of plants and animals in this region are endangered or threatened.

Eastern Himalayas

Identified in 2005, this hotspot spans northeastern India, Sikkim, Bhutan, western Myanmar, and Yunnan Province in southwest China. It has a rich variety of ecosystems, including evergreen, deciduous, montane, and dry-evergreen forests. Swamps, mangroves, and seasonally inundated wetlands also contribute to its biodiversity.

This region receives higher rainfall and has a warmer climate compared to the Western Himalayas, making it rich in oaks and rhododendrons.

Japan Biodiversity Hotspot

The Japanese Archipelago spans from the subtropics in the south to the boreal zone in the north, resulting in diverse climates and ecosystems that host a wide variety of species.

Mountains of Southwest China

This hotspot, covering Yunnan Province and surrounding mountainous areas, has a significant diversity of endemic plants and animals.

New Caledonia

Located in the South Pacific, New Caledonia consists of islands with more than five endemic plant families, showcasing a high level of biodiversity.

New Zealand Biodiversity Hotspot

New Zealand, a mountainous archipelago once dominated by temperate rainforests, has a rich variety of unique plants and animals found nowhere else.

Philippine Biodiversity Hotspot

Spread across over 7,000 islands, the Philippines is recognized as one of the world’s richest biodiversity hotspots.

Polynesia and Micronesian Islands Complex, Including Hawaii

This hotspot, consisting of 4,500 islands, is at the center of the current global extinction crisis. It hosts unique species highly vulnerable to environmental changes.

Southwestern Australia

This region is characterized by forests, woodlands, shrublands, and heathlands with high levels of plant and reptile endemism.

Western Sunda

Covering Indonesia, Borneo, Brunei, Celebes, and Malaysia, this hotspot has a rich diversity of endemic plants and animals.

Wallace (Eastern Indonesia)

Wallace’s biodiversity is so unique that each island requires secure protected areas to conserve its endemic plants and animals.

Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka

Spanning the Western Ghats in India and the islands of Sri Lanka, this hotspot features diverse terrains, climates, and vegetation, ranging from tropical evergreen forests to thorny bushes. It is home to 1,100 animal species (20 endemic), 450 bird species (35 endemic), 6,000 vascular plants (3,000 endemic), and numerous endemic amphibians, freshwater fish, and invertebrates.

Human activities like population growth, urbanization, and deforestation in India and Sri Lanka have severely impacted its biodiversity.

Forests of East Australia

Recognized as the 35th biodiversity hotspot in 2011, this region spans a coastal stretch along Queensland and New South Wales, extending inland to the New England Tablelands and the Great Dividing Range. It supports over 2,100 endemic vascular plant species and ecosystems such as subtropical rainforests, temperate rainforests, dry sclerophyll forests, and tall wet Eucalypt forests.

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