A Brief note on Biodiversity Hotspots Defined

Some parts of the world are simply irreplaceable, from lush rainforests to breathtaking mountains. Many of these sites are biodiversity hotspots, or areas that are both densely populated and vulnerable to extinction.

Although biodiversity hotspots account for only 2.3 percent of the Earth’s land surface, they are home to 44 percent of the world’s plants and 35 percent of terrestrial vertebrates. The majority of plants in a biodiversity hotspot are endemic, meaning they can only be found there. Yet, by definition, biodiversity hotspots are facing a conservation catastrophe. A territory must have lost at least 70% of its original natural vegetation to be recognised as a biodiversity hotspot, which is mainly due to human activity.

Over 30 biodiversity hotspots have been identified around the world. The Tropical Hotspot of the Andes Mountains is the world’s most varied hotspot. This region is home to almost one-sixth of all plant species on the planet. Another hotspot is the New Zealand archipelago. Because New Zealand’s life evolved in isolation, the islands are home to several species that aren’t found anywhere else.

Biodiversity Hotspot

There are currently 36 biodiversity hotspots identified. These are the most biologically diverse—yet endangered—terrestrial places on the planet.

A region must meet two strict criteria to be designated as a biodiversity hotspot:

• There are at least 1,500 vascular plant species found nowhere else on Earth (known as “endemic” species).
• At least 70% of its core native vegetation has been lost.

Many biodiversity hotspots meet both of these criteria. Sundaland Hotspot in Southeast Asia and the Tropical Andes Hotspot in South America, for example, both feature around 15,000 unique plant species. In certain locations, the loss of vegetation has reached a stunning 95 percent.

Species in the Biodiversity Hotspots

Around 2 billion people live in the 36 biodiversity hotspots, including some of the world’s poorest, many of whom rely on healthy ecosystems for their livelihood and well-being.The hotspots provide essential ecosystem services to humans, including clean water, pollination, and climate regulation.

These spectacular locations also have some of the world’s greatest human population densities, yet the relationship between people and biodiversity is not simply one of more people causing more environmental consequences. Human activity, not human density, is responsible for a large portion of human-biodiversity impacts.

Conservation in hotspots encourages the long-term management of these vital natural resources while also supporting economic growth, which lessens the causes of violent conflict.

CONCEPT OF BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS 

Norman Myers, a British ecologist, released a landmark report in 1988 that identified ten tropical forest “hotspots.” These areas were characterised by high levels of plant endemism as well as significant habitat loss.

In 1989, one of CEPF’s global donor groups, Conservation International, adopted Myers’ hotspots as its institutional structure. In 1996, the group decided to conduct a review of the hotspots idea, including a look at whether any crucial locations had been ignored. Three years later, a comprehensive global evaluation was conducted, which resulted in the classification of 25 biodiversity hotspots based on quantitative thresholds.

Based on the work of approximately 400 experts, an additional investigation in 2005 increased the total number of biodiversity hotspots to 34.

A team of experts from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Conservation International named the Forests of East Australia as the 35th hotspot in 2011.

The North American Coastal Plain was designated as the Earth’s 36th hotspot in February 2016 after meeting the requirements.

Biodiversity Hotspot Regions 

There are four significant biodiversity hotspots in India that meet the criteria for being designated as a Biodiversity Hotspot:

1. The Himalayas
2. Indo-Burma Region
3. The Western Ghats
4. Sundaland

The Himalayas

The Himalayas (overall) include North-East India, Bhutan, and the central and eastern regions of Nepal, and are considered the world’s highest mountains. There are 163 endangered species in this region (NE Himalayas), including the Wild Asian Water Buffalo and One-horned Rhino, as well as 10,000 plant species, 3160 of which are indigenous. This mountain range is over 750,000 square kilometres in size.

Indo – Burma Region

The Indo-Burma Region covers a total area of 2,373,000 sq. km. The Large-antlered Muntjac, Annamite Muntjac, Grey-shanked Douc, Annamite Striped Rabbit, Leaf Deer, and Saola are six large animal species that have been discovered in this region in the previous 12 years.

This hotspot is particularly notable for its endemic freshwater turtle species, the majority of which are endangered owing to overfishing and habitat destruction. The endangered White-eared Night-heron, Grey-crowned Crocias, and Orange-necked Partridge are among the 1,300 bird species found here.

The Western Ghats

The Western Ghats run along the western edge of peninsular India, encompassing the majority of India’s deciduous and rain forests. It supports at least 325 internationally vulnerable flora, animal, bird, amphibian, reptile, and fish species, according to UNESCO. The vegetation in this region used to cover 190,000 square kilometres, but it has now shrunk to 43,000 square kilometres. 229 plant species, 31 animal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species, and 1 fish species are among the region’s globally vulnerable flora and fauna. “Of the total 325 globally threatened species in the Western Ghats, 129 are classed as Vulnerable, 145 as Endangered, and 51 are listed as Critically Endangered,” according to UNESCO.

Sundaland

Sundaland is a South-East Asian hotspot that includes Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. Sundaland was designated as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations in 2013. The rich terrestrial and marine ecosystems of this region are well-known. Sundaland is one of the world’s ecologically richest regions, with 25,000 species of vascular plants, 15,000 of which are unique to this region.

Conclusion

The rich flora and wildlife of India are well-known. India is home to about 500 mammalian species, more than 200 avian species, and 30,000 insect species. The Zoological Survey of India, headquartered in Kolkata, is in charge of surveying India’s faunal resources.

India has a diverse temperature, topography, and habitat, and is noted for having the world’s richest flora, with over 18000 blooming plant species. These plant species account for about 7% of all plant species on the planet. The Western and Eastern Himalayas, Indus and Ganges, Assam, the Deccan, Malabar, and the Andaman Islands are the eight main floristic zones in India, which are home to 3000 Indian plant species. India’s woods range from tropical rainforests in the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats, and northeast India to Himalayan coniferous forests. The eastern, central, and southern parts of India are covered in deciduous woods.