Global Biodiversity Hotspots
To qualify as a hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world's total) as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. Currently 34 regions around the world have been identified as biodiversity hotspots. Once covering 15.7% of the earths land surface, intact remnants of these hotspots can today be found in just 2.3% of the earths land surface. Each biodiversity hotspot represents a remarkable universe of extraordinary floral and faunal endemicity struggling to survive in rapidly shrinking ecosystems. In the face of multiple threats and pressures faced, conservation of these hotspots today has acquired a priority status.
This section gives a brief outline of these 34 global biodiversity hotspots spanning five continents. From the mountains of Southwest China to the Caucasus and the Afromontane region, an attempt has been made to profile the spectacular biodiversity distinctive to each of these regions. This section gives a clear overview of each hotspot with details like vegetation type, endemic species found, as well as threats faced.
ENDEMISM AND DIVERSITY
AREA DETAILS
[The information has been sourced from the Conservation International website on biodiversity hotspots (www.biodiversityhotspots.org). Accessed in February 2008.]
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