Biodiversity

hotspot

PRESENTED BY
SWAGATA BORAH
BFSC 3RD YEAR, 1ST SEM
22-F-18
Introduction

 Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth, from genes to

ecosystem.
 Biodiversity hotspots are regions that are extremely rich in
species , especially endemic species, but are also under severe
threat of habitat loss.
 The term ‘biodiversity hotspot’ was given by Norman Myers in
1988. He first identified 10 hotspots based on the high degree of
endemism and habitat loss.
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two criteria:
 High endemism : It must have at least 1500 species of endemic
vascular plants.
 Critical habitat loss : It must have lost at least 70% of its original
natural habitat.
Biodiversity hotspots are vital for conservation because they
represent areas with high levels of species diversity under
significant threat of extinction.
Global biodiversity hotspot

 Around the world, there are currently 36 recognized biodiversity

hotspots.
 These are earth’s most biologically rich yet threatened terrestrial
regions.
 Their habitats represent just 2.5% of earth’s land surface, but
they support more than half of the world’s plant species as
endemics and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and
amphibian species as endemics.
Biodiversity hotspots in India
 There are 4 biodiversity hotspots in India:
 The Eastern Himalayas
 Western Ghats
 Indo- Burma
 Sundaland
The Himalayas

 It covers more than 3,000 kilometres across northern Pakistan, Nepal,

Bhutan, and the northwest and northeastern states of India.
 The Himalayan mountains are home to a variety of ecosystems,
including :
 Mixed conifer and conifer forests in the higher hills
 Alpine meadows above the tree line, the tallest alluvial grasslands in the
world
 Subtropical broadleaf forests along the foothills
 Temperate broadleaf forests in the mid hills
 Even at heights higher than 6,000 meters, vascular plants have been
discovered. Numerous big bird and mammal populations, including
vultures, tigers, elephants, rhinos, and wild water buffalo, can be found
in the hotspot.
Threats to Himalayan
Biodiversity
 Promoting both outside immigration and internal migration and leading to an exponential
increase in the human population in some of the locations with the greatest biodiversity.
 Due to widespread legal and illegal logging, especially on steep slopes there has been
serious erosion.
 During the summer, the area is frequently burned to make way for livestock, which
provides an extra hazard to the forest because fires can occasionally go out of control.
 Rapid deforestation and habitat fragmentation were the results of the conversion of
forests and grasslands for agriculture and settlements, mainly in Nepal and the Indian
states of Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling), and Assam.
 Additionally, certain forest ecosystems have been severely harmed by anthropogenic
activities such as domestic cattle overgrazing, overharvesting plants for traditional
medicine, collecting fuel wood, and extraction of non-timber forest products.
 Unplanned and poorly managed tourism operations also cause environmental damage.
 In the Himalayas, illegal poaching is a significant problem; tigers and rhinoceroses are
targeted for their body parts for use in traditional remedies, snow leopards and red
pandas are targeted for their stunning pelts.
The western ghats

 The western ghats are present along the western edge of

peninsular India.
 As per UNESCO, it is home to atleast 325 globally threatened
flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.
 The vegetation in this region is spread over 43,000 km .
 There are globally threatened 229 plant species, 31 mammal
species , 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species
and 1 fish species.
 Out of 325 threatened species , 129 are classified as vulnerable,
145 as endangered and 51 as critically endangered.
Threats

 The forests of the Western Ghats have been heavily fragmented

and selectively cut across their whole range.
 For monoculture plantations of tea, coffee, rubber, oil palm, teak,
eucalyptus, as well as to make room for reservoirs, highways,
and railways, forests have been removed.
 More forests are lost due to encroachment into protected areas.
On slopes that were once covered in forest, cattle and goat
grazing inside and close to protected zones severely erodes
them.
 The majority of the remaining forest cover is made up of
disturbed secondary growth or wood plantations.
Indo-Burma

 The Indo-Burma hotspot is the largest of the world’s 36 recognised hotspots, covering
a total area of 23,73,000 km2.
 Due to the diversity of its landforms and climatic zones, the Indo-Burma hotspot
supports a wide range of habitats and, as a result, a high level of overall biodiversity.
 The hotspot’s most diverse ecosystems are its forests. From evergreen forests with a
great diversity of canopy tree species to semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous forests
with few tree species, the hotspot supports a wide range of forest types.
 In the past 12 years, six new species of big mammals have been identified in this area:
 Large-antlered Muntjac
 Annamite Muntjac
 Grey-shanked Douc
 Annamite Striped Rabbit
 Leaf Deer
 Saola
Threats to Indo-Burma

 Indo-Burma is one of the top five most endangered biodiversity

hotspots, according to Conservation International, due to the rate
of resource extraction and habitat loss.
 The greatest threats to this hotspot’s biodiversity are logging, over-
exploitation of natural resources, industrial agriculture, trade and
consumption of wildlife, the building of massive infrastructures
including dams, highways, and ports, and climate change.
 In Indo-Burma, commercial timber exploitation ranks second
among the causes of deforestation.
 The loss of habitat has had an effect on other landforms, including
wetlands and freshwater floodplain swamps.
Sundaland

 The Sundaland hotspot lies in Southeast Asia and covers

Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia.
 The Nicobar islands in India are part of Sundaland region.
 In the year 2013, the Sundaland was declared as a World
Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations.
 This region is famous for its rich terrestrial and marine
ecosystem.
 Sundaland is one of the biologically richest hotspots in the world
which comprises 25,000 species of vascular plants, of which
15,000 are found only in this region.
Threats to Biodiversity in
Sundaland
 The stunning flora and wildlife of the Sundaland Hotspot are being
rapidly destroyed by industrial forestry on these islands
 Global traffic in animals, uses tigers, monkeys, and turtle species for
food and medicine in other nations.
 Only in this area are orangutans located, and their population is
rapidly declining.
 The Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra are also home to some
Southeast Asian rhino species.
 Like many other tropical regions, the forests are being destroyed for
business.
 The production of pulp, oil palm, and rubber are three of the most
harmful factors endangering biodiversity in the Sundaland Hotspot.
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

 Protected areas : Establishment of national parks, wildlife reserves

and marine protected areas.
 Restoration efforts : Reforestation and habitat restoration projects.
 Sustainable practices : promotion of sustainable agriculture ,
fishing and fortestry.
 Community engagement : Involving local communities in
conservation efforts.
 Control invasive species: develop strategies to control invasive
species that threaten native biodiversity.
 Environmental education and awareness
 Enforcement of strict laws
Conclusion

 Biodiversity hotspots are critical areas for global conservation

due to their high species diversity and vulnerability.
 Protecting these regions is necessary for preserving ecosystem
and preventing species extinction.
 Conservation efforts must focus on habitat protection,
sustainable practices and community involvement.
 Every individual can contribute to conservation through
awareness , responsible choices, and supporting environmental
initiatives.
Reference

 Conservation International. ( 2021). Biodiversity Hotspots.

https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots
 Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund ( CEPF). (n.d). Biodiversity
hotspots. https://www.cepf.net/ourwork/biodiversity-hotspots
 IUCN.(n.d) Biodiversity. https://www.iucn.org/theme/biodiversity
Thank you