The protection of biodiversity and, therefore, of endangered species is an issue to which I attach a great deal of importance.
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
The words that need to be inculcated by everyone residing on Earth to sustain our natural habitats. But you must be wondering what are Biodiversity hotspots actually? Basically, they are regions that are both biologically fertile (rich distribution of plants and animals) But also highly threatened in the world. In other words, these regions are constantly under various threats. Mainly, which warrants the need to protect and conserve them. One such example of biodiversity hotspots is forest habitats. As they constantly face destruction and degradation due to illegal logging, pollution, and deforestation. Thus, there is a need to protect these biodiversity hotspots all over the world.
The concept of biodiversity hotspots was developed by Norman Myers in 1988. This is when he identified that the tropical forest losing its plant species as well as habitat. IUCN prepares ‘Red Data Book’. There are 34 areas around the world that qualify as Biodiversity hotspots. Whereas these hotspots represent only 2.3% of the total Earth’s land surface. Mainly, these hotspots are important because biodiversity underpins all life on Earth. Especially, without species, there would be no air to breathe, no food to eat, no water to drink.
- Have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other words, is irreplaceable.
- Consists of 30% or less of its original natural vegetation.
Firstly, let’s dive into the various Biodiversity Hotspots all around the world. Especially the ones which are under grave threat by man-made factors.
Importance of Biodiversity Hotspots
Source Credit: www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/biodiversity-hotspots/
The diversity of plant and animal species in the world as a whole are the most essential units of Earth’s life-support systems.
One of the major reasons for defining the importance of biodiversity hotspots on earth. Biodiversity acts as the building block of all life on Earth. A myriad of diverse species creates an intricate system for biological interaction & a balanced ecosystem where life is made possible. The grand species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all forms of life. Without species and a balanced ecosystem, for instance, there would be no food to eat, no diversity in genes, no air to breathe, or no water to drink. It, therefore, means that without biodiversity, humans would equally be non-existent because biodiversity hotspots are vital for human survival. The map of hotspots extends extraordinarily beyond the map of the natural areas that most benefit human populations.
Biodiversity hotspots qualify as one of the most crucial and richest ecosystems in the world as they are home to countless vulnerable human populations who are directly relying upon nature to survive. For this reason, the hotspots serve as the best natural places that most benefit people. Apart from making up about only 2.3% of the Earth’s land surface, wetlands, forests, and other ecosystems in hotspots make up 35% of the vital “ecosystem services” that vulnerable human populations rely upon. “Ecosystem services” include aspects that contribute to climate stability, nutrient recycling and storage, pollution breakdown and absorption, protection of water resources, ecosystem maintenance, recovery from unpredictable events, and soil protection and formation.
Biodiversity Hotspots
These hotspot regions support rich biodiversity because of geologic formations and endemic flora and fauna. And also exhibits exceptional scientific interest. It is an important ecosystem in the world and is the host of the habitat of endemic species in that particular ecosystem.
Atlantic Forest: Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay
Source Credit: https://rainforests.mongabay.com/mata-atlantica/
The Atlantic forest is a hotspot that covers Brazil’s Atlantic coast and extends to parts of Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. The hotspot hosts about 20,000 plant species, of which 8,000 are endemic. It also houses almost 950 birds and many other endangered species.
The Black-faced Lion Tamarin, for instance, is among the many adversely endangered species in the Atlantic forest.
The Atlantic forest biodiversity hotspot originally covered more than 1.2 million km. But coffee and sugar plantations have destroyed the forest, leaving less than 100,000 kms – (the remaining habitat is just about 8%).
The mounting pressure of freshwater supply, cattle ranching and urbanization which increases the demands for manufactured products are as well contributing factors for the continued ravaging of the forest. The predominant vegetation type here is tropical, subtropical moist broadleaf forests.
Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia & the Philippines
This region comprises a large geographical area. In between Western India and the coast of Vietnam are huge swaths of rich rainforests.
Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia & the Philippines
Source Credit: www.zooportraits.com/wildlife-hotspots-asia/
This region comprises a large geographical area. In between Western India and the coast of Vietnam are huge swaths of rich rainforests.
Many indigenous communities across Myanmar and Thailand call this area home, and a large portion of them have a history of relying on the forest and its resources for their survival. The harmonious relationship between people and the forest, wildlife, and with each other is ultimately key to ending the crisis of deforestation in this area.
It is a bio-cultural hotspot encompassing about 20 percent of the global plant, animal, and marine species. The region contains three mega-diverse countries — Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines — where four of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots are located.
The ecosystem along the Lancang-Mekong River, which includes rich forests, rivers, and wetlands, cradles countless wildlife. Furthermore, there are many of them who are endangered or vulnerable species. The threat of habitat loss makes this region a biodiversity hotspot.
Among the world’s tropical biodiversity hotspots, Southeast Asia is unique, both because of its exceptionally high levels of species richness and endemism, and the magnitude of the anthropogenic threats that it faces. However, even within this hotspot, biodiversity and threat levels are not uniform.
The Philippines Biodiversity Hotspot
Source Credit: www.biodiversityphilippines.org/philippines-as-a-biodiversity-hotspot/
The 7,000-plus islands that make up the Philippines create specific conditions for rich biodiversity to thrive. Nearly 600 recorded bird species are indigenous, and over a third of those are only found in the Philippines. Furthermore, this biodiversity extends to the rich and diverse marine life in between the islands as well. In spite of this, deforestation has threatened the presence of a number of species. This includes the national symbol, the Philippine eagle.
It is considered to be a mega– diverse country. Mainly, because of the exceptional diversity in ecosystems, species, and genetic resources found within its expansive 7,100 island territory.
The Philippines is known to be home to 52,177 described species of which 50% or more are believed to be endemic. It is possible that the Philippines may practically have more biodiversity on a per-unit basis.
Unfortunately, its species richness, high endemism, and diversity are all at risk, qualifying it to be a biodiversity hotspot. Threats come from habitat alteration and loss brought about by destructive resource use, development-related activities, and human population pressure. The overexploitation of natural resources reduced the forests to an alarming 24% from their original cover.
The Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti & Somalia
Source Credit: www.frontieri.com/fronteiri-is-going-to-the-horn-of-africa/
The Horn of Africa is the protruding continental mass that wraps around the Arabian peninsula. It comprises Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia. Mainly, this region is currently facing increasing desertification. Additionally, the efforts to preserve forest space, particularly by the Ethiopian Church, have played a key role in protecting its remaining biodiversity. These same challenges also intensify the grave threat of food insecurity in this region.
The Horn of Africa Biodiversity Hotspot centered on the arid Horn, east of the Ethiopian Highlands. It also covers the Rift Valley, which divides the Ethiopian Highlands into two major blocks. Mainly, called the xeric bushlands of northeastern Kenya and the southern coastal parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Politically, this includes most of Somalia, all of Djibouti, parts of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Yemen, and Oman, and a small piece of far northeastern Sudan. Additionally, also included in the hotspot is the Socotra Archipelago off the coast of northeastern Somalia, and a few hundred tiny islands in the Red Sea.
One of only two hotspots that is entirely arid, the region is home to a number of endemic and threatened antelope—the vulnerable dibatag (Ammodorcas clarkei) and the endangered Speke’s gazelle (Gazella spekei) among them.
Other distinctive endemics found here include the critically endangered Somali wild ass (Equus africanus somaliensis) and the hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas). The Horn of Africa also holds more endemic reptiles than any other region on the continent.
Madagascar
Source Credit: www.islandconservation.org/madagascars-biodiversity-threatened-by-toxic-toad/
Madagascar is home to some distinct succulent woodlands and a wide variety of unique animal species. Its relative isolation off the coast of Africa creates unique conditions for various species to thrive, though many are now under threat. Mainly, the decreasing rainfall has been one of the greater threats to local plant life. These same vulnerabilities extend to neighboring islands in the Indian Ocean.
Madagascar, due to its isolation from the rest of the world, has tremendous biodiversity and high rates of endemic species. Astonishingly, more than 200,000 known species are found on Madagascar; more than 80 percent exist nowhere else. Mainly, unique to the island are over 100 kinds of lemurs, over 300 species of frogs, and 33 species of tenrecs, miniature hedgehog-like animals. However, it is one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. More than 80 percent of the forests are gone—half of them since the late 1950s—along with a number of large, charismatic species.
Madagascar has suffered environmental degradation over a significant part of its landmass. Furthermore, forests that once blanketed the eastern third of the island have now been degraded, fragmented, and converted to scrubland. Additionally, the spiny forests in the south are rapidly giving way to “cactus scrub” as Indigenous vegetation is cut and burned for subsistence charcoal production. When viewed from above, Madagascar’s rivers look as if they are bleeding the country to death as the soil is eroded from the central highlands. Significantly, each year as much as a third of the country burns, and 1 percent of its remaining forests are leveled.
The California Coast
Source Credit: www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/california-floristic-province
The California Coast hosts some of the greatest numbers of total plant and bird species. This hotspot stretches from the northern point of Baja California, up the entire California coast, and gets wider as it moves north, including a bit of southeast Oregon. Mostly, beloved tree species include the giant sequoia and the redwood. Coastal plant communities thrive under the unique conditions of ubiquitous fog.
Many of California’s ecological islands are caused by the state’s very active geology. Furthermore, the outcrops of serpentine, a mantle rock only exposed at sites of violent tectonic plate collisions, and limestone provide isolated areas with unique soils. Additionally, geomorphic basins where water accumulates to form vernal pools are another important kind of California ecological island.
The Channel Islands off southern California have many endemic species of their own, like island scrub jay (Aphelocoma insularis), island fox (Urocyon littoralis), and island ironwood trees (Lyonothamnus floribundus).
Since California is the most populous as well as the most biodiverse state, its conservation challenges are immense.
Cultural and Anthropological Significance
There are even more biodiversity hotspots all around the world that are a melting pot of flora & fauna. But sadly under threat due to man-made factors like deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices. Not only is the ecosystem that holds all life in itself under threat, but also our basis of existence. What we humans need to understand is that our actions have consequences. And if we continue to pillage and destroy the environment around us then we risk upsetting the delicate balance of ecosystems.
And if we don’t correct our behavior towards the ecosystem we live in, then we risk erasing the very existence of our being. Along with erasing the beauty of the world around us, is endangering the species of birds, animals, trees that the next generation might not witness. Or the exotic plants and vegetation that will be wiped out of the face of the Earth. The need for environmental action is now before it is too late to converse and protect precious biodiversity all around the world.
Let me know in the comment section down below how you, as an individual, vow to protect the environment you exist in? It can be anything big or small as all of us have to start caring sooner or later, as the latter is not an option, as we can afford to choose to deal with the consequences, as most of our surroundings will cease to exist.
