The 4 Biodiversity Hotspots in India

To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

1. It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics (species found nowhere else on Earth).
2. It must have lost at least 70% of its original primary native vegetation (meaning it is highly threatened by human activities).

Out of the 36 recognized biodiversity hotspots in the world, India hosts 4 of them:

• 1. The Himalayas: Covers the entire Indian Himalayan region (and parts of Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan). It is known for its diverse altitudes, housing rare species like the Snow Leopard.
• 2. The Western Ghats: A mountain range running parallel to the western coast of India. It has exceptionally high levels of endemism (especially amphibians and reptiles) and faces massive threats from agriculture and logging.
• 3. The Indo-Burma Region: Covers Northeast India (except Assam and Andaman), Myanmar, Thailand, and parts of China. It is famous for rare turtle species and bird diversity.
• 4. Sundaland: Covers the Nicobar group of Islands (and extends to Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines). It is famous for its rich marine biodiversity and mangrove forests.