Threats to Biodiversity:
Biodiversity worldwide is under significant threat due to
various factors, largely driven by human activities. Some of the main threats
include:
- Habitat
Loss and Fragmentation: This is mainly due to human activities such as
deforestation, urban development, agriculture, and mining. Loss and
fragmentation of habitats can lead to a significant loss of species.
- Overexploitation:
Over-hunting, over-fishing, and over-harvesting can deplete populations of
species and drive them towards extinction.
- Invasive
Species: Invasive species can out-compete native species for
resources, leading to declines in native populations.
- Pollution:
Different types of pollution, including water, air, and soil pollution,
can have detrimental effects on biodiversity.
- Climate
Change: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and extreme
weather events, can disrupt ecosystems and threaten species that cannot
adapt quickly enough.
Biodiversity Hotspots:
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a
significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from human
activities. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict
criteria:
- It
must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics
(species that are not found anywhere else in the world).
- It
has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat.
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, there are 36
areas around the world recognized as biodiversity hotspots by Conservation
International. They represent just 2.4% 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.
In India, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalayas are
recognized as biodiversity hotspots, known for their rich variety of flora and
fauna, many of which are endemic to these regions.
Preserving these biodiversity hotspots is crucial for
maintaining global biodiversity. Conservation efforts in these areas often aim
to protect remaining habitat, restore degraded habitat, and promote sustainable
development practices.