Norman Myers, a British ecologist acclaimed for his work regarding the planet’s biodiversity, was the one who first coined the term hotspot in 1988. That year, Myers identified ten tropical forests in critical condition due to the exceptional level of endemism they presented as well as the high rates of habitat destruction. However, this was just an initial approximation, as the quantitative criteria were yet to be defined regarding what a hotspot really is.
In 1996, the organization Conservation International and the British ecologist decided to undertake the task of evaluating our planet’s diverse ecological zones together, establishing a clear parameter in order to be able to refer to a hotspot. The two key factors were the level of endemism and the degree of threat the species were faced with, taking into consideration their considerably restricted distribution range and those more susceptible to extinction.
After a couple of years of research, hotspots were defined as zones in which there were at least 1,500 species of endemic vascular plants, and also where nearly 70% of the original vegetation had been lost.
The analysis revealed that 25 spots on the planet met these requirements. Although they only took up 1.4% of Earth’s total surface, they held the world’s highest concentration of animal and plant biodiversity. Moreover, some of these sites, like the islands of Madagascar and Borneo, are considered real evolutionary history reserves for animals and plants, because unique species with different adaptations are conserved there, some of which have little evolutionary development.
The main problems each of these zones has to face are destruction and fragmentation of habitats, the introduction of invasive species, direct human exploitation of fauna and flora (for industrial ends, pharmacological ends, etc.), illegal commerce of pets and commercial deforestation.
Next, we detail a few of the main characteristics and problems faced by the 34 hotspots established in 2004 by Conservation International. In order to make analysis easier, they shall be classified according to the geographical region in which they are located.
North and Central America
South America
Europe and Central Asia
Africa
Asia-Pacific
North and Central America
– California Floristic Province: a zone with a Mediterranean climate that is characterized for having a high degree of plant endemism. It houses diverse ecosystems, standouts being bushy areas, brushes, chaparrals and pine forests, among others.
Endemic species inhabit this region like the tallest and oldest tree in the world, the Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendrom giganteum), and another one of the same family dubbed California Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), both in a Vulnerable state of conservation. It is also the exclusive habitat of the Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ingens) and the California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus), both Endangered species.
The deterioration of this spot of the planet is mainly due to commercial agriculture, which has devastated a great amount of hectares to transform them into cultivation zones (almost half of the United State’s agricultural production is generated from here).
Numbers show that only one fourth of the original vegetation is conserved, which not only means the imminent disappearance of some endemic plants, but also the fragmentation and disappearance of many species’ natural habitats, which, in this way, become gradually more vulnerable.
– Caribbean Islands: located in our planet’s low latitude zones, this sector includes three important groups of islands located between North and South America: the Bahamas and the Major and minor Antilles (Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba and the islands where the Dominican Republic and Haiti are found). It is possible to find an assortment of ecosystems within them that range from tropical forests to semi-desert environments and swamps.
In terms of biodiversity, they house a great concentration of endemic birds and mammals. Moreover, the Caribbean Islands are one of the richest areas when it comes to reptiles, with around 500 species, 470 of which are endemic. The smallest snake in the world lives there (Leptotyphlops bilineatus), as do the smallest lizards (Sphaerodactylus ariasae and Sphaerodactylus parthenopion). Although the zone was populated by Man thousands of years ago, his presence in the last 500 years has caused an irreversible deterioration in the environment.
Among the actions that hinder the ecosystems’ equilibrium are the expansion of the area used for the cultivation of sugarcane and animal introduction by Man.
– Madrean Pine-Oak Woodlands: this zone, located between the south of the United States and the northern sector of Mexico, is a part of the new list of hotspots that were included in the 2004 revision. It is an area predominated by important forms of relief, like the mountainous chains of western and eastern Sierra Madre, the trans-Mexican volcanic belt and the northern Sierra of Oaxaca, among others.
Important plant associations take place there, like the pine forests of Michoacan. Estimates say that nearly one four of Mexico’s endemic plant species are only found in this part of the world. In addition, this important vegetation is the perfect territory for the development of vital cycles for other organisms, like millions of monarch butterflies that travel there to hibernate.
The destruction of forests due to excessive tree felling is the main problem that affects this region. Not only have logging resources been exploited indiscriminately, but other species of plants are also uprooted from their natural habitat and used for commercial ends. Intentional and controlled fires made to increase crop zones and grazing in nearby sectors have continuously harmed the ecosystemic equilibrium, putting many species in danger of extinction, like two types of pine that have only been found in the Western Sierra Madre, Quercus carmenensis and Quercus deliquescens.
– Mesoamerica: it is the world’s most extensive hotspot, spanning from the central zone of Mexico to the Panama canal. It houses numerous endemic plants (close to 3,000 of the 17,000 found), standouts among them being some that are commercially exploited, like Mahogany (Swietenia humilisi), and some Critically Threatened animals, like the marvelous Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) and the Cozumel Racoon (Procyon pygmaeus).
Since the 19th century, intensive agriculture and cattle farming have affected the region’s natural environment. In addition, indiscriminate felling of tropical forests is one of the greatest threats, because estimates say that nearly 80% of the habitat’s original surface has suffered modifications or disappeared completely.
Another of the situations that affects this hotspot is the vulnerability of the amphibians that live there, due to diverse factors like the continuous loss of their habitats and a few diseases that affect them (mainly fungi).
South America
– Atlantic forest: with over one million 200 thousand square kilometers of extension, the Atlantic forest or Atlantic bush spans from the north of Brazil to the interior of Paraguay, northeast Argentina and the coast of Uruguay, including several islands located in front of the Brazilian coast, like the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.
It has over 20,000 plants, of which only 40% are endemic. Meanwhile, the region is the exclusive habitat of several endangered vertebrates, like a few species of Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) and six species of birds that live only in small spots of the existing forests. Once again, fragmentation and the destruction of the environment explain the critical situation of the organisms that inhabit this nearby Atlantic zone. For centuries, sugarcane and coffee plantations have deteriorated and ravished the sector’s natural surface, while in the last few years, the expansion of cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro have directly and indirectly affected the environment due to the typical pressures of urbanization (indiscriminate use of resources, pollution, etc.).
– Cerrado: it is the most extensive sector of savannah in South America, located exactly in Brazil’s central plateau, with a surface area of over 2 million square kilometers. It is an environment where anteaters, giant armadillos, jaguars and a few species of wolves live naturally alongside brush type plant associations, as well as grasslands and woody forests, among others.
The Cerrado savannah is also characterized by successive spontaneous fires, which fulfill an important task: to maintain the balance between the grassy and woody vegetation present in the area. In order to survive forest fires, plants have modified, deep roots, a thick bark and a quick ability when it comes to regenerating, which even facilitates the recycling of nutrients. The expansion of agricultural crop zones, as well as overgrazing, has continuously spoiled the Cerrado region. We must only consider that nearly 60% of Brazilian soy production comes from this zone, and it is responsible for nearly 40% of the country’s total crops.
– Tumbes-Choco.Magdalena forest: its surface reaches different sectors of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, including the Galapagos islands. Although its extension is quite limited (it only spans a little over 270 thousand square kilometers), it is possible to find different ecosystems within it, like mangroves, coastal deserts and some tropical forests. In addition, one fourth of its plant species are endemic.
It is a habitat that houses a great richness of birds, reason for which the important organization Bird Life International classified it as one of the two most important and critical spots in the world. Estimates say that out of a total 900 known species, only 110 inhabit this zone, and 21 of them are Critically Endangered. Some examples are the White-winged Guan (Penelope albipennis) and the Peruvian Plantcutter.
Among the main problems that affect this hotspot are urbanization and explosive demographic growth, excessive hunting of large mammals and birds and the deforestation of coastal mangroves to obtain timber and firewood.
– Central Chile: it is characterized as a real continental island, the natural limits of which are the Atacama desert, the Andes mountains and the Pacific ocean. Our country’s hotspot goes from the coast of Antofagasta to the region of los Lagos, covering an extension of 300 km2. Besides the continental portion, the oceanic islands of Santa Maria and Mocha Island are included.
It has a rich diversity when it comes to flora and fauna. Species like the Chilean Bellflower (Lapageria rosea), Monkey-Puzzle (Araucaria araucana), Patagonian Cypress (Fitzroya cupressoides), Andean Mountain Cat (Oreailurus jacobita) and the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) are endemic to the region and are found in different states of vulnerability regarding their conservation.
Unique ecosystems give way to one another from north to south, like the florid desert of the Valdivian forest, whose amazing flowering plant associations are one of a kind in the world. Unfortunately, in all of these areas, overgrazing, urban development and the introduction of invasive species have affected the survival of both plant and animal species, putting the equilibrium of each of the ecosystems in serous risk.
– Tropical Andes: It is pointed out as the richest and most diverse zone on our planet. It is not only surprising for being the natural environment of the only bear that inhabits South America, the Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatos), but it also amazes for containing the world’s greatest variety of amphibians with 664 different species (of which 450 are in conservation danger).
It is also the habitat of one of the most marvelous vascular plants, because it takes more than 100 years to mature; it is commonly known as Puja and belongs to the family Bromeliaceae.
Despite conserving close to 25% of its natural habitat, this hotspot must face the problems brought on by mining, logging, oil drilling and the cultivation of plants for narcotics manufacturing. Meanwhile, the forests located there have had to deal with the irreparable damage caused by the construction of hydroelectric power plants, the conversion of natural grasses into cattle feed and the introduction of some invasive species, like the American Bullfrog (Rana cetesbeiana).
Europe and Central Asia
– Caucasus: it extends over 500 thousand square kilometers, completely spanning the countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and some portions of the Russian Federation, Turkey and Iran. Vegetation is highly diverse, with distinct ecosystems like steppes, pastureland, swamps, deserts, conifer forests and brushes, and others.
Its vegetation consists of 6,400 species, of which one fourth are endemic. There is an assortment of rhododendrons as well as economically relevant vegetation, like rye and barley; it is also a sector where important dried fruit cultivations are present, predominantly walnuts.
Regarding the animals that live in this zone, the most emblematic and in a high risk of extinction is the West Caucasian Tur (Capra caucasica). Likewise, it stands out for being an obligatory corridor for many migratory birds. Due to the fact that the zone has been inhabited by Man since ancient times, he and his activities have been the cause of the natural environment’s gradual deterioration. Even political tensions and military contests in the area have intensified the felling of forests (in order to get wood that is used as fuel) and the illegal commerce of plants and animals. The most affected species of the latter are the Leopard (Pantera pardus), Brown Bear (ursus arctos) and the Wolf (Canis lupus), among other mammals.
– Irano-Anatolian: a member of the new list of hotspots put together in 2004, the zone is registered as a natural barrier between the Mediterranean basin and the arid plains of western Asia. The region has nearly 6 thousand endemic species, the groups that inhabit itsenclosed and exuberant sectors stand out, like the Kopet Daga mountains, where it is possible to find close to 322 plant organisms, and the Zagros mountains, with 500 varieties, also exclusive. Two types of felines that live in this area have seen their population decrease dramatically, even causing total extinction. While the Asiatic Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus) has only 60 specimens left in reduced and fragmented desert regions of Iran, the Caspian Tiger, which also used to be an endemic inhabitant of this area, was last seen in the seventies.
The intervention of natural spaces, be it for the construction of dams, new crop zones or urbanization, is the main problem the region faces. Excessive grazing, the exploitation of some woody plants to be used as a heat source and mining have also continuously deteriorated the diverse ecosystems present here, decreasing the odds of survival for all organisms, be they plants or animals.
– Mediterranean basin: recognized as a zone of vital importance for the development of present day societies –because of the great amount of ancient civilizations that were formed under the Mediterranean’s wing- the basin is considered Europe’s largest hotspot. It spans from west to east, from Portugal to Jordan, while, from north to south, it covers Italy to Morocco. It has been inhabited by Man for nearly eight thousand years, and he has drastically intervened nature in his favor.
The diversity of plant species houses in this sector is impressive; noteworthy are the ones that exclusively inhabit some of the thousands of islands scattered across the Mediterranean sea. Numbers show that the 22,500 species of endemic vascular plants that exist in the basin are four times more than those found in the rest of Europe.
Given the fact that it is a highly attractive zone for tourism, the development of this activity and the problems it brings (pollution, excessive traffic of means of transportation, construction of special precincts, among others) are a few of the region’s main threats. In addition, deforestation, excessive grazing and the extension of crop zones increase the fragility of this important sector of our planet.
– Mountains of central Asia: zone that is characterized by the existence of numerous areas with altitudes that surpass 6,500 meters, enormous plateaus and other basins where interesting flora and fauna develop.
It is recognized as a great deposit for the planet’s genetic diversity, it being possible to find there several ancestors of many domestic fruits and ungulates that exclusively inhabit the sector.
The lack of water in many sectors that are quite dry in the region, and the extension of some crop zones, as well as civil conflicts that take place continuously, have hindered the survival of several species, especially for some plants. In addition, many of its resources as traded as goods, using them as fuel and food.
Africa
– Cape Floristic Province: it is characterized by having a pleasant Mediterranean climate that favors the development of a great amount of plant species, finding the greatest concentration of endemic plants outside the tropics. Likewise, several varieties of antelopes and reptiles, like the geometric tortoise, standout from its biogeography.
The zone has multiple dangers that make it vulnerable, like the expansion of agricultural areas, urban development and the considerable and sustained increase the human population has had in the last few years. However, the greatest threat this access point has is the negative effect of exotic plants.
For decades, trees and bushes from other Mediterranean type climates, like the south of Australia or the Mediterranean basin, have been introduced to the region, trying to complement the few species of native trees present in the Cape. However, instead of becoming a solution, they now constitute a threat for the endemic plants, because estimates say that they have invaded approximately 70% of the region’s mountain area and lowlands.
– Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa: although small and fragmented, the remains of the forests that comprise the coastal zone of eastern Africa contain noteworthy levels of biodiversity. Tropical forests, swamps and mangroves give way to one another in this zone, where it is also worth pointing out the high temperatures and elevated humidity. In sectors less than 100 kilometers apart, one can find up to 80% of different varieties of plants. Of the existent 4 thousand, estimates say that almost half are endemic, standouts being the African Violet (Saitpaulia spp.) and eleven species of coffee plant, which have yet to be exploited commercially. Regarding animals, there is a great predominance of some primates, as occurs with the Tana River Red Colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus).
Agricultural expansion continues to be the greatest threat faced by the forests of Africa’s eastern coast. In addition, poor soil quality and the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources (commercial agriculture), which gradually takes up more and more of the existing natural habitat, can be added on the aforementioned problems.
– Eastern Afromontane: the main heights of this hotspot are found scattered along the eastern coast of Africa, from Saudi Arabia in the north, to Zimbabwe in the south. It is an interesting zone from the point of view of relief, as there are considerably high mountains and some of the world’s most important lakes, like lake Victoria, Tanganica and Malawi. It has an extension of over one million squared kilometers, where peculiar life forms develop, like nestings of Taita Thrush (Turdus helleri), a typical species of Kenya; the African Elephant (loxodonta africanus), one of our planet’s largest mammals, and the Chrysobatrachus cupreonitens, among others.
The conversion of several natural hectares into agricultural lands divided the native species’ habitats little by little, making them more and more vulnerable. This is the main cause of this environment’s deterioration, as well as the gathering of some plants for medicinal use, the deforestation of vast zones for commercial ends and the indiscriminate hunting of some animal species.
– Guinean forest of west Africa: with an extension of 620,314 km2, this zone houses an enormous variety of landscapes, standouts being jungles, swampy forests and other semi-deciduous ones (which lose part of their leaves), with a considerably prolonged dry season. In addition, it is the natural habitat for nearly one fourth of the mammals that live in Africa, including over 20 species of primates, pigmy hippopotami and a few populations of chimpanzee. Regarding plants, there are many commercially important organisms, like the Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis), some species of valuable wood like ebony (Diospyros gracilis), two genera of African mahogany and the Oroko (Milicia excelsa).
Logging, mining indiscriminate hunting and the growth of some urban poles are considered the main problems that affect this region.
– Horn of Africa: considered one of the driest hotspots on the list, it is however, an undeniable source of natural resources, due to the diversity of its species as well as to the existing genetic variety. It also tends to stand out for containing a considerable number of species of threatened antelopes and the greatest portion of endemic reptiles in Africa.
Unfortunately, it is one of the world’s most degraded hotspots, where only 5% of its original habitat is conserved. Among the main causes of this extreme deterioration are excessive grazing (estimates say grazing for camels, goats and sheep takes place on practically the entire surface), itinerant farming, political instability and the development of infrastructure that, despite being scarce, irreparably affects the natural habitat of many species.
– Madagascar and the Indian ocean islands: identified as one of the world’s largest islands, Madagascar is a true natural reserve for existing biodiversity, the same as the rest of the Indian ocean islands.
It has the noteworthy peculiarity of having a total of eight plant families, five families of birds and five of primates that do not live anywhere else in the world.
Once again, the intervention of Man by indiscriminate tree-felling, mining, excessive hunting and the growth and development of some population centers has damaged the region’s fragile equilibrium.
– Maputaland- Pondoland- Albany: it extends through the southern coast of South Africa, spanning an original surface of 273,136 km2. It is an important endemic center for plants, finding over 600 varieties of trees here, a number higher than that found in any temperate forest on the planet.
Commercial agriculture (there are important sugarcane crops) and the development of cattle-farming are the main problems this sector of Africa must face, which gradually harms the place’s endemic flora. In addition, industrial wood production not only devastates important hectares of unique vegetation, but irreversibly hinders many animals’ natural habitat.
However, not everything is negative for this hotspot, because important conservation programs for white rhinos take place in its southern area, which are true examples of the species’ struggle for survival.
– Succulent Karoo: its surface manages to cover some sectors of South Africa and Namibia, reaching 102,691 km2. Close to 2 thousand species of endemic plants inhabit this space, as well as containing the greatest proportion of arachnids, insects and reptiles that are exclusive to this sector, compared to other zones of the planet.
Standouts among the main problems it faces are overgrazing, mining and the illegal gathering and commercialization of some endemic plant species.
Asia-Pacific
– East Melanesian islands: it is a greatly complex sector from a geographical point of view, as it is made up of numerous islands produced by volcanoes, which many times present intermittent activity.
In addition, they have several mountainous peaks which are really the tops of the volcanoes.
Politically, it includes a sector of New Guinea and all of the Salomon island and Vanuatu. It was included in the latest revision of hotspots conducted in 2004, because it used to belong to New Guinea. However, the reevaluation showed that, in the last 30 years, nearly three fourths of the original vegetation has been devastated. Among the main causes for this grave harm is excessive tree-felling in lowlands, be it for commercial ends or to satisfy the needs of the growing population.
– Himalaya: with a surface of over 750,000 km2, the zone is characterized for having some of the planet’s highest forms of relief, like the one reached by Mount Everest, with 8,848 meters above sea level. These steep mountains are beneficial for the existence of a great ecosystemic variety, from alluvial grasslands to subtropical forests. Numerous species live there, with standouts like great-sized birds, some crows, and mammals like tigers, elephants, rhinos and wet buffalos.
This sector is continuously besieged by the pressure exerted by activities like forest felling and the destruction of the original vegetation in order to use the land as forest development zones. In addition, the constant flow of a great amount of people in zones like Nepal are also a key factor when it comes to understanding the deterioration of the ecosystems, because as population goes up, so do the resources people demand.
– Indo-Burma: extending from the south of China to the south of Thailand with a surface that spans 2 million squared miles, this hotspot is characterized for being the natural environment of many endangered species, like the Indochinese Tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti), the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), the Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) and the Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis). In addition, it has a high level of endemism in freshwater turtles.
Excessive fishing, the transformation of natural zones into commercial crop zones (with standouts like tea and soy), mining for precious stones and other minerals, firewood gathering and the production of vegetable coal are the main factors that determine the accelerated destruction of this region’s habitat, with only 5% of its original environment left in good condition.
– Japan: made up of over 3 thousand islands, the hotspot of the archipelago of Japan covers a surface of 374,490 km2. Almost one fourth of the zone’s existent mammals are endemic, while nearly three fourths of the amphibians that live there are exclusive to the sector.
Within the enormous variety of ecosystems that give way to one another, from the ones with good climate conditions located in subtropical areas in the south, to the ones that suffer extremes, common to boreal areas, have important and unique species, like the Okinawa Woodpecker (Sapheopipo noguchii) and the Japanese macaque monkeys.
The explosive demographic increase, as well as the accelerated development of urbanism, have influenced the sector’s ecosystemic dynamic precarious situation. The introduction of new animal species is also seen as a threat to the survival of endemic species that have lived in the place for centuries.
– Mountains of southwest China: this region spans the southeast of Tibet, going through the Chine provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan. It is characterized by its complex relief andvalleys alternated with important mountain ranges. Some peaks even surpass 7,500 meters above sea level, as in the case of Gongga Shan mountaintop.
Its interesting topography allows the existence of assorted ecosystems and species. Among the latter, standouts are the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), the Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) and a few varieties of pheasant that exclusively inhabit this zone. Poaching, overgrazing and gathering firewood have been detected as a few of the main threats to this region’s biodiversity. In the last few years, even the problems brought on by the construction of the world’s greatest dam have been added (called Three Gorges, in the river Yang-tse-Kiang), which implies an irreversible change to the landscape and the natural environment of many of the zone’s living beings.
– New Caledonia: an island located in the southeast Pacific ocean, which extends almost 19 km2. In contrast with many islands in this area of the planet, it is not of volcanic origin, but corresponds to a fragment of the continent that was detached millions of years ago.
The detachment theory would explain the rich flora and fauna living there, as there are 5 endemic plant families and others belonging to the Araucaria family. However, the genetic richness supplied by isolation was gradually lost with the arrival of man and the introduction of new animal species, diminishing the populations of unique organisms like the Rhinochetos jubatus, a bird incapable of flying with a large crest. The island contains large nickel reserves which generate close to half of the world’s production.
Although this produces important economic benefits, it also causes a great deterioration to the area, due to the work that takes place (leaving hillsides totally deforested) and the processing conducted afterwards, which inevitably originates polluting waste.
– New Zealand: with an extension that surpasses 270 thousand km2 and made up by two islands, it constitutes another interesting reserve for the planet’s biodiversity, because its isolation has enabled the existence of several endemic organisms.
The arrival and colonization by Man over 700 years ago have irremediably affected the sector’s flora and fauna beyond any shade of a doubt. Estimates say, for example, that from that date until today, nearly 50 kinds of birds have disappeared.
Currently, new threats have joined the fold, like deforestation and the introduction of new species, which generate an inevitable competition for resources and the extermination of the weakest organism.
– Philippines: considered the second most extensive archipelago after Indonesia, is it composed by more than seven thousand islands dispersed in the Pacific and is one of the most biologically diverse countries.
Many of the species that inhabit this sector exclusively are confined to small fragments dispersed in the Pacific Ocean.
Close to 6,000 endemic plants, fifty endangered birds unique to the area and 40 mammals in a similar state have been counted.
Since ancestral times, lumber exploitation has been one of the main problems faced by this hotspot.
However, in recent years, this situation has become more acute and the forests are being eliminated to extend zones of cultivation and to house a population that grows daily by leaps and bounds.
– Polynesia and Micronesia: made up by numerous islands, this is considered the most critical point because of the degree of extinction of species, which has increased recently, especially that of birds and reptiles. What’s more, the zone is one of those that have suffered most from the impacts of global warming, which means an increase in the level and temperature of water in some sectors, and even the appearance of new populations of organisms that alter the ecological chain.
As a result of their isolation and small size, the ecosystems of the Polynesian islands are highly vulnerable to habitat degradation and the introduction of invasive species. The conversion of vegetation, whether it’s to populate, cultivate or deforest vast sectors, is also one of the problems that the region faces.
– Sundaland: identified as the ecological border between Asia and Australia, this hotspot is composed by thousands of island, among which two of the largest in the world are included: Borneo and Sumatra.
The tropical forests of Borneo have one of the richest and most diverse floras in the world due to its advantageous climatic conditions and to its geographic position. Among these are found the dipterocarpaceae, which include the most typical trees of southern Asia.
Sumatra is home to tigers, primates and turtles, as well as some populations of orangutans and rhinoceros, both in danger of extinction.
The deforestation that has occurred over the last three decades was enough to include this region in the category of hotspot, as many of the species that inhabit it run a serious risk of disappearing. Added to this are agricultural projects and the development of road infrastructure, which will invade numerous hectares of original habitat, among other threatening factors.
– Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats: this region is characterized by being a home to an interesting variety of plants, reptiles and amphibians, as well as important populations of Asian elephants and Lion-tailed Macaque.
It is subject to an intense pressure due to forest exploitation and the expansion of agricultural lands, which have greatly fragmented the original plant cover. Also, the demographic explosion (it’s one of the most populous zones of our planet) has endangered the natural habitat of many species.
– Southwest Australia: considered as one of the five hotspots with a Mediterranean climate, this occupies an extension of 356,717km2. It is characterized by predominantly woody vegetation, as well as for the high levels of endemism in its plants and reptiles.
Agricultural expansion and the widespread use of fertilizers are the main causes of the fragmentation and habitat destruction of the region. Also, one of the greatest threats to native fauna is considered to be the introduction of exotic species, such as foxes or cats.
– Wallacea: with an extension of 338,494km2, it is made up of several islands located in the Pacific ocean, among which the large island of Sulawesi and the Maluku islands are notable. These are distinguished by their exuberant vegetation, in which tropical forest predominates, and because of the lands rich in iron and magnesium, among other metals.
After the Tropical Andes, it is the hotspot with the second greatest variety of endemic bird species, which is surprising given how limited its surface area is.
It has been categorized as one of the most damaged environments in the past 100 years, as a product of agriculture and pasturing, which do away with important numbers of hectares of natural land every day.
