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In the year 2000, the UN General Assembly officially proclaimed May 22 to be the International Day for Biodiversity. Biodiversity hotspots are some of Nature’s most important places and also some of its most threatened.

What are biodiversity hotspots?

They are places that are critically important because they are biologically rich but deeply threatened. To qualify as a hotspot, the region must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics, and it must have lost at least 70% of its primary native vegetation. There are 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world. These areas represent just 2.5% of the Earth’s land surface, but are home to more than half of the world’s endemic plant species and close to 43% of endemic bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species. ‘Endemic’ species are those that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet. These regions are also home to a whopping two billion people. These unique ecosystems are critical to human survival and they must be protected.

We showcase eight biodiversity hotspots.

Hotspot: Tropical Andes

Where: South America

The most diverse of all the hotpots in the world, this region encompasses the Andes Mountains of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and portions of Argentina and Chile. With around 30,000 species of vascular plants, this hotspot is home to around one-sixth of all the plant life on Earth. The Harlequin toad, the poison dart frog, the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the Andean condor, the guanaco, the vicuna, the yellow-tailed woolly monkey and many other unique species can be spotted here. Not only flora and fauna, this hotspot also has more than 40 indigenous groups of people, making it a stunning example of cultural diversity.

Hotspot: Mountains of Central Asia

Where: Central Asia

The mountainous interior of Asia — including parts of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan — is often known as the ‘Roof of the World’. Rightly so, as it has many mountains above 6,500 metres in height. The remote mountains, including the Pamir and the Tien Shan, are a habitat for around 5,000 species of vascular plants, with an interesting mix of Siberian, Mediterranean, Indo-Himalayan and Iranian elements. The most well-known animal of this region is, naturally, the elusive and magnificent snow leopard.

Hotspot: Western Ghats and Sri Lanka

Where: South Asia

The tiger and Asian elephant may be the flagship icons of this region, but it also features a stellar line-up of other species. A region that covers less than 6% of India’s land area accounts for more than 30% of all the species of plants, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals of the country. That’s what makes this hotspot critically important. The mountains of the Western Ghats also influence the crucial monsoon weather patterns in India.

California Floristic Province

Where: North America

Tall? We’ve got taller and tallest as well! This hotspot is home to some of the Earth’s largest living organisms, the giant sequoia, as well as the mighty coastal redwood. What’s more, more than 60% of the vascular plants here can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Located largely in the U.S. and including a portion of Mexico, this region is the stronghold of species like the California condor, the kit fox, Roosevelt’s elk, the coast-patched nose snake, a variety of salamander species, and so on.

Mediterranean Basin

Where: Europe, Central Asia and Africa

The second largest biodiversity hotspot in the world is also one of the most significant areas for endemic plants. It includes places such as Jordan, Turkey, Italy, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, several Atlantic islands, and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Not only does this region have around 30,000 species of plants, but it is also of cultural significance as it is the site of some of the oldest and greatest civilisations in history. A wide variety of rodents, shrews, snakes, lizards, tortoises, dung beetles and other fascinating species live here.

Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands

Where: Africa

If you thought having at least 1,500 endemic plant species to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot was a tall task, you might be surprised to know that Madagascar has a remarkable 11,200. With its species having evolved in isolation for millions of years, Madagascar is almost a mini continent of its own. You might know that it’s famous for its lemurs, but did you also know that it is home to rare and unique bats, chameleons, and many other fascinating species? What’s more, this region is an important hub for five of the seven marine turtle species in the world.

New Zealand

Where: Oceania

The iconic Kiwi bird might be the first species that comes to mind when you think of New Zealand, but there’s much more to this region. Its mountains, hills and plains are home to endemic species like the kākāpō, the tokoeka, the tuatara, the wētā, a variety of penguins, and more. Covering the three main islands of New Zealand as well as several smaller surrounding islands, this hotspot is said to be an ‘ancient life raft’, as it has been largely isolated for millions of years. None of this hotspot’s mammals, amphibians or reptiles can be found anywhere else on Earth. Talk about being unique!

Indo-Burma

Where: South and southeast Asia

In terms of both wildlife and human population, this hotspot is of critical importance to the planet. With Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of southern China falling within it, it is the most populated hotspot. It also abounds in biological treasures like no other — primates, the rare saolo, the lesser one-horned rhino, the giant ibis, the Siamese crocodile — the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most threatened hotspots on the planet.

Based on what you have just read, can you try and match the hotspots with the animal associated with them?