BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
A biodiversity hotspot is a bio-geographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. This concept was put forward by Norman Myers.
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria. It must contain at least 0.5% or 1500 species of vascular plants as endemic and it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.
Around the world, 25 areas qualify under this definition. These sites support nearly 60% of the world’s plant, bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species, with a very high share of endemic species.
THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
The unsustainable harvesting of natural resources, including plants, animals and marine species and the degradation or fragmentation of ecosystems through land conversion for agriculture, forest clearing etc. Invasive non-native or alien species being introduced to ecosystems to which they are not adapted.
Pollution from chemical contaminants certainly poses a further threat to species and ecosystems. A changing global climate threatens species and ecosystems. The distribution of species is largely determined by climate, as the distribution of ecosystems and plant vegetation zones.
Conservation of Biodiversity
Conservation of biodiversity is important to
Prevent the loss of genetic diversity of a species.
Save a species from becoming extinct.
Protect ecosystems damage and degradation.
Conservation Strategies
Conservation effects can be grouped into following two categories, which are as follow:
i) In situ (on site) conservation includes protection of plants and animals with their natural habitats or in protected areas. Protected areas are land or sea dedicated to protect and maintain biodiversity.
ii) Ex-situ (off site) conservation of plants and animals outside the natural habitat. These include botanical gardens, gene banks of seed, tissue culture and cryopreservation.
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