Biodiversity Hotspots in India: UPSC Notes & Facts

Biodiversity Hotspots in India for UPSC is an important topic because it is part of both Environment & Ecology (Prelims and GS Paper III in Mains) and Geography (GS Paper I in Mains). These hotspots show India’s rich natural heritage and unique species. This topic is useful for both static preparation and current affairs.

A biodiversity hotspot is a region with exceptionally high numbers of unique plant and animal species that has lost at least 70% of its original habitat. These are places on Earth that are both biologically rich and deeply threatened.

• Hotspot Criteria: Must have 1,500+ endemic plant species and >70% habitat loss.
• Global Data: 36 hotspots cover only 2.5% of Earth’s land, yet hold 50%+ of plant species and 43% of vertebrates.

What Qualifies a Region as a Biodiversity Hotspot?

• Rich in species - has many different plants and animals living together.
• Unique species - home to plants and animals found only in that area.
• In danger - humans have destroyed most of the natural forests and habitats.
• Very important - losing these areas would mean losing species forever.

Scientists created the idea of biodiversity hotspots to help decide where to focus conservation efforts to save the most species.

• 1988 – Norman Myers (ecologist) published the first list of 10 “tropical forest” hotspots (areas with exceptional endemism and habitat loss).
• 1989 – Conservation International (CI) adopted Myers’ concept and championed it as a global conservation strategy.
• 1999–2000 – Formal criteria introduced: CI and partners refined the definition (≥1,500 endemic plants; ≥70% habitat loss) and expanded the list to 25 hotspots.
• 2005 – Expansion to 34 hotspots: New research identified additional areas meeting the criteria.
• 2011 & 2016 – Two more added: The Forests of East Australia (35th) and the North American Coastal Plain (36th) were later added as they met the standards.

Over time, the hotspot concept evolved from a qualitative idea into a quantitative framework guiding global conservation efforts.

Also cover this important UPSC current affairs topic here: Mahanadi River Inter-State Water Dispute.

For an area to be called a biodiversity hotspot, it must meet two important conditions set by scientists. Here are the two main rules:

• Must have many unique plants: At least 1,500 types of plants that grow only in that area and nowhere else in the world.
• Must be in danger: At least 70% of the original forests and habitats must have been destroyed by humans, leaving only 30% or less.

Also read: National Mission on Natural Farming: A Step Toward Sustainable Agriculture.

There are 36 biodiversity hotspots spread across almost every continent on Earth, covering the most important areas for saving wildlife.

Key Facts about Global Hotspots:

• Small but important: These areas cover only 2.3% of Earth's land but are home to half of the world's unique plants and many animals.
• Rich in life: They contain about 50% of plants and 42% of land animals that exist nowhere else.
• Mostly tropical: Most hotspots are in warm, tropical areas with rainforests.
• Many people live there: About 2 billion people live in or near these hotspots, including some of the world's poorest communities.
• Spread around the world: Asia-Pacific has 16 hotspots, Africa has 8, South America has 5, North America has 5, and Europe/Central Asia has 4.

India is one of the world's 17 most diverse countries for wildlife and has four major biodiversity hotspots.

1. Himalayas

• The Himalayas biodiversity hotspot is spread across 7.5 lakh sq km in northern states. Has 10,000 plant species (3,160 unique) and 163 endangered animals like the one-horned rhino.

2. Indo-Burma

• The Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot is the World’s largest hotspot, covering 23.7 lakh sq km (includes NE India). Holds 15,000–25,000 plants (about half unique) and 1,300+ bird species.

3. Western Ghats & Sri Lanka

• The Western Ghats stretch 1.86 lakh sq km along the west coast. Rich in 7,402 plants, 508 birds, and shelters 30% of Asia’s elephants & 17% of the world’s tigers.

4. Sundaland (Nicobar Islands)

• The Sundaland covers 16 lakh sq km. Has 25,000 plants (60% unique) and 769 bird species.

All biodiversity hotspots face severe human pressures. In general, the main threats include:

• Deforestation and Land Conversion: Widespread clearing of forests for agriculture, plantations, or urban development destroys native habitats.
• Overexploitation: Logging, hunting, illegal wildlife trade, and unsustainable harvesting of resources erode biodiversity.
• Infrastructure & Development: Building dams, roads, highways, and cities fragments and degrades hotspot habitats.
• Pollution and Invasive Species: Agrochemicals and introduced plants/animals can outcompete native species. Mining and pollution further degrade sensitive ecosystems.
• Climate Change: Changing temperature and rainfall put stress on species, making regions like the Eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats highly vulnerable.

These factors combine to make hotspots among the most imperilled ecosystems. 

Various organisations, governments, and communities around the world, including India, are working together to protect and restore biodiversity hotspots through different conservation programs and strategies.

• Protected Areas: Establish national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger and elephant reserves, and biosphere reserves worldwide.
• International Funding: CEPF grants supporting local projects in hotspots across 112 countries.
• Community Participation: Joint Forest Management and Biodiversity Management Committees in India; community forest user groups globally.
• Species-specific Programs: Project Tiger and Project Elephant in India; global initiatives for rhinos, primates, and coral reefs.
• Habitat Restoration: Reforestation, wetland rehabilitation, and wildlife corridors to link fragmented habitats.
• Scientific Research: Monitoring species and habitats by universities, NGOs, and governments to guide action.
• Legal protection: Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and Forest Conservation Act (1980) in India; international agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Sustainable livelihoods: Eco-tourism, non-timber forest product schemes in India; sustainable agriculture and fishing practices globally.
• Afforestation programs: India’s national tree-planting drives (1.5 billion trees since 2015); global restoration pledges under the Bonn Challenge.

Prepare this key topic here: Understanding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for UPSC

Biodiversity hotspots are unique homes to rare plants and animals but face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human activity. Conservation laws, funding, protected areas, and community efforts are vital to save them for future generations.

India’s biodiversity hotspots are key UPSC topics in Environment and Geography—knowing their unique wildlife and challenges can help you score better in Prelims and Mains.

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